Distribution and diversity of small mammals In Borena-Sayint National Park, South Wollo, Ethiopia: Implications of habitat specialization

Abstract

The study on distribution and diversity of small mammals in Borena-Sayint National Park (BSNP), South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia was conducted from December, 2009 to April, 2010. Representative sample sites were taken from each habitat type and surveyed using random line transect method. Five species of rodents and two species of shrews were identified and recorded from BSNP. Small and large sized Sherman and snaps traps were used to trap small mammals and morphometric measurement was taken for the species. From a total of 88 small mammals trapped and caught, Lophuromys flavopunctatus had the highest relative abundance (37.7%), followed by Pelomys harringtoni and Otomys typus with 17% each. Stenocephalemys albipes, Arvicanthis dembeensis and Crocidura flavessens had 12.5, 8 and 5.7% of abundance, respectively. Crocidura fumosa had the lowest relative abundance (2.3%).

New altitudinal records and distribution of two endemic rodents of Ethiopia

“…During the present study, we recorded the presence of two Ethiopian endemic rodents—Awash Multimammate Mouse Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko et al, 1998) and Ethiopian White‐footed Mouse Stenocephalemys albipes (Rüppell, 1842; Figure 1) in KSNP. The morphometric and cranio‐dental measurements (Table 1) are well within the range of the species (Mengistu et al, 2015; Meseret & Solomon, 2014) and the skull morphology (Figure 2) also confirms for better identification. We captured a total of 17 individuals comprise different age groups of Mastomys awashensis and 55 individuals of Stenocephalemys albipes from all habitat types except the grass land.…”

“…During the present study, we recorded the presence of two Ethiopian endemic rodents-Awash Multimammate Mouse Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko et al, 1998) and Ethiopian White-footed Mouse Stenocephalemys albipes (Rüppell, 1842; Figure 1) in KSNP. The morphometric and cranio-dental measurements (Table 1) are well within the range of the species (Mengistu et al, 2015;Meseret & Solomon, 2014) and the skull morphology (Figure 2…”

Assessment of Human-Wildlife Conflict and the Attitude of Local Communities to Wild Animal Conservation around Borena Sayint National Park, Ethiopia

“…It lies in the woredas of Borena to the south, Saynt to the north and Mehal Saynt to the east. e largest portion of the park is found in Borena woreda [13].…”

“…e park is heterogeneous in vegetation type and classified into two vegetation zones, which occur below and above 3000 meters [14]. Out of the total 30 mammalian species recorded in the park, Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), Gelada baboon ( eropithecus gelada), Stark`s hare (Lepus strackii), and Menelik's bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus meneliki) are endemic [11,13].…”

Terrestrial medium and large-sized mammalian species diversity in Michole Community Protected Forest, southern Ethiopia

“…Similar results were recorded in different parts of the country by using similar line transect techniques. For instance, Girma et al [ 16 ] recorded 18 species of medium and large mammalian species in Kaka and Hunkolo Fragnents, Meseret and Solomon [ 33 ] recorded 23 medium and large mammalian species from Borena-Sayint Park, south of Wollo, Ethiopia, and Kasso et al [ 34 ] and Gebo et al [ 35 ] identified 21 species in the Chilalo-Glama Forest Priority Area and Faragosa-Fura Landscape, Gamo Zone, Ethiopia, respectively. On the contrary, Lemma and Tekalign [ 25 ] documented only a total of eight medium and large mammalian species in the Humbo Community-Based Forest Area, Southern Ethiopia, which is smaller than that of the present study.…”