Effects of environmental factors on the behaviour and nest group sizes of Smith's bush squirrels, Paraxerus cepapi, in a Zambezian bioregion

Abstract

The responses of wildlife to environmental factors are of conservation importance. However, the absence of relevant information due to inadequate studies, and lack of understanding of the influences of environmental factors on wildlife, particularly in the Zambezian bioregion, remain a conservation concern. For instance, there is a shortage of knowledge on the relationship between fixed effects of environmental factors and behaviour as well as nest group sizes of Smith’s bush squirrels, Paraxerus cepapi Smith, 1836. Our study examined the relationship between fixed effects of several environmental factors (i.e., with focus on ecological factors) and the behaviour as well as nest group sizes of the bush squirrels in and around Zambia’s Chembe Bird Sanctuary (CBS). Flight initiation distances (FIDs) as an index of bush squirrel behaviour, and nest group sizes were simultaneously surveyed to understand the drivers of biological and population responses, respectively. The results revealed that higher tree height (m) and larger canopy coverage (%) could increase FIDs for bush squirrels. The nest group sizes of bush squirrels could also increase with canopy coverage (%) and presence of termite mounds. By focusing on the two different squirrels' responses, the results of this study highlight the most important environmental factors to consider in minimizing the impacts of human activities on bush squirrels, especially in conservation planning and management by taking into consideration the bush squirrels’ natural history, habitat protection and safe distance between humans and bush squirrels.

Paraxerus cepapi (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

“…Paraxerus cepapi prefers areas rich in termitaria (termite mounds) used for foraging (Fleming and Loveridge 2003;Nyirenda et al 2021). In Zambia, it occurred in a habitat associated with large termitaria that contained sparse shrubs and grasses among trees (Acacia nigrescens, Adonsonia digitata, Cassia abreviata, Diospyros mespiliformis, Euphorbia ingens, Kigelia africana, and Markamia obtusiforlia); however, P. cepapi was more common in open canopy miombo woodland characterized by dense trees (Brachystegia spiciformis, B. boehmii, Burkea africana, Erythrophleum africanum, Isoberlina angoiensis, Julbernardia paniculata, Parinari curatellifolia, Sclerocarya birrea, Gyrocarpus americanus, Pterocarpus angolensis, and Brachyostegia) with a diverse herb, subshrub, and grass layer that included Aloe sp., Sansiveria sp., Hyparrhenia sp., Dioscorea dwnentorum, and Cordia dioica (Dobroruka 1970;Namukonde et al 2017).…”

“…Persistence of the populations of P. cepapi that have experienced habitat change and degradation can be achieved through restoration actions such as regulating cutting and preserving tree species important for food or nesting in farm woodlots used for wood fuels (Wessels et al 2013). Nyirenda et al (2021) suggested that wildlife managers establish and implement buffer zones in these areas to minimize human disturbance; for example, in a bird sanctuary in Zambia, human activities, settlements, and tourist routes were placed away from territories of P. cepapi (Nyirenda et al 2021).…”

“…Paraxerus cepapi prefers areas rich in termitaria (termite mounds) used for foraging (Fleming and Loveridge 2003; Nyirenda et al 2021). In Zambia, it occurred in a habitat associated with large termitaria that contained sparse shrubs and grasses among trees ( Acacia nigrescens , Adonsonia digitata , Cassia abreviata , Diospyros mespiliformis , Euphorbia ingens , Kigelia africana , and Markamia obtusiforlia ); however, P .…”

“…Protection of woodland habitat, retention of mature to overmature trees such as mopane and Acacia , and management or regulation of fuelwood harvesting are effective conservation strategies (Power and Child 2016). In Zambia, tall trees with large canopy cover and presence of termite mounds are factors that positively affect presence and nest group size of P. cepapi (Nyirenda et al 2021). Removal of trees for agriculture and timber logging can extirpate populations of P. cepapi .…”