Non flying mammals and landscape changes in the tropical rain forest region of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

The rapid and extensive conversion of Neotropical rain forests to a landscape consisting of pasture lands and other agricultural habitats has meant the local disappearance fragmentation and isolation of vertebrate populations To avoid further losses in biodiversity in Neotropical rain forests, it is imperative to determine how the different species that constitute the different vertebrate communities have responded to the anthropogenic alterations of their natural habitats To provide data in this direction we sampled non flying mammals in 35 forest fragments, in six disturbed forest sites in 12 regenerating forests, in 20 arboreal agricultural habitats (cacao coffee, mixed, citrus and allspice), in four live fence sites and in four pasture sites at Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz Mexico Sampling indicated that area of forest fragments and isolating distance were important variables influencing species richness Disturbed forest had fewer species and individuals present and supported a lower non flying mammal biomass than undisturbed and regenerating forests Shaded plantations (cacao coffee and mixed) were richer in species and in individuals than unshaded ones (citrus, allspice) Species richness in forests and agricultural habitats were associated to horizontal plant diversity and vertical foliage diversity Pasture habitats were the poorest man-made habitats in non flying mammal species Live fences supported a higher biomass and species of non flying mammals than pastures and were similar to forest and shaded man-made habitats in species assemblages     

Primates as Predictors of Mammal Community Diversity in the Forest Ecosystems of Madagascar

The geographic distribution of species is the typical metric for identifying priority areas for conservation. Since most biodiversity remains poorly studied, a subset of charismatic species, such as primates, often stand as surrogates for total biodiversity. A central question is therefore, how effectively do primates predict the pooled species richness of other mammalian taxa? We used lemurs as indicator species to predict total non-primate mammal community richness in the forest ecosystems of Madagascar. We combine environmental and species occurrence data to ascertain the extent to which primate diversity can predict (1) non-primate mammal α-diversity (species richness), (2) non-primate complementarity, and (3) non-primate β-diversity (species turnover). Our results indicate that primates are effective predictors of non-primate mammal community diversity in the forest ecosystems of Madagascar after controlling for habitat. When individual orders of mammals are considered, lemurs effectively predict the species richness of carnivorans and rodents (but not afrosoricids), complementarity of rodents (but not carnivorans or afrosoricids), and all individual components of β-diversity. We conclude that lemurs effectively predict total non-primate community richness. However, surrogate species alone cannot achieve complete representation of biodiversity.     

Forest Fragment and Breeding Habitat Characteristics Explain Frog Diversity and Abundance in Singapore

Habitat loss and fragmentation can have severe negative and irreversible effects on biodiversity. We investigated the effects of forest fragmentation on frog diversity in Singapore because of its high rates of deforestation and the demonstration that frogs are some of the most sensitive species to habitat degradation. We surveyed frog species in 12 forest fragments varying from 11 to 935 ha. We compared differences in species richness, abundance, and Shannon's index in relation to forest fragment size, connectivity (distance between fragments), and breeding habitat heterogeneity. A total of 20 species from 12 genera and five families were encountered in 12 fragments. Larger fragments and those closer to larger fragments had higher species richness. Abundance, however, was not correlated with forest area or connectivity, but we found fewer individual frogs in the larger fragments. We also found that breeding habitat heterogeneity best explained frog species diversity and abundance in forest fragments. Fragments with a high diversity of breeding habitats had more species. We found no evidence to suggest that abundance and diversity are strongly correlated, particularly in disturbed areas, but that breeding habitat heterogeneity is an under-appreciated factor that should be considered when prioritizing areas for anuran conservation. Enriching breeding habitat heterogeneity, creating corridors between fragments, and reforesting degraded areas are some of the most beneficial strategies for preserving urban frog biodiversity.     

Dung Beetle and Terrestrial Mammal Diversity in Forests, Indigenous Agroforestry Systems and Plantain Monocultures in Talamanca, Costa Rica

