Altitudinal variation in small mammal distribution on Mountain Afadjato

Abstract

The relationship between altitudinal variation and small mammal species composition, abundance and diversity was studied at Mountain Afadjato (~ 885 m) in the Volta Region of Ghana. The study focused on a test to determine if the mid-altitudinal pattern could be applied to Mountain Afadjato. Species composition, abundance and diversity were documented across four altitudinal gradients along the mountain. Forty-five Sherman collapsible live traps were used to capture small mammals in the wet and dry seasons. Two hundred and ten individual rodents belonging to four species, Praomys tullbergi, Mastomys erythroleculus, Myomys sp. and Mus minutoides were captured for a total of 2,208 trap nights. Praomys tullbergi was the most abundant species across the four altitudinal gradients. A decreasing species richness and diversity with increasing altitude pattern prevailed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed five microhabitat variables; herbaceous species density, diameter at breast height, number of holes on the ground, number of stumps,
and soil temperature correlated with the distribution of small mammals.