Nature Conservation Research. Заповедная наука 2018. 3(Suppl.2): 66–75 DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2018.067 TERRESTRIAL SMALL MAMMAL DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN TAÏ NATIONAL PARK, CÔTE D’IVOIRE Bertin K. Akpatou1,*, Kouakou H. Bohoussou2,**, Blaise Kadjo1, Violaine Nicolas3 1Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Côte d’Ivoire 2University of Man, Côte d’Ivoire 3National Museum of Natural History of Paris, France e-mail: *[email protected], **[email protected] Received: 22.04.2018 A terrestrial small mammal species survey was carried out in the Taï National Park from March to June 2010, using Sherman’s live traps and pitfall traps. The aim of the study was to determine the diversity and distribu- tion of rodents and shrews in three different habitats: primary, secondary and swamp forests. During the study period, 263 terrestrial small mammals belonging to 17 species (six Soricidae species and eleven Muridae spe- cies) were captured out of 8,610 trap-nights. For Rodents, the most frequent species were Malacomys edwardsi (n = 76) followed by Hylomyscus simus (n = 53), Praomys rostratus (n = 51) and Hybomys planifrons (n = 27). For shrews, the most frequent species was Crocidura buettikoferi (n = 12) followed by Crocidura eburnea (n = 7). The species richness (S) and diversity index (H’) were higher in the secondary forest (S = 15; H’ = 2.12) than the ones of the primary forest (S = 10; H’ = 1.79) and swamp forest (S = 8, H’ = 1.74) respectively. In the primary forest, the population of terrestrial small mammals was dominated by four species: Malacomys edwardsi (n = 32), Praomys rostratus (n = 21), Hylomyscus simus (n = 15) and Hybomys planifrons (n = 13). In the secondary forest, Hylomyscus simus (n = 29), Malacomys edwardsi (n = 23) and Praomys rostratus (n = 18) were the most abundant. In swamp forest, the most abundant species were: Malacomys edwardsi (n = 21), Praomys rostratus (n = 12) and Hybomys planifrons (n = 11). Of the listed species, two species are worthy for conservation, C. buettikoferi (NT) and G. buntingi (DD), and ten were endemic to the Upper Guinea forests. These results confirm once again the important animal diversity of the Taï National Park, which harbours nu- merous species endemic to the Upper Guinea forests. Key words: biodiversity, conservation status, Muridae, Soricidae, tropical rainforest Introduction These actions thus, consecrate the recognition of Tropical areas are known for their high bio- its biological specificity at international level (All- diversity compared to temperate regions (Brown, port et al., 1994; Kone, 2004). Several conserva- 2014). In fact, several hotspots have been defined tion and scientific research programmes have been in tropical regions. Some Upper Guinea forest conducted in the TNP (Chatelain et al., 2001). blocks have been particularly identified as prior- Studies in the TNP have focused mainly on ity areas for biodiversity conservation in the world botanical diversity (Ake-Assi & Pfeffer, 1975; (Myers et al., 2000; Kuper et al., 2004). The Taï Adou Yao & N’Guessan, 2005). At the level of National Park (TNP), which covers 457 000 ha, fauna, the majority of the work carried out has is one of the largest intact blocks of biodiversity been focused on large mammals, particularly on hotspots in the Upper Guinea. It is made up of for- Primates: Pan troglodytes verus (Soiret et al., ests which could have been maintained during the 2015; Ban et al., 2016) and the family Cercopithe- Pleistocene glacial and interglacial cycles (Maley, cidae (Kone, 2004; Kouassi, 2016). Compared to 1996; Anhuf et al., 2006). Thus, it has been able to large mammals, very few studies have been con- function as a forest refuge during arid periods (An- ducted on terrestrial small mammals, in particular huf et al., 2006). This paleoclimatic phenomenon the composition of the community. The inventory could explain its great biological richness and the data on Muridae and Soricidae in the TNP come existence of many endemic species (Maley, 2001). from the work of Dosso (1975, 1983) and Barri- In order to conserve this exceptional biological ere et al. (1999). The studies carried out on these diversity, the TNP was created by decree on Au- groups in recent years are more focused on the gust 28, 1972. In 1978, it joined the international diet of Soricidae (Churchfield et al., 2004) and the network of Biosphere Reserves and has been listed taxonomic review of the genera Praomys (Akpa- since 1982 on the UNESCO World Heritage sites. tou, 2009) and Malacomys (Bohoussou, 2016). 66 Nature Conservation Research. Заповедная наука 2018. 