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Diversity of rodents and shrews along an elevational gradient in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, south‐western Uganda
Author(s) -
Kasangaki Aventino,
Kityo Robert,
Kerbis Julian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2028.2003.00383.x
Subject(s) - endemism , national park , species richness , ecology , geography , biodiversity , rift valley , vegetation (pathology) , species diversity , gallery forest , mammal , biology , habitat , paleontology , medicine , pathology
Small mammal species diversity in the major vegetation zones of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is discussed in relation to altitude. Species richness of the small mammals was found to decrease with an increase in altitude. The main factors accounting for the observed diversity are the wide altitudinal variation and a complex array of vegetation types. Sixty‐seven species of rodents and shrews were found to exist in the Park; 47 of which were rodents and 20 shrews. Of these, 26 species are new to the Bwindi Park list. Three species have probably not been described before. The study found 10 species of small mammals to be Albertine Rift endemics. Three genera are recorded in Uganda for the first time: Rwenzorisorex, Suncus and Paracrocidura . Five species are new records for East Africa. These are Crocidura stenocephala, Lophuromys rahmi , L. medicaudatus, Paracrocidura maxima and Hylomyscus aeta. Because of the high endemism of plants, butterflies, birds and now of small mammal species, Bwindi forest is a unique biodiversity hotspot and is among the highest conservation priorities in the Albertine Rift.