Volume 130, July 2016, Pages 76–83
Highlights
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- We investigated small mammal diversity inside and outside a reserve in South Africa.
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- We examined the effect of environmental variables on small mammal diversity.
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- Small mammal diversity measures were higher inside than outside the reserve.
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- Tree diversity and cover positively influenced small mammal diversity.
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- Land use practices explained differences in small mammal diversity.
Abstract
This
study investigated small mammal species diversity at 10 paired contrast
sites along a fence line inside and outside the Great Fish River Nature
Reserve (GFRNR), Eastern Cape, South Africa. The sites outside the
GFRNR are used for subsistence land-based activities including livestock
production and fuelwood harvesting. From 145 live captures, a total of
114 unique individuals of five small mammal species (four rodents and
one elephant shrew) were recorded over 1170 trap nights. Average small
mammal species diversity and abundance were significantly higher inside
the reserve than outside. Human activities such as livestock grazing
seemed to explain low levels of small mammal diversity and abundance at
the communal sites. Vegetation variables showed a complex interplay with
small mammal diversity. In general, high vegetation diversity had a
positive influence on small mammal diversity though the influence of
some environmental variables was species-dependent. We conclude that the
GFRNR is effective in protecting small mammals but the findings raise
questions around the influence of land use practices such as livestock
grazing on biodiversity, especially given that local communities in
South Africa are continuously seeking greater access to reserves for
livestock grazing and other provisioning services.
Keywords
- Biodiversity;
- Land use practices;
- Small mammal diversity;
- Livestock grazing;
- South Africa
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