Preliminary study on composition and ecological distribution of small mammal species in Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed Composition and Ecological distribution of small mammals’ species in Federal University Gashua. Four (4) habitat types in the university area were identified and used for the study namely: Residential Area (RA), Acacia Wood Land (AWL), Lake Area (LA) and Open Grass Land (OGR). Direct and indirect methods were adopted; capture mark recapture (CMR) using spring door traps were used. The work involved a total of One hundred and twenty (120) trap/nights from September, 2019 - February, 2020; the study yielded nine (9) individual species cutting across eighth (8) families were recorded. Family Muridae has the highest number which represented by (2) individual species. RA had the highest individuals of One hundred and forty (140) species; followed by AWL with (84) species, LA (51) species and OGR which has the lowest of thirty-six (36) species were encountered. Desert Hedgehog Paraechinu aethiopicus has the highest frequency of (53) individual captured at the acacia woodland, while Striped Ground Squirrel Xeru erythropu which has the lowest frequency of (6) individual encountered by direct observation in the Open Grassland area only. The composition of small mammal’s species produced would provide baseline information for further research activities and education in the study area.