Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve - Frontier-publications.co.uk

Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve: biological and socio-economic survey 33
Small fauna were sampled at the sites depicted in Figure 4.1. Opportunistic records were also
made throughout the reserve.
Figure 4.1 Location of small fauna sampling sites in Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve
Where possible, typical habitat preferences were determined for each species to enable
interpretation of ecological relationships, and the East African countries (Kenya, Uganda and
Tanzania) from which each has previously been recorded noted. Also, where known, the
conservation status of each species is presented, although the status of many East African
species is unknown as a result of little or poor information regarding distributions and habitat
preferences (Bakamwesiga & Pomeroy, 1997).
For mammals, where possible, the number of species captured was plotted against sampling
effort to show species accumulation rates. This provides an indication of whether the
documentation of diversity for each taxon is likely to be exhausted with respect to the
sampling technique.
4.4 Small rodents and shrews
4.4.1 Introduction
For a country of its size, Uganda possesses an ‘unusually rich rodent fauna’ (Delany, 1975)
and is the third richest African country in shrew species (Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990). Small
mammals play important ecological roles as prey species, seed dispersers and seed predators
(Rabinowitz, 1993). They have an impact on humans as several species of rodents live in
houses, potentially bringing disease, whereas others are pests of stored products (Delany &
Happold, 1979).
4.4.2 Aim
To survey and document the small rodent and shrew diversity of the reserve.
4.4.3 Methods
Small mammal traps were used to sample diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal small
mammals. Small snap traps (10.2 x 4.6cm), large Sherman (38 x 12 x 10cm), small Sherman
(23 x 9 x 8cm) and Trip Traps (27 x 7 x 6cm; Proctor Bros. Ltd.) were placed in suitable
habitats (e.g. at the bases of trees, under rocks, on branches) to target terrestrial and arboreal
species. Traps were baited with a paste of peanuts, sweet banana, margarine, and maize flour
and were checked twice daily.
Frontier-Uganda Wildlife Protected Areas Project January 1998
Baseline Surveys Programme Report No. 13