Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia
In this study, we investigate and compare the response patterns of small mammal communities to increasing land use intensity in two study areas: private farmland at the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and smallholder farmland in Tsumeb agricultural area. Species richness, community composi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/12/488 |
| _version_ | 1797544001339916288 |
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| author | Nicole Starik Oskar Kandali Mbango Susanne Bengsch Thomas Göttert Ulrich Zeller |
| author_facet | Nicole Starik Oskar Kandali Mbango Susanne Bengsch Thomas Göttert Ulrich Zeller |
| author_sort | Nicole Starik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we investigate and compare the response patterns of small mammal communities to increasing land use intensity in two study areas: private farmland at the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and smallholder farmland in Tsumeb agricultural area. Species richness, community composition and a standardized capture index (RCI) are compared between sites of (a) increasing grazing pressure of ungulates (Etosha) and (b) increasing conversion of bushland to arable land (Tsumeb). Within each study area, we found clear response patterns towards increasing land use intensity. However, patterns differ significantly between the two areas. Within the less-transformed area (Etosha), high land use intensity results in a decrease in the RCI but not species richness. Small mammal communities remain relatively stable, but ecosystem functions (e.g., bioturbation, seed dispersal) are weakened. Within the more-transformed area (Tsumeb), high land use intensity leads to a decrease in species richness and increasing RCIs of two common pest species. The disappearance of a balanced community and the dramatic increase in a few pest species has the potential to threaten human livelihoods (e.g., crop damage, disease vectors). Our comparative approach clearly indicates that <i>Gerbilliscus leucogaster</i> is a possible candidate for an ecological indicator of ecosystem integrity. <i>Mastomys natalensis</i> has the potential to become an important pest species when bushland is transformed into irrigated arable land. Our results support the importance of area-specific conservation and management measures in savanna ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:54:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61630a6718b441ca970003afdbb719eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:54:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-61630a6718b441ca970003afdbb719eb2023-11-21T01:50:34ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-12-01121248810.3390/d12120488Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central NamibiaNicole Starik0Oskar Kandali Mbango1Susanne Bengsch2Thomas Göttert3Ulrich Zeller4Systematic Zoology Division, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Animal Science, University of Namibia, Windhoek 900, NamibiaInstitute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, Technische Universität Berlin, Str. des 17. Juni 145, 10623 Berlin, GermanySystematic Zoology Division, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, GermanySystematic Zoology Division, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, GermanyIn this study, we investigate and compare the response patterns of small mammal communities to increasing land use intensity in two study areas: private farmland at the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and smallholder farmland in Tsumeb agricultural area. Species richness, community composition and a standardized capture index (RCI) are compared between sites of (a) increasing grazing pressure of ungulates (Etosha) and (b) increasing conversion of bushland to arable land (Tsumeb). Within each study area, we found clear response patterns towards increasing land use intensity. However, patterns differ significantly between the two areas. Within the less-transformed area (Etosha), high land use intensity results in a decrease in the RCI but not species richness. Small mammal communities remain relatively stable, but ecosystem functions (e.g., bioturbation, seed dispersal) are weakened. Within the more-transformed area (Tsumeb), high land use intensity leads to a decrease in species richness and increasing RCIs of two common pest species. The disappearance of a balanced community and the dramatic increase in a few pest species has the potential to threaten human livelihoods (e.g., crop damage, disease vectors). Our comparative approach clearly indicates that <i>Gerbilliscus leucogaster</i> is a possible candidate for an ecological indicator of ecosystem integrity. <i>Mastomys natalensis</i> has the potential to become an important pest species when bushland is transformed into irrigated arable land. Our results support the importance of area-specific conservation and management measures in savanna ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/12/488land uselivestock grazingirrigation-based croppinglucerneecological indicator<i>Gerbilliscus leucogaster</i> |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Starik Oskar Kandali Mbango Susanne Bengsch Thomas Göttert Ulrich Zeller Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia Diversity land use livestock grazing irrigation-based cropping lucerne ecological indicator <i>Gerbilliscus leucogaster</i> |
| title | Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia |
| title_full | Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia |
| title_short | Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia |
| title_sort | landscape transformation influences responses of terrestrial small mammals to land use intensity in north central namibia |
| topic | land use livestock grazing irrigation-based cropping lucerne ecological indicator <i>Gerbilliscus leucogaster</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/12/488 |
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