In order to explore the importance of indigenous agroforestry systems for biodiversity conservation, we compared the abundance, species richness and diversity of dung beetles and terrestrial mammals across a gradient of different land use types from agricultural monocultures (plantains) to agroforestry systems (cocoa and banana) and forests in the BriBri and Cabécar indigenous reserves in Talamanca, Costa Rica. A total of 132,460 dung beetles of 52 species and 913 tracks of 27 terrestrial mammal species were registered. Dung beetle species richness and diversity were greatest in the forests, intermediate in the agroforestry systems and lowest in the plantain monocultures, while dung beetle abundance was greatest in the plantain monocultures. The number of mammal tracks per plot was significantly higher in forests than in plantain monocultures, whereas mammal species richness was higher in forests than in either cocoa agroforestry systems or plantain monocultures. Species composition of both terrestrial mammals and dung beetles also varied across the different land use types. Our study indicates that indigenous cocoa and banana agroforestry systems maintain an intermediate level of biodiversity (which is less than that of the original forest but significantly greater than that of plantain monocultures) and provide suitable habitat for a number of forest-dependent species. Although the agroforestry systems appear to serve as favorable habitats for many terrestrial mammal species, their potential positive contribution to mammal conservation is being offset by heavy hunting pressure in the reserves. As in other agricultural landscapes, the conservation of biodiversity in Talamanca will depend not only on maintaining the existing forest patches and reducing the conversion of traditional agroforestry systems to monocultures, but also on reducing hunting pressure.     

Tibetan sacred sites conserve old growth trees and cover in the eastern Himalayas

Khawa Karpo, in the eastern Himalayas, is a mountain considered sacred throughout Tibet, and is internationally recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. Numerous areas within this landscape are considered ‘sacred’ by the indigenous Tibetans of the region, who interact with these sites in ways potentially beneficial to conservation. Our previous remote sensing study indicated that sacred sites are found in habitats with greater species richness, diversity, and endemism than randomly selected non-sacred sites. This study examines the role of sanctity in biodiversity conservation within habitats in the Khawa Karpo region by pairing plots within the same habitats in sacred and non-sacred areas. Understory richness, diversity, cover, and number of useful species are measured; for trees, richness, diversity, cover, and density are measured. Results indicate that within habitats sanctity does not affect understory plant communities; however, within sacred areas trees are larger (p = 0.003) and forests have greater cover (p = 0.003) than non-sacred areas. Our results indicate that, whereas placement of sacred areas and preservation of vegetation cover affects useful plants, biodiversity and endemism, within habitats sacred sites preserve old growth trees and forest structure. In sum, Tibetan sacred sites are ecologically unique and important for conservation on varying scales of landscape, community, and species.     

Plant and small mammal richness correlate positively in a biodiversity hotspot

Hotspots of biodiversity are important areas in facilitating an understanding of species richness and its maintenance. Herbivores can increase plant richness by reducing dominant plant species thus providing space for subdominant species. As small mammals are abundant in the Succulent Karoo and therefore might affect plant richness by means of herbivory, we tested if this mechanism might exist in the Succulent Karoo in southern Africa, a biodiversity hotspot due to its extraordinary plant richness. At ten ecologically different study sites we measured plant and small mammal richness and diversity and determined 11 abiotic factors including soil composition, altitude and rainfall. We found positive correlations between plant richness and the number of small mammal species. A general linear model revealed that the number of small mammal species was more important than abiotic factors in explaining variation in plant richness. To test whether small mammals might directly influence plant richness, we studied the influence of the bush-Karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus, a central place forager, on the plant community. The immediate surroundings of occupied O. unisulcatus nests showed significantly higher plant richness than control areas. We conclude that small mammals can have a positive effect on plant richness in the Succulent Karoo. While experimental data are needed to support these correlative results, the results of our study indicate that areas of high small mammal richness should be included in conservation programs of the Succulent Karoo.     

Rodent Diversity and Land Use in Montebello,Chiapas, Mexico

We analyzed the abundance and diversity of Heteromyid and Murid rodents in the Lagos de Montebello National Park and adjacent areas, Chiapas, Mexico. We sampled three habitat types with different degrees of disturbance: pine-oak-liquidambar forest, ecotone and crop farming lands. Habitat types were defined considering characteristics such as heterogeneity, structural complexity and arboreal cover. We obtained ancillary habitat data considered important for small mammal requirements. Data on rodent communities were obtained by capture-mark-recapture between February and October 1996. We made 410 captures in 3820 trap-nights effort. Ten species were recorded, including one endemic with restricted distribution in Chiapas. Mouse diversity in the forest was significantly higher than within the farm lands. A Kendall correlation analysis showed positive relationship between rodent community species richness and habitat heterogeneity. Diversity of rodents was associated with the habitat complexity and structural elements, and negatively correlated with farming intensity. We found a high beta diversity and low similarity of the rodent communities in the three different habitats. Community composition strongly changed from the forest through the ecotone into the farm lands, with five species gained and seven species lost. The highest species richness was found in the ecotone; however, it showed a strong dominance of a single species that can convert into a plague of crops, and relatively low abundance of the other species. The pine-oak-liquidambar forest had the highest diversity indices, sheltering a particular rodent community within the study area, it therefore probably has the most important role in the conservation of the local biodiversity.     

