Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Differences in abundance and species richness between shrews and rodents along an elevational gradient in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

  • Published:
Acta Theriologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Small mammals (shrews and rodents) were surveyed along an elevational transect in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Trap lines and pitfall lines were installed at 600, 910, 1460, and 2000 m a.s.l. In a total of 10341 sample nights (7448 trap-nights and 2893 bucket-nights) 343 specimens (148 shrews, 205 rodents) were captured representing 9 shrew and 14 rodent species for a total of 23 species. While overall species diversity generally increased with elevation, this pattern was not constant for each group sampled. For rodents, both species richness and abundance were lowest at 600 m and greatest at 2000 m a.s.l., and were significantly correlated with elevation. While the highest species number and abundance for shrews was at 2000 m, there was no correlation of these two values with elevation. Rainfall appears to have affected the capture of shrews, but not rodents, and capture success of individual buckets and traps indicated a lack of capture independence. Eastern Arc endemics such asCrocidura desperata Hutterer, Jenkins and Verheyen, 1991 andMyosorex kihaulei Stanley and Hutterer, 2000 were more abundant at 2000 m a.s.l., than at lower elevations. Implications of results of this survey for analyses of future biotic surveys are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrianjakarivelo V., Razafimahatratra E., Razafindrakoto Y. and Goodman S. M. 2005. The terrestrial small mammals of the Parc National de Masoala, northeastern Madagascar. Acta Theriologica 50: 537–549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Animal Care and Use Committee. 1998. Guidelines for the capture, handling, and care of mammals as approved by the American Society of Mammalogists. Journal of Mammalogy 79: 1416–1431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowie R. C. K., Fjeldså J., Hackett S. J. and Crowe T. M. 2004. Systematics and biogeography of the Double-Collared Sunbirds of the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Auk 121: 660–681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carleton M. D. and Stanley W. T. 2005. Review of theHylomyscus denniae complex (Rodentia: Muridae) in Tanzania, with description of a new species. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 118: 619–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordeiro N. J., Patrick D. A. G., Munisi B. and Gupta V. 2004. Role of dispersal in the invasion of an exotic tree in an East African submontane forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 20: 449–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davenport T. R. B., Stanley W. T., Sargis E. J., DeLuca D. W., Mpunga N. E., Machaga S. J. and Olson L. E. 2006. A new genus of African monkey,Rungwecebus: morphology, ecology, and molecular phylogenetics. Science 312: 1378–1381.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeBlase A. F. and Martin R. E. 1974. A manual of mammalogy with keys to the families of the world. W. C. Brown, Dubuque: 1–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinesen L., Lehmberg T., Rahner M. C. and Fjeldså J. 2001. Conservation priorities for the forests of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania, based on primates, duikers and birds. Biological Conservation 99: 223–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinesen L., Lehmberg T., Svendsen J. O. and Hansen L. A. 1993. Range extensions and other notes on some restricted-range forest birds from West Kilombero in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Scopus 17: 48–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinesen L., Lehmberg T., Svendsen J. O., Hansen L. A. and Fjeldså J. 1994. A new genus and species of perdicine bird (Phasianidae, Perdicini) from Tanzania; a relict form with Indo-Malayan affinities. Ibis 136: 3–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fjeldså J. 1999. The impact of human forest disturbance on endemic avifauna of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Bird Conservation International 9: 47–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman S. M., Ganzhorn J. U., Olson L. E., Pidgeon M. and Soarimalala V. 1997. Annual variation in species diversity and relative density of rodents and insectivores in the Parc National De la Montagne D’Ambre, Madagascar. Ecotropica 3: 109–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman S. M., Ganzhorn J. U. and Rakotondravony D. 2003. Introduction to the Mammals. [In: The natural history of Madagascar. S. M. Goodman and J. P. Benstead, eds]. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago: 1159–1186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heaney L. R., Heideman P. D., Rickart E. A., Utzurrum R. B. and Klompen J. S. H. 1989. Elevational zonation of mammals in the central Philippines. Journal of Tropical Ecology 5: 259–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heideman P. D., Heaney L. R., Thomas R. L. and Erickson K. R. 1987. Patterns of faunal diversity and abundance of non-volant small mammals on Negros Island, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy 68: 884–888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutterer R. 1986. Diagnosen neuer Spitzmäuse aus Tansania (Mammalia: Soricidae). Bonner Zoologische Beiträge 37: 23–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutterer R. 2005. Order Soricomorpha [In: Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference 3rd edition. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder, eds]. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore: 220–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutterer R., Jenkins P. D. and Verheyen W. N. 1991. A new forest shrew from southern Tanzania. Oryx 25: 165–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones T., Ehardt C. L., Butynski T. M., Davenport T. R. B., Mpunga N. E., Machaga S. J. and De Luca D. W. 2005. The Highland MangabeyLophocebus kipunji: A new species of African monkey. Science 308: 1161–1164.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loveridge A. 1935. Scientific results of an expedition to rain forest regions in eastern Africa. I. New reptiles and amphibians from East Africa. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard 79: 3–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett J. C. 1988. Endemism and affinities of the Tanzanian montane forest flora. [In: Modern systematic studies in African botany. P. Goldblatt and P. P. Lowry. eds]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis: 591–598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett J. C. 1990. Altitudinal variation in large tree community associations on the West Usambara mountains. [In: Research for Conservation of Tanzania Catchment Forests. I. Hedberg and E. Persson, eds]. Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala: 48–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett J. C. and Pócs T. 1993. Assessment of the condition of the Catchment Forest Reserves, a botanical appraisal. Catchment Forestry Report 93.3. Dar es Salaam: 1–300.