3(Suppl.2): 66–75 DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2018.067 It is therefore difficult to appreciate the ter- restrial small mammal communities in the TNP in terms of diversity and abundance. However, it is recognised that terrestrial small mammals form an important component of tropical natural environments (Adam et al., 2015; Bantihun & Bekele, 2015). Terrestrial small mammals play an important ecological role. They are an impor- tant component in the trophic chain, since they are prey for small carnivores, raptors and rep- tiles (Habtamu & Bekele, 2012) and also con- tribute to the regeneration of forests through the dissemination of seeds (Angelici & Luiselli, 2005). In addition, their reduced longevity, off- set by strong population dynamics, enables them to react quickly to environmental conditions changes and habitat fragmentation (Delattre et Fig. 1. Location of the study area in the Taï National Park, al., 1992; Nicolas et al., 2009). Thus, the spe- Côte d’Ivoire. cies richness and abundance of terrestrial small mammals are regularly used to measure the level of disturbance of different habitats (Nicolas et Rodents and shrews were inventoried in three al., 2009; Avenant, 2011). And hence a better types of habitats: primary forest, secondary forest, understanding of the composition of terrestrial swamp forest, from March to June 2010 in the western small mammal communities can contribute to a part of the TNP (Fig. 1). The primary forest (5°50′N; better assessment of the conservation status and 7°20′W) vegetation is characterised by Phyllocos- the functioning of particular forest ecosystems mus africanus Klotzsch, Corynanthe pachyceras like that of TNP. K.Schum., Xylopia quintasii Engl. & Diels, Coula The purpose of this study was to compare the edulis Baill., Octoknema borealis Hutch. & Dalziel, species richness and relative abundance of terres- Trichoscypha arborea A. Chev., Bombax brevicuspe trial small mammals in the three dominant TNP Sprague, Parkia bicolor A. Chev., Bussea occiden- habitats, represented by primary, secondary, and talis Hutch, and Erythrophleum ivorense A. Chev. swamp forests. In the secondary forest (5°49′N; 7°23′W), the most common species were Uapaca guineensis Müll. Arg., Material and Methods Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre ex Heckel, Study area and habitats surveyed Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb, Petersianthus This study was carried out in the TNP, locat- macrocarpus (P. Beauv.) Liben, Funtumia africana ed in southwestern Côte d’Ivoire (5°08′–6°24′N (Benth.) Stapf, Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) and 6°47′–7°25′W). The TNP is the largest in- C. DC., and Entandrophragma cylindricum Sprague. tact block of lowland rainforest in West Africa. The vegetation of the swamp forest (5°50′N; 7°21′W) It covers an area of 457 000 ha and is extended is dominated by Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benn.) to the north by the Wildlife Reserve of N’zo with Benth., Megaphrynium macrostachyum (Benth.) 790 km2 (Schweter, 1999; Kone, 2004). The TNP Milne-Redh., Sarcophrynium brachystachyum is situated 20 km east of Tai City. It is bounded (Benth.) K.Schum., Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baill.) by the River Cavally on the west, the River Sas- Urb., Afzelia bella var. gracilior, Hypselodelphys sandra on the east, the region of San Pedro on violacea (Ridl.) Milne-Redh., Anthostema aubryan- the south, and on the north by the Cavally re- um Baill., Protomegabaria stapfiana (Beille) Hutch., gion (Guiglo) (Fig. 1). The average annual rain- Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum.) Hallier f., and Saco- fall is 1800 mm, the average annual temperature glottis gabonensis (Baill.) Urb. (Ake-Assi & Pfeffer, is 24°C. The TNP is subjected to a four-season 1975; Adou Yao & N’Guessan, 2005). subequatorial climate: two rainy seasons (March – June and September – November) and two dry Small mammal sampling seasons (July – August and December – Febru- Two types of traps were used to capture ter- ary) (Collinet et al., 1984). restrial small mammals: 67 Nature Conservation Research. Заповедная наука 2018. 3(Suppl.2): 66–75 DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2018.067 Sherman live traps. In each habitat, four Molecular Systematics Service (UMS 2700) of plots of 5000 m2 (100 m × 50 m) each were de- the MNHN in Paris. The results of the molecular lineated and sampled. The different trapping analyses are not presented in this document. plots were sat at about 500 m apart to avoid in- Small mammals were identified following the fluences on each other during sampling. A total established taxonomic nomenclature (Meester & of 12 plots were prospected during this study. Setzer, 1971; Happold, 2013; Happold & Hap- In each plot, ten equidistant trap lines of 10 m pold, 2013). were arranged. On each trapping line, ten Sher- man live traps (7.5 × 9 × 23 cm) were set, spaced Data analysis 5 m apart, making a total of 100 Sherman live The composition and structure of terrestrial traps per plot. The traps were baited with fresh small mammal populations in different habitats palm nuts (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Traps were were described using several ecological vari- checked every morning after sunrise. Traps were ables and indices. For each habitat, we deter- set for 7 consecutive nights, making a trapping mined the species richness (S), which corre- effort of 700 trap-nights per plot, resulting in a sponds to the total number of species sampled.