The high value of logged tropical forests: lessons from northern Borneo

The carbon storage and conservation value of old-growth tropical forests is clear, but the value of logged forest is less certain. Here we analyse >100,000 observations of individuals from 11 taxonomic groups and >2,500 species, covering up to 19?years of post-logging regeneration, and quantify the impacts of logging on carbon storage and biodiversity within lowland dipterocarp forests of Sabah, Borneo. We estimate that forests lost ca. 53% of above-ground biomass as a result of logging but despite this high level of degradation, logged forest retained considerable conservation value: floral species richness was higher in logged forest than in primary forest and whilst faunal species richness was typically lower in logged forest, in most cases the difference between habitats was no greater than ca. 10%. Moreover, in most studies >90% of species recorded in primary forest were also present in logged forest, including species of conservation concern. During recovery, logged forest accumulated carbon at five times the rate of natural forest (1.4 and 0.28?Mg?C?ha^?1?year^?1, respectively). We conclude that allowing the continued regeneration of extensive areas of Borneo??s forest that have already been logged, and are at risk of conversion to other land uses, would provide a significant carbon store that is likely to increase over time. Protecting intact forest is critical for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, but the contribution of logged forest to these twin goals should not be overlooked.     

A Century of Change in Kenya's Mammal Communities: Increased Richness and Decreased Uniqueness in Six Protected Areas

The potential for large-scale biodiversity losses as a result of climate change and human impact presents major challenges for ecology and conservation science. Governments around the world have established national parks and wildlife reserves to help protect biodiversity, but there are few studies on the long-term consequences of this strategy. We use Kenya as a case study to investigate species richness and other attributes of mammal communities in 6 protected areas over the past century. Museum records from African expeditions that comprehensively sampled mammals from these same areas in the early 1900''s provide a baseline for evaluating changes in species richness and community structure over time. We compare species lists assembled from archived specimens (1896–1950) to those of corresponding modern protected areas (1950–2013). Species richness in Kenya was stable or increased at 5 out of 6 sites from historical to modern times. Beta-diversity, in contrast, decreased across all sites. Potential biases such as variable historical vs. modern collection effort and detection of small-bodied, rare, and low-visibility species do not account for the observed results. We attribute the pattern of decreased beta diversity primarily to increased site occupancy by common species across all body size classes. Despite a decrease in land area available to wildlife, our data do not show the extinctions predicted by species-area relationships. Moreover, the results indicate that species-area curves based solely on protected areas could underestimate diversity because they do not account for mammal species whose ranges extend beyond protected area boundaries. We conclude that the 6 protected areas have been effective in preserving species richness in spite of continuing conversion of wild grasslands to cropland, but the overall decrease in beta diversity indicates a decline in the uniqueness of mammal communities that historically characterized Kenya''s varied landscape.     

Ferns,frogs, lizards,birds and bats in forest fragments and shade cacao plantations in two contrasting landscapes in the Atlantic forest,Brazil

The traditional shade cacao plantations (cabrucas) of southern Bahia, Brazil, are biologically rich habitats, encompassing many forest-dwelling species. However, a critical question for the conservation management of this specific region, and the highly fragmented Atlantic forest in general, is to what extent the conservation value of cabrucas relies on the presence of primary forest habitat in the landscape. We investigated the relative importance of cabrucas and forests for the conservation of five diverse biological groups (ferns, frogs, lizards, birds and bats) in two contrasting landscapes in southern Bahia, one dominated by forest with some interspersed cabrucas, and one dominated by cabrucas with interspersed forest fragments. The community structure (richness, abundance and diversity) of all biological groups differed between cabrucas and forests, although these differences varied among groups. A high number of forest species was found in the cabrucas. However, there were pronounced differences between the two landscapes with regard to the ability of cabrucas to maintain species richness. Irrespective of the biological group considered, cabrucas located in the landscape with few and small forest fragments supported impoverished assemblages compared to cabrucas located in the landscape with high forest cover. This suggests that a greater extent of native forest in the landscape positively influences the species richness of cabrucas. In the landscape with few small forest fragments interspersed into extensive areas of shade cacao plantations, the beta diversity of birds was higher than in the more forested landscape, suggesting that forest specialist species that rarely ventured into cabrucas were randomly lost from the fragments. These results stress both the importance and the vulnerability of the small forest patches remaining in landscapes dominated by shade plantations. They also point to the need to preserve sufficient areas of primary habitat even in landscapes where land use practices are generally favorable to the conservation of biodiversity.     