  • Lovett J. C. and Wasser S. K. (eds) 1993. Biogeography and ecology of the rain forests of eastern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCain C. M. 2004. The mid-domain effect applied to elevational gradients: species richness of small mammals in Costa Rica. Journal of Biogeography 31: 19–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCain C. M. 2005. Elevational gradients in diversity of small mammals. Ecology 86: 366–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Md. Nor S. 2001. Elevational diversity patterns of small mammals on Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Global Ecology and Biogeography 10: 41–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menegon M., Salvidio S. and Loader S. P. 2004. Five new species ofNectophrynoides Noble 1926 (Amphibia Anura Bufonidae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Tropical Zoology 17: 97–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreau R. E. 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London, Academic Press: 1–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musser G. G. and Carleton M. D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. [In: Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference 3rd edition. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder, eds]. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore: 894–1531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newmark W. D. 1991. Tropical forest fragmentation and the local extinction of understory birds in the Eastern Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Conservation Biology 5: 67–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson B. D., Meserve P. L. and Lang B. K. 1989. Distribution and abundance of small mammals along an elevational transect in temperate rainforests of Chile. Journal of Mammalogy 70: 67–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poynton J. C. 2003. Altitudinal species turnover in southern Tanzania shown by anurans: some zoogeographical considerations. Systematics and Biodiversity 1: 117–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rickart E. A., Heaney L. R. and Utzurrum R. B. 1991. Distribution and ecology of small mammals along an elevational transect in southeastern Luzon, Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy 72: 458–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers W. A. and Homewood K. M. 1982a. Species richness and endemism in the Usambara Mountain forests, Tanzania. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 18: 197–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers W. A. and Homewood K. M. 1982b. Biological values and conservation prospects for the forests and primate populations of the Uzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Biological Conservation 24: 285–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scharff N. 1992. The linyphiid fauna of eastern Africa (Araneae: Linyphiidae) — distribution patterns, diversity and endemism. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 45: 117–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiøtz A. 1981. The amphibia in the forested basement hills of Tanzania: a biogeographical indicator group. African Journal of Ecology 19: 205–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shangali C. F., Mabula C. K. and Mnari C. 1998. Biodiversity and human activities in the Udzungwa Mountain Forests, Tanzania. 1. Ethnobotanical survey in the Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve. Journal of East African Natural History 87: 291–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley W. T., Goodman S. M. and Hutterer R. 1996. Notes on the insectivores and elephant shrews of the Chome Forest, South Pare Mountains, Tanzania. (Mammalia: Insectivora et Macroscelidea). Zoologische Abhandlungen Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde Dresden 49: 131–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley W. T., Goodman S. M. and Kihaule P. M. 1998a. Results of two surveys of rodents in the Chome Forest Reserve, South Pare Mountains, Tanzania. (Mammalia: Rodentia). Zoologische Abhandlugen Staatliches Museum fur Tierkunde Dresden 50: 145–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley W. T. and Hutterer R. 2000. A new species ofMyosorex Gray, 1832 (Mammalia: Soricidae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Bonner Zoologische Beiträge 49: 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley W. T., Kihaule P. M., Hutterer R. and Howell K. M. 1998b. Small mammals of the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Journal of East African Natural History 87: 91–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley W. T. and Olson L. E. 2005. Phylogeny, phylogeography, and geographic variation ofSylvisorex howelli (Family Soricidae), an endemic shrew of the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Journal of Zoology, London 266: 341–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley W. T., Rogers M. A. and Hutterer R. 2005. A new species ofCongosorex from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, with significant biogeographical implications. Journal of Zoology, London 265: 269–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart S. N. 1981. A comparison of the avifaunas of seven east African forest islands. African Journal of Ecology 19: 133–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart S. N., Jensen F. P. and Brøgger-Jensen S. 1987. Altitudinal zonation of the avifauna in Mwanihana and Mogombera Forests, eastern Tanzania. Gerfaut 77: 165–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu H. T. 1994. Distribution and abundance of small mammals along a subtropical elevational gradient in central Taiwan. Journal of Zoology, London 234: 577–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Mammals, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, 60605, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    William T. Stanley

  2. Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113, Bonn, Germany

    Rainer Hutterer

Authors
  1. William T. Stanley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rainer Hutterer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William T. Stanley.

Additional information

Associate editor was P. David Polly.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stanley, W.T., Hutterer, R. Differences in abundance and species richness between shrews and rodents along an elevational gradient in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Acta Theriol 52, 261–275 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03194222

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03194222

Key words

Search

Navigation