Vol. 21 No. 2 (2006): February
Field Reports

Small mammal communities in a rapidly developing southern Indian city

Published 2006-02-21

Abstract

Four sites around Bangalore city were chosen for survey of non-volant small mammals (rodents and insectivores). The sites were chosen in scrub patches and plantations that are typical of Bangalore landscape. Species composition, population and microhabitat preference were studied. The study assessed changes in species composition and community structure with the change in land use patterns and levels of anthropogenic disturbances. In areas of high anthropogenic disturbance, number of species, and abundance was recorded to be very low, as compared to areas of relatively low disturbance. Shivanahalli (least disturbed site, and most representative of wild habitats around Bangalore) recorded seven species, with Cremnomys blanfordi and Rattus rattus Wroughtoni being dominant. Microhabitat preference was studied only in Shivanahalli, as the other sites did not have sufficient captures for analysis. Most of the captures were recorded in rocky areas, with dense shrub cover. The two dominant species appeared to avoid each other’s territories.