Anthropogenic landscape changes and avian diversity at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

Faced with rapid and extensive conversion of tropical rain forests to a landscape consisting of pasture lands, and with the need to preserve the avian diversity of tropical regions, it is imperative to determine how different species have responded to anthropogenic alterations of their natural habitats. We sampled birds in undisturbed and disturbed forest islands in regenerating forests and in four replicates of each of the following man-made habitats: arboreal agricultural habitats (cacao, coffee, mixed, citrus and allspice), non-arboreal agricultural habitats (corn, jalapen~o chili pepper and bananas), live fences and pastures, at Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. We censused 22145 birds representing 226 species. We detected 79% of the species in forest habitats, 80% in agricultural habitats, 43% in live fences and only 5% in pastures. Isolating distance and continued disturbance by humans of forest fragments were important variables influencing species' richness. Arboreal agricultural habitats and live fences were richer in species and in birds than non-arboreal man-made habitats. Economic surveys showed that some of the crops investigated yield higher returns than cattle ranching based on pastures. We discuss the conservation value for birds of agricultural islands and of live fences as landscape elements that help reduce physical and biotic isolation among remaining configurations of forest fragments in Los Tuxtlas.     

Spillover of Insects from Rain Forest into Adjacent Oil Palm Plantations

Conversion of natural forest to oil palm plantations is a major threat to biodiversity in Southeast Asia. The retention of natural forest habitats within plantations has been proposed as a method to reduce biodiversity losses in agricultural areas, and we examined whether forest areas resulted in spillover of species into adjacent oil palm plantations. We sampled ants and butterflies along two 2‐km transects across an ecotone from plantation into adjacent forest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Species richness of both taxa was reduced in plantations, but to a greater extent in butterflies (54% reduction) than in ants (25% reduction). Butterfly diversity increased in plantations with increasing proximity to forest primarily due to spillover of ‘vagrant’ forest species (whose larval host plants do not occur in plantations), although richness of species that could potentially breed in plantations also increased near to forest. By contrast, ants showed no spillover effects and were less sensitive to land‐use changes, with much higher levels of similarity in species assemblages across habitats than for butterflies. Our results for butterflies suggest that despite the negative impacts of plantations on diversity, proximity to forest could improve diversity in adjacent plantations for some taxa. Spillover of forest species implies that retaining forest areas within plantations may be important for facilitating dispersal of some species through the landscape.     

Distribution of ground-dwelling beetles in fragmented tropical habitats

The conservation of biodiversity is increasingly dependent on human-altered habitats. In a fragmented forest landscape in northern Costa Rica within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, an area of great conservation importance, we compared the diversity and composition of ground-dwelling beetle communities in five habitat types along a gradient of increasing disturbance: primary forest, logged forest, secondary forest, plantation (Gmelina arborea) and pasture. Using pitfall trapping we captured a total of 1,877 beetles (Coleoptera), comprising 422 morphospecies in 26 families. The plantation sites had the lowest number of species followed by secondary forest and pasture. Multivariate analysis separated the beetle fauna according to land use, and suggested that only the logged forest maintains a similar species assemblage to primary forest. However, each habitat harboured a number of unique species indicating the conservation value of the mosaic of habitats found in fragmented landscapes. Our results suggest that to maintain forest beetle species diversity it is essential that areas of natural forest are conserved. However, other land uses also provide beetle habitats and in fragmented areas active management to maintain a mosaic of land uses will contribute to the conservation of beetle diversity.     

Ecological impacts of oil palm agriculture on forest mammals in plantation estates and smallholdings

Global oil palm expansion has caused substantial ecological damage to tropical biodiversity. We quantified wild mammal richness in large oil palm plantation estates and semi-traditional oil palm smallholdings in Peninsular Malaysia. We sampled 41 plantation estates and 14 smallholdings, and used line-transect surveys coupled with semi-structured interviews to develop a database of the native mammals found in oil palm landscapes. Semi-structured interviews revealed a total of 32 mammal species, including 13 IUCN Red Listed taxa of high conservation value. Our results showed that human activity and the size of patches of remnant rainforest were important factors influencing the richness of mammal species in oil palm landscapes. More carnivorous and herbivorous species were reported in smallholdings than plantation estates, most probably as a response to greater habitat heterogeneity in smallholdings. All species, irrespective of conservation status, were more likely to be recorded in oil palm plantation estates and smallholdings that supported large areas of native forest. Our findings suggest that biodiversity conservation in oil palm landscapes will require a variety of conservation approaches. Minimizing poaching, reducing disturbance from human activity, and protecting existing forest patches appear particularly important. Strategies to promote the persistence of both high and low conservation value species should be adopted as part of a strengthened certification scheme for oil palm production.     

