Small mammal communities on cattle and game grazing areas in Namibia

Abstract

This study was conducted as part of the interdisciplinary biodiversity project BIOTA and describes small mammal communities on two differently managed farmlands (cattle and game farm) in Namibia over the course of one year. Species diversity, density and activity are discussed and compared to data on vegetation parameters, and on grazing and trampling effects by large herbivores. Small mammal abundance was related to vegetation cover on both farm areas. Species composition differed between the cattle and the game farm. These differences and the dominance structure are discussed in the view of different grazing techniques of cattle and wild ungulates.

Key words: Namibia, small mammals, diversity, evenness, species composition, grazing, trampling.