The Diversity of Small Mammal Communities in FORRU's Reforested Sites

Here, our BSc student, Jenpop Thaiying, presents what happens to small mammal communities in the initial stages of forest restoration. In an earlier, pre-FORRU study, another BSc student, Somyod Ua-Apisitwong provided an overview of the common small mammal species that inhabit both evergreen and deciduous ecosystems in northern Thailand - species that would indicate recovery of small mammal communities, when implementing forest restoration.

ABSTRACT: This research examined the effects of early forest restoration operations on small mammal communities. A survey was conducted in 2-year-old and 4-year-old forest, being restored by the framework species method, as well as in non-planted plots. The study site was above Baan Mae Sa Mai, in Chiang Mai Province (altitude 1300 metres). Planted trees included several species in the families Moraceae (Ficus spp.), Leguminosae and Fagaceae. Three types of surveys were performed: i) mammal trapping, ii) interviews with local villagers and survey of animal signs. Trapping was conducted 3 times, 6 nights each time in April, May and October, using the mark-recapture method. Seven small mammal species were captured, Rattus bukit, Rattus rattus, Rattus koratensis, Rattus surifer, Rattus exulans, Mus pahari and Mus shortridgei. Interviews indicated the presence of members from 6 families: Manidae, Viverridae, Leporidae, Suidae, Sciuridae, and Tupaiidae. During the survey of mammal signs, faeces of species in the families, Leporidae and Viverridae were found. Evidence of tree shrews (Tupaiidae) and a skull of Hylomys suillus, were also discovered in the plots. Using the trapping data, the control plots had the highest abundance of small mammals. Fewer animals were trapped in the 1998 and 2000 plots possibly due to disturbance by restoration activities e.g. weeding. Capture rates and species richness were, lower than previously reported in mature natural forest nearby, probably due to isolation of the plots from the natural forest.