Diversity and habitat associations of non-volant small mammals in forest patches of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Abstract
Research on small mammals is particularly conducted in unaltered habitats, although forest patches in urban areas also have the potential to provide them shelter, resources, and space for breeding. This study was aimed at exploring the diversity, abundance, and habitat associations of non-volant small mammals in forest patches of Kathmandu Valley. Three sites were selected for the study: Ranibari community forest, Swayambhunath hillock, and Coronation Garden of Tribhuvan University. The survey Methods deployed for the study were roost survey, line transect survey and direct observation. The field survey was conducted in June-July 2019. In those selected sites, 250 m transects were laid down and 25 live traps (Local, Sherman, and Tube) were set for capturing species. Trapped individuals were measured, marked, and released at the site. From a survey of 600 trap nights, 61 individuals representing six species, three orders, and four families were identified. Abundance was higher in Ranibari community forest having rich floristic constituent. Asian House Shrew (Suncus murinus) was the most dominant species. Shannon Weiner’s diversity index revealed diversity of 1.26. Diversity pattern was clumped in study areas owing to the uneven distribution of resources in the natural environment. Species response to five environmental parameters showed significant relation in Ranibari community forest (F=2.446, P=0.018) and Coronation Garden (F=2.75 P=0.05), whereas it was insignificant in Swayambhunath hillock (F=1.60 P=0.17). These results suggested that diversity, distribution, and abundance of small mammals in urban forest patches were influenced by ground cover, distribution of resources, and environmental parameters.
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