Diversity and distribution patterns of non-volant smallmammals along different elevation gradients on Mt. Kenya,Kenya

作     者：Simon Musila Zhong-Zheng Chen Quan Li Richard Yego Bin Zhang Kenneth Onditi Immaculate Muthoni Shui-Wang He Samson Omondi James Mathenge Esther N.Kioko Xue-Long Jiang 

作者机构：Mammalogy Section Department of Zoology National Museums of Kenya Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Anhui Province Key Laboratory for Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource College of Life Science Anhui Normal University Sino-Africa Joint Research Center Chinese Academy of Sciences Kenya Wildlife Service Mweiga Research Station 

出 版 物：《Zoological Research》 (动物学研究（英文）)

年 卷 期：2019年第40卷第1期

页      面：53-60页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 09[农学] 

基　　金：supported by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre Chinese Academy of Sciences(SAJC201612) 

主　　题：Small mammals Species richness Abundance Elevation Mt.Kenya 

摘      要：The distribution of small mammals in mountainous environments across different elevations can provide important information on the effects of climate change on the dispersal of species. However, few studies conducted on Afromontane ecosystems have compared the altitudinal patterns of small mammal diversity. We investigated the species diversity and abundance of non-volant small mammals(hereafter ‘small mammals )on Mt. Kenya, the second tallest mountain in Africa,using a standard sampling scheme. Nine sampling transects were established at intervals of 200 m on the eastern(Chogoria) and western(Sirimon) slopes.A total of 1 905 individuals representing 25 species of small mammals were trapped after 12 240 *** was highest at mid-elevations on both ***, species richness and their distribution patterns differed between the two slopes. More species were recorded on Chogoria(24) than on Sirimon(17). On Chogoria, species richness was higher at mid-high elevations, with a peak at mid-elevation(2 800 m a.s.l.),whereas species richness showed little variation on the Sirimon slope. These results indicate that patterns of species diversity can differ between slopes on the same mountain. In addition, we extensively reviewed literature on Mt. Kenya s mammals and compiled a comprehensive checklist of 76 mammalian species. However, additional research is required to improve our understanding of smal mammal diversity in mountain habitats in Africa.