Abstract
The study contributes to the knowledge of species composition and biogeographical affinities of savannas rodent in Gabon. Unlike small rodents in Gabonese forests, there is little data on the diversity of small rodents in Gabonese savannas. The diversity and distribution of rodent murid communities was studied in four different types of savanna in Gabon: Coastal Basin (South-West), Lopé/Okanda (in the Center), Batéké Plateaux (Southeastern) and Ngougnié/ N’yanga (in the South). A total of 428 individuals representing six species were captured over 11,920 trap nights. Trap success was highly variable (2.2–6.9 %). The most abundant species were Mus minutoides (69%) followed by Lemniscomys striatus (21.5%). Indices of species richness varied from 2 to 5 and diversity (Shannon and Weaver) was low in the four savannas with the highest value at Ngougnié/N’yanga (H′ = 1.2). Species distributions show that Gabonese savanna small rodents conform to four distribution types, with one species known from Zambesian savannas exhibiting austral affinities (Pelomys campanae: occurs in three southern savannas). This new information provides important insight into the biogeography of small rodents at a local and regional level. Moreover, the correspondence analysis highlighted an influence of local ecological factors on population abundance.
Funding source: CIFOR
Funding source: IRET-MAKOKOU
Funding source: EU-DGVIII Ecofac program
Funding source: WWF Gabon
Funding source: EU-DGVIII-Biofac program
Funding source: Université de Rennes 1
Acknowledgments
We thank the Direction de la Faune et de la Chasse (Ministère des Eaux et Forêts du Gabon) for permission to carry out the field research. We are grateful to Professor Nicky Anthony for English corrections of the manuscript.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: This study was supported by the CIFOR/IRET-MAKOKOU project (Station de Recherche de MAKOKOU, B.P. 13354 Libreville, Gabon). Field work was supported by: CIFOR/IRET-MAKOKOU (Gabon), EU-DGVIII Ecofac program Conservation et Utilisation Rationnelle des Ecosystèmes Forestiers en Afrique Centrale (http://www.ecofac.org), WWF Gabon, EU-DGVIII-Biofac program Origine et maintien de la biodiversité en Afrique Centrale (Université de Rennes 1).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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