Habitat use and population dynamics of small mammals in the grasslands of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.

Project data from Dr. Anke Hoffmann. Data of the dissertation: "Hoffmann, Anke (1999). Habitat use and population dynamics of small mammals in the grasslands of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Dissertation Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig. Braunschweig." This dataset was mobilized in co-operation with the DFG-funded project reBiND (http://rebind.bgbm.org/). The following Abstract describes the dissertation: In the grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda small mammal populations were studied between April 1995 and March 1997 using the capture-mark-release-method and radio-telemetry. The 6 study plots were situated in the Imperata-Cymbopogon-grassland and in the bushland-grassland-mosaic and differed mainly in vegetation, habitat structures, cover and grazing pressure due to big game. The effect of fire was an important aspect to all questions of the study. In total 5.702 catches including 1.295 individuals out of 20 species of the families Muridae (12), Myoxidae (1) und Soricidae (7) were recorded in 65 trapping sessions. The most abundant species were Lemniscomys striatus, Mastomys natalensis and Arvicanthis nairobae. For all plots zoocoenosis and dominance structures are described as well as similarity of fauna and species diversity are compared. The population structures of the 3 most common species are compared in 2 plots of their highest abundance. Emphasis of the investigation is laid on the population development, sex ratio, weight and reproduction. Beyond the survival and turnover rates are determined for these populations. For all species habitat preferences are described. The range lenghts of L. striatus and M. natalensis were ascertained for different plots. Their dependence of population density, sex, sexual activity, body weight, rainfall and bush fire is revised. In all 9 L. striatus, 7 M. natalensis and 8 A. nairobae were radio-tracked successfully and their home range sizes, utilization patterns and activities investigated. For these species an inverse relationship between home range size and population density exists.

本数据集源自安克·霍夫曼博士（Dr. Anke Hoffmann）的博士研究数据，其博士论文为："Hoffmann, Anke (1999). Habitat use and population dynamics of small mammals in the grasslands of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Dissertation Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig. Braunschweig." 本数据集系与德国研究基金会（Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG）资助的reBiND项目（http://rebind.bgbm.org/）合作整理发布。

本研究摘要如下：1995年4月至1997年3月间，研究团队采用标记重捕法（capture-mark-release-method）与无线电遥测技术（radio-telemetry），对乌干达伊丽莎白女王国家公园草原生境中的小型哺乳动物种群展开调查。共设置6处研究样地，分别位于白茅-香茅草原（Imperata-Cymbopogon-grassland）与灌丛-草原镶嵌生境中，各生境主要在植被组成、生境结构、覆盖度以及大型猎物放牧压力方面存在差异。火干扰效应是本研究所有核心议题的重要考量维度。

整个调查期间共开展65次诱捕轮次，累计记录到5702次捕获事件，涵盖20个物种的1295只个体，涉及鼠科（Muridae，12种）、睡鼠科（Myoxidae，1种）及鼩鼱科（Soricidae，7种）。其中优势物种为条纹草鼠（Lemniscomys striatus）、Natal攀鼠（Mastomys natalensis）及内罗毕草鼠（Arvicanthis nairobae）。研究对全部样地的动物群落组成、优势类群结构、区系相似性及物种多样性进行了描述与对比。选取3种常见物种中种群密度最高的2处样地，对比分析其种群结构。本研究重点关注种群动态、性比、体重与繁殖特征，同时测定了这些种群的存活率与周转率。

此外，本研究明确了所有物种的生境偏好。针对条纹草鼠与Natal攀鼠，研究测定了不同样地内的活动范围长度，并探讨了其与种群密度、性别、性活动状态、体重、降雨量及野火发生的相关性。本研究共成功无线电遥测追踪了9只条纹草鼠、7只Natal攀鼠及8只内罗毕草鼠，对其家域面积（home range size）、利用模式与活动规律展开了分析。结果显示，上述3个物种的家域面积与种群密度呈负相关关系。