Significant variables for the conservation of mountain invertebrates

Conserving biodiversity on mountains holds particular challenges, with topographic species beta diversity being high. In turn, conserving mountain biodiversity in the heart of a biodiversity hotspot, with intense urbanization on its lower slopes, poses further challenges. We investigate here an iconic mountain at the southern tip of Africa, which is under multiple human pressures, while receiving much conservation attention. We sought here some general principles to guide conservation management of this and other similar mountains. Our focal organisms were surface-active invertebrates, as they are abundant, diverse, and environmentally sensitive at point localities. We show that vegetation structure and elevation were the most important environmental variables determining this diversity. Type of fynbos vegetation, proximity of forest to a river, aspect, and abundance of the alien Argentine ant Linepithema humile, had no significant influence. Suburban woodland species richness and abundance had a non-significant difference to that of natural forest. Fynbos had high species beta diversity of invertebrates, suggesting that large areas of this dominant vegetation type should be conserved. However, many specialist and highly local endemic species were in forest, highlighting the irreplaceability of forest habitats. Such a mountain, with its complex topography, requires total protection, as there is no room for loss of any part of the mountain. We emphasize that, while the upper slope and summit are well protected, the lower slopes are in need of urgent attention, a situation which mirrors that in Europe.     

Diversity patterns in sandy forest-steppes: a comparative study from the western and central Palaearctic

The Palearctic forest-steppe biome is a narrow vegetation zone between the temperate forest and steppe biomes, which provides important habitats for many endangered species and represents an important hotspot of biodiversity. Although the number of studies on forest–grassland mosaics is increasing, information currently available about the general compositional and structural patterns of Eurasian forest-steppes is scarce. Our study aimed to compare the habitat structure, species composition and diversity patterns of two distant sandy forest-steppes of Eurasia. We compared 72 relevés made in the main habitat components (forest, forest edge and grassland) of sandy forest-steppes in three Hungarian and three Kazakh sites. The size of the plots was 25 m². Species number, Shannon diversity and species evenness values were calculated for each plot. Fidelity calculations and linear mixed effects models were used for the analyses. We found that the vegetation and diversity patterns of the two forest-steppes are similar and their components play important roles in maintaining landscape-scale diversity. Despite the higher species richness in Hungary, Shannon diversity was higher in Kazakhstan. The deciduous forest edges of both areas had significantly higher species richness than the neighbouring habitats (forests and grasslands); therefore they can be considered local biodiversity hotspots. Due to the special characteristics of this vegetation complex, we emphasize the high conservation value of all landscape components as a coherent system throughout the entire range of the Eurasian forest-steppe biome.     

Do riparian forest strips in modified forest landscapes aid in conserving bat diversity?

Agricultural practices lead to losses of natural resources and biodiversity. Maintaining forests alongside streams (riparian forest strips) has been used as a mechanism to minimize the impact of clearing for agriculture on biodiversity. To test the contribution of riparian forest strips to conserve biodiversity in production landscapes, we selected bats as a biodiversity model system and examined two dimensions of diversity: taxonomic and functional. We compared bat diversity and composition in forest, with and without stream habitat, and in narrow forest riparian strips surrounded by areas cleared for agriculture. We tested the hypothesis that riparian forest strips provide potential conservation value by providing habitat and serving as movement corridors for forest bat species. Riparian forest strips maintained 75% of the bat species registered in forested habitats. We found assemblage in sites with riparian forest strips were dominated by a few species with high abundance and included several species with low abundance. Bat species assemblage was more similar between sites with streams than between those sites to forests without stream habitat. These results highlight the importance of stream habitat in predicting presence of bat species. We registered similar number of guilds between forest sites and riparian forest strips sites. Relative to matrix habitats, stream and edge habitats in riparian forest strips sites were functionally more diverse, supporting our hypothesis about the potential conservation value of riparian forest strips. Results from this study suggest that maintaining riparian forest strips within cleared areas for agricultural areas helps conserve the taxonomic and functional diversity of bats. Also, it provides basic data to evaluate the efficacy of maintaining these landscape features for mitigating impacts of agricultural development on biodiversity. However, we caution that riparian forest strips alone are not sufficient for biodiversity maintenance; their value depends on maintenance of larger forest areas in their vicinity.     

