Intergradation of Habitats of Non-Volant Small Mammals in the Patchy Cerrado Landscape

Abstract

The relevant literature on the community composition, population densities, habitat preference, and interspecific relations of small mammals in the Cerrado biome of central Brazil is surveyed, and their community structure in different habitats of the open savanna as well as in forested habitats, especially gallery forests, is analyzed. Small mammal communities differ along a gradient of natural habitats in the Cerrado landscape. There are habitat generalists occurring in more than three types of habitat (pan-habitat species) and habitat specialists, showing a high degree of fidelity to habitat. Most species are of the latter kind, displaying high habitat specificity. Habitat structure is the major factor determining small mammal communities within the Cerrado landscape. Community differences appear to be a function of local mosaic factors as well as differences among river basins, between high plateau forested habitats and lowland valley forests, or between moister open areas with soft soil and abundant grass versus very dry and rocky microhabitats.