Species composition, relative abundance and habitat relationships of small mammals at the University of Dodoma

France, Sophia

dc.creator	France, Sophia
dc.date	2019-09-05T09:09:49Z
dc.date	2019-09-05T09:09:49Z
dc.date	2014
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-20T13:14:40Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-20T13:14:40Z
dc.identifier	France, S. (2014). Species composition, relative abundance and habitat relationships of small mammals at the University of Dodoma (Master's dissertation). The University of Dodoma, Dodoma.
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/1685
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/1685
dc.description	Dissertation (MA Natural Resource Management)
dc.description	A study of the species composition, relative abundance and habitat relationships of small mammals was carried out in Dodoma region. A total of 77 sites on the University of Dodoma campus were surveyed for small mammals between December 2013 and March 2014. Small mammals were captured using 4 x 4 x 12 inches Sherman live traps. Seven species were captured. Poisson regression was used to identify habitat variables associated with the capture frequency of small mammals. Logistic regression was used to identify habitat variables associated with the presence or absence of the most common species. Models were developed based on six different habitat variables. The community of small mammals at the University of Dodoma campus was dominated by rodents, which formed 94% of all captures (N = 167). The distribution of the two common small mammal species (Aethomys chrysophilus and Pelomys fallax) was similar (p>0.05). Small mammal abundance varied significantly among the three major habitat types (p<0.0001), with grasslands and sparse thickets supporting higher abundances of small mammals than forest. Aethomys chrysophilus was the most frequently captured species comprising 70.6% of all captures. The best Poisson regression model indicated that the proximity to grassland and low canopy cover were the best predictors of small mammal abundance in the study area (ΔAICc weight = 0.905). Proximity to grassland was the best predictor of presence of both Aethomys chrysophilus (ΔAICc weight= 0.3572), and Pelomys fallax (ΔAICc weight = 0.2358). Management aimed at boosting small mammal populations to sustain populations of local carnivores may seek to maintain grassland openings and edges in forest habitats. Also agricultural pest management for rodents might be aided by reducing grassland habitat around crop fields.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	The University of Dodoma
dc.subject	Relative abundance
dc.subject	Habitat relationships
dc.subject	Small mammals
dc.subject	Mamals
dc.subject	Dodoma
dc.subject	Species composition
dc.subject	Poisson regression
dc.subject	Habitat variables
dc.subject	Capture frequency
dc.subject	Grasslands
dc.subject	Sparse thickets
dc.subject	Low canopy
dc.subject	Local carnivores
dc.subject	Pest management
dc.subject	University of Dodoma
dc.title	Species composition, relative abundance and habitat relationships of small mammals at the University of Dodoma
dc.type	Dissertation