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Small-mammal species richness and abundance along a tropical altitudinal gradient: an Australian example

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2010

Brooke L. Bateman ,
Alex S. Kutt ,
Eric P. Vanderduys  and
Jeanette E. Kemp
Brooke L. Bateman*
Affiliation:
School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia4811
Alex S. Kutt
Affiliation:
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Rangelands and Savannas, Davies Laboratory, PMB PO, Aitkenvale, Queensland, Australia4814
Eric P. Vanderduys
Affiliation:
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Rangelands and Savannas, Davies Laboratory, PMB PO, Aitkenvale, Queensland, Australia4814
Jeanette E. Kemp
Affiliation:
Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency, PO Box 5391, Townsville, Queensland, Australia4810
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

This study examined patterns in the species richness and abundance of small non-volant mammals along a tropical altitudinal gradient in north-eastern Australia. We investigated whether a mid-altitudinal peak in diversity was apparent, and if it occurred, whether it was determined by particular environmental conditions. We sampled a small-mammal assemblage at 17 sites distributed along an altitude-environmental gradient from savanna (350 m) to rain-forest vegetation (1000 m). Over four separate occasions (5100 trap-nights) we recorded 17 species of mammal with 416 captures. A positive non-linear relationship between altitude and mammal species richness and abundance was observed, peaking at the 800–900 m range. Many species were distributed across a range of altitudes, while others were strongly associated with particular habitat conditions. There was a distinct reduction in abundance and species richness at low altitudes associated with the less complex vegetation, lower productivity and possible anthropogenic effects. Key findings were: that small-mammal richness peaked towards the summit of the gradient and not at one-half the maximum altitude predicted by the mid-domain effect; contrasting conditions and greatest vegetation juxtaposition had the greatest influence on the patterns recorded; and that local idiosyncratic influences such as habitat factors, land management and historical biogeography are significant.

Keywords

Australiaaltitudegradientnon-volant mammalspecies abundancespecies richnesstropics
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , March 2010 , pp. 139 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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