Species Composition, Relative Abundance and Distribution of Rodents in Wof-Washa Natural State Forest, North Shewa, Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: The species composition, relative abundance and distribution of rodents were studied in Wof-Washa Natural State Forest, Ethiopia from December 2016 to May 2017 during dry and wet seasons. A total of 49 Sherman live traps were set per grid at 10 m intervals in permanent 4900 m2 (70mx70m) live trapping grids established in intact forest, disturbed forest, Erica woodland, plantation forest and Farmland habitats. Result: A total of 621 individuals of rodents were captured in 2,560 trap nights by using both live traps and snap traps. Seven species of rodents in family Muridae were recorded. Out of the total rodents caught in the study period, Stenocephalemys albipes, Pelomys harringtoni and Lophuromys flavopunctatus are endemics to Ethiopia. Plantation forest had the highest mean trapping success whereas the lowest trap success was in the Erica woodland. The distribution of rodent species was significantly differed (P<0.05) among studied habitats. Higher trap success was recorded in dry season (26.2) than the wet season (24.4). The highest value of Shannon index was recorded in plantation forest (H’ = 1.82) followed by farmland habitat (H’ =1.67) during the wet season and the lowest value was observed in the intact forest (H’ = 0.67) and Erica woodland (H’ = 0.67) during the dry season. From the total catch, adults comprised 260(41.9%), sub-adults 248(39.9%) and juveniles 113(18.2%).Conclusion: The present study provides the first valuable demonstration on the species composition, relative abundance and distribution of rodents in the WWNSF. Further monitoring and inventory of small mammals is warranted to document and conserve the different endemic and endangered rodent species to designing important biodiversity management plan in the area.