Abstract:
Mountains provide important habitats for many
species and often have high levels of biodiversity and endemism.
Habitat associations of terrestrial small mammals
were investigated at Wakefield Farm at the foothills of
the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa from July 2015
to January 2016. Sherman live traps were used to capture
small mammals on 35 grids in six different habitats. A
total of 472 individuals, from 14 species, were recorded,
comprising: 10 rodents, three shrews and one golden
mole. Species diversity differed across habitats and seasons.
The riparian habitat had the highest species richness,
diversity and abundance of small mammals. Species
composition also differed across habitats with the indigenous
forest and rocky outcrops supporting the most distinct
assemblages.
