Threatened mammals become more predatory after small‐scale prescribed fires in a high‐rainfall rocky savanna

Understanding mechanisms underlying fire regime effects on savanna fauna is difficult because of a wide range of possible trophic interactions and feedbacks. Yet, understanding mechanisms underlying fauna dynamics is crucial for conservation management of threatened species. Small savanna mammals in northern Australia are currently undergoing widespread declines and regional extinctions partly attributable to fire regimes. This study investigates mammal trophic and ecosystem responses to fire in order to identify possible mechanisms underlying these declines. Mammal trophic responses to fire were investigated by surveying mammal abundance, mammal diet, vegetation structure and non‐mammal fauna dynamics in savannas six times at eight sites over a period of 3 years. Known site‐specific fire history was used to test for trophic responses to post‐fire interval and fire frequency. Mammal and non‐mammal fauna showed only minor responses of post‐fire interval and no effect of fire frequency. Lack of fauna responses differed from large post‐fire vegetation responses. Dietary analysis showed that two mammal species, Dasyurus hallucatus and Isoodon auratus, increased their intake of large prey groups in recently burnt, compared to longer unburnt vegetation. This suggests a fire‐related change in trophic interactions among predators and their prey, after removal of ground‐layer vegetation. No evidence was found for other changes in food resource uptake by mammals after fire. These data provide support for a fire‐related top‐down ecosystem response among savanna mammals, rather than a bottom‐up resource limitation response. Future studies need to investigate fire responses among other predators, including introduced cats and dingoes, to determine their roles in fire‐related mammal declines in savannas of northern Australia.     

Geographical ecology of South American desert small mammals: consequences of observations at local and regional scales

Five major drylands in South American display very low levels of faunal similarity. The remarkable consistency of faunal structure, however, suggests that it may be possible to extend earlier conclusions based only on the mammal fauna of the Altiplano and the Atacama Desert to all of South America's arid lands.     

The endemic gastropod fauna of Lake Titicaca: correlation between molecular evolution and hydrographic history

Lake Titicaca, situated in the Altiplano high plateau, is the only ancient lake in South America. This 2- to 3-My-old (where My is million years) water body has had a complex history that included at least five major hydrological phases during the Pleistocene. It is generally assumed that these physical events helped shape the evolutionary history of the lake's biota. Herein, we study an endemic species assemblage in Lake Titicaca, composed of members of the microgastropod genus Heleobia, to determine whether the lake has functioned as a reservoir of relic species or the site of local diversification, to evaluate congruence of the regional paleohydrology and the evolutionary history of this assemblage, and to assess whether the geographic distributions of endemic lineages are hierarchical. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that the Titicaca/Altiplano Heleobia fauna (together with few extralimital taxa) forms a species flock. A molecular clock analysis suggests that the most recent common ancestor (MRCAs) of the Altiplano taxa evolved 0.53 (0.28-0.80) My ago and the MRCAs of the