Amphibian assemblages and diversity patterns in two forest ecosystems of South-Eastern Nigeria

Despite recent anthropogenic interference, south-eastern (SE) Nigeria historically hosts a myriad of pristine forest habitats that could sustain diverse amphibian assemblages. Currently, land conversion of primary forests through human activities has led to modified habitats, such as agricultural fields and secondary forest. This calls for biodiversity documentation and initiation of conservation plans. However, the dearth of herpetological studies has limited knowledge of the amphibian species richness and distribution patterns in some forest ecosystems of SE Nigeria. Thus, we surveyed two less-explored intact forests in SE Nigeria—Afi Forest Reserve (AFR) and Ikpan forest ecosystem (IFE)—to document the patterns of amphibian diversity and distribution. Specimens were searched for opportunistically using visual and acoustic survey methods. Literature searches were conducted to document additional species that were not encountered. Using the observational records and arrays of diversity indices, the patterns of species richness and abundance across habitat types were evaluated. The result of our study revealed the presence of 30 and 31 amphibian species from AFR and IFE, respectively. Our field collections included two unidentified species (Sclerophrys sp. and Hyperolius sp.) from AFR and one (Phrynobatrachus sp.) from IFE. Analyses revealed high species diversity and richness in forest and swamps compared with the agricultural field and savannah. Given the increased human activities and the antecedent threats to forest ecosystems of SE Nigeria, we offer recommendations for the initiation of conservation plans for these two surveyed localities.     

High Bee and Wasp Diversity in a Heterogeneous Tropical Farming System Compared to Protected Forest

It is a globally important challenge to meet increasing demands for resources and, at the same time, protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. Farming is usually regarded as a major threat to biodiversity due to its expansion into natural areas. We compared biodiversity of bees and wasps between heterogeneous small-scale farming areas and protected forest in northern coastal Belize, Central America. Malaise traps operated for three months during the transition from wet to dry season. Farming areas consisted of a mosaic of mixed crop types, open habitat, secondary forest, and agroforestry. Mean species richness per site (alpha diversity), as well as spatial and temporal community variation (beta diversity) of bees and wasps were equal or higher in farming areas compared to protected forest. The higher species richness and community variation in farmland was due to additional species that did not occur in the forest, whereas most species trapped in forest were also found in farming areas. The overall regional species richness (gamma diversity) increased by 70% with the inclusion of farming areas. Our results suggest that small-scale farming systems adjacent to protected forest may not only conserve, but even favour, biodiversity of some taxonomic groups. We can, however, not exclude possible declines of bee and wasp diversity in more intensified farmland or in landscapes completely covered by heterogeneous farming systems.     

Predictors of mammal species richness in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

The management of multi-functional landscapes warrants better knowledge of environment-richness associations at varying disturbance levels and habitat gradients. Intensive land-use patterns for agricultural purposes lead to fragmentation of natural habitat resulting in biodiversity loss that can be measured using landscape metrics to assess mammalian richness. Since carnivores and herbivores are likely to show different responses to disturbance, we calculated carnivore, non-carnivore, and total mammal species richness from camera surveys using a first order Jackknife Estimator. Richness was compared along a habitat gradient comprising coastal forest, Acacia thicket, and highland in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We used standardized OLS regression models to identify climatic and disturbance variables, and landscape metrics as predictors of species richness. The estimated total and non-carnivore species richness were highest in coastal forest, while carnivore species richness was highest in highland followed by coastal forest and Acacia thicket. Average monthly maximum temperature was a significant predictor of all richness groups, and precipitation of the wettest month and isothermality determined total and non-carnivore species richness, respectively. These climatic variables possibly limit species distribution because of physiological tolerance of the species. Total mammal richness was determined by mean shape (+) and habitat division (−) while diversity (+) and patch richness (−) explained carnivore species richness. Mean shape index (+) influenced non-carnivore richness. However, habitat division and patch richness negatively influenced total mammal richness. Though habitat patch size and contiguity had a weak positive prediction, these metrics demonstrated the importance of habitat connectivity for maintaining mammal richness. The identification of these climatic and landscape patterns is important to facilitate future landscape management for mammal conservation in forest-mosaics.