Species composition and abundance of rodents in Kafta-Sheraro National Park, Ethiopia: preliminary results

Main Article Content

Alembrhan Assefa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3516-7500
Chelmala Srinivasulu
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4331-8580

Abstract

An ecological survey was conducted to assess the species composition and abundance of rodents in Kafta-Sheraro National Park, Ethiopia from June 2017 to April 2018 covering wet and dry seasons.  Rodents were trapped using Sherman live traps from five selected habitat types—natural forest, bushland, grassland, farmland, and human settlement.  A total of 209 individuals of rodents belonging to seven species were captured over 2940 trap nights, and three species of rodents were only observed.  The trapped rodent species include Mastomys natalensis, Stenocephalemys albipes, Rattus rattus, Mastomys awashensis, Acomys cahirinus, Arvicanthis niloticus dembeensis, and Mastomys erythroleucusLemniscomys striatus, Hystrix cristata, and Xerus rutilus were only sighted during the study.  Mastomys natalensis was the most abundant species (41.1%), followed by Stenocephalemys albipes (26.3%) and Rattus rattus (18.2%), whereas Mastomys erythroleucus (1.4%) was the least abundant species.  The abundance of female (59.8%) was higher than male (40.2%).  Of the total trapped rodents, 52.2% were adults, 32% sub-adult and 15.8% young.  The abundance of rodents was varied among habitat types and between seasons.  The results of the study revealed that the park has diverse species of fauna including rodents.

Article Details

Section
Communications
Author Biographies

Alembrhan Assefa, Wildlife Biology & Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India.

PhD Scholar

Osmania University

Chelmala Srinivasulu, Wildlife Biology & Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India | Systematics, Ecology & Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), No 12, Thiruvannamalai Nagar, Saravanampatti-Kalapatti Road, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641035, India

Assistant Professor

Department of Zoology

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