Seasonal changes in small mammal assemblage in Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve, Ghana

The small mammal community at Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (KSNR) in the Ashanti Region of Ghana were studied in two habitats during the wet and dry seasons to investigate seasonal changes in species richness, abundance, composition and diversity. Ninety-six individuals belonging to nine species were recorded in 720 trap-nights, giving overall trap-success of 13.33%. Species richness (Sr), trap-success (Ts) and relative abundance (Ra) were higher (Sr = 6 species; Ts = 23.1%; Ra = 86.5%) in wooded grassland than forest (Ra = 4 species; Ts = 3.6%; Ra = 13.5%). However, species diversity was higher (Shannon-Wiener index Hʹ = 1.157) in forest than in wooded grassland (Hʹ = 1.089). Mastomys erythroleucus dominated in wooded grassland (68%) and Hylomyscus alleni in forest (53.8%). The species composition was unique for both habitats, with Mus musculoides being the only species common to both habitats. Seasonal changes in community assemblages were evident in both habitats, with species richness, diversity and abundance of the dominant species being highest in the wet seasons. Sex-ratio was unity in both habitats, and remained fairly constant throughout the rainy and dry seasons. Breeding activity was evident all-year-round for most species, but peaked in the rainy season. Our findings are consistent with that of other studies in Ghana and elsewhere in the African subregion, highlighting the importance of rainfall to the ecology of tropical small mammals.