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The importance of microhabitat structure in maintaining forest mammal diversity in a mixed land-use mosaic

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Abstract

The Indian Ocean Coastal Belt (IOCB) of South Africa is a natural forest-grassland mosaic, nested within an anthropogenic, mixed land-use matrix. Given the ongoing threat of agricultural expansion and urbanisation, we assessed the value of a buffer habitat (Coastal dense bush) for conserving forest species. We investigated the influence of microhabitat complexity on mammal communities within forest and dense bush habitats, using occupancy modelling. We found vertical stratification gradients as observed in studies of tropical forest chronosequence, i.e. increased foliage density in lower habitat layers and decreased foliage density in higher habitat layers for dense bush, and vice versa for forest. Structural composition suggests that dense bush is within a successional stage of secondary forest regeneration. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) occupancy was higher in forest than dense bush, while the opposite was true for blue duiker (Philantomba monticola). Large-spotted genet (Genetta tigrina), Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) and marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus) occupancy remained constant between habitats. Grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) occupancy varied greatly between dense bush (0.48 ± 0.01) and forest (0.16 ± 0.01). Dense bush appeared to maintain natural forest assemblages, and may play a crucial role in buffering IOCB forest patches, given their highly-restricted distribution. However, dense bush habitats have no protection status, but play a role in the conservation of forest plants and animals. Therefore, we advocate the inclusion of dense bush habitats in conservation networks focused on forests.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for their contributions in improving the manuscript and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for granting permission to conduct research within their protected area network. We thank all private landowners for allowing us access, the assistance of the Ezemvelo KZN Honorary Officers as well as the support from local conservancies and the volunteers from SANBI CREW. The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Gay Langmuir Trust, Hans Hoheisen Trust and the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust kindly provided financial support for the research. The National Research Foundation (ZA) provided financial support for the Doctoral Scholar ship of YC Ehlers Smith.

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  1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa

    Yvette C. Ehlers Smith, David A. Ehlers Smith, T. Ramesh & Colleen T. Downs

  2. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Centre of Excellence Under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, Anaikatty Post, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India

    T. Ramesh

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  1. Yvette C. Ehlers Smith
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Ehlers Smith, Y.C., Ehlers Smith, D.A., Ramesh, T. et al. The importance of microhabitat structure in maintaining forest mammal diversity in a mixed land-use mosaic. Biodivers Conserv 26, 2361–2382 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1360-6

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