Small mammal diversity in two sites with different degree of disturbance in the Sierra Sur, Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca ranks second in mammal diversity; however, human activities have led to its reduction. Mammalian studies conducted at the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca are scarce; therefore, the objective was to compare small mammal diversity in 2 sites with different degree of disturbance, caused by human settlements, coffee plantations and other crops. The study was conducted monthly from June 2009 to May 2010. At each site, 1 hectare was selected, where vegetation and small mammals were recorded using mist nets, Sherman traps, and visual observations. At site 1, less-disturbed, 431 individuals belonging to 21 species were captured; meanwhile at site 2, more-disturbed, 190 individuals belonging to 16 species were recorded. Tree and shrub diversity was significantly greater in site 1. Even differences in alpha diversity for small mammals (marsupials-rodents and bats) were not significant between sites, abundance was reduced for the most species. All Rights Reserved (C)2015 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Biologia. This is an open access item distributed under the Creative Commons CC License BY-NC-ND 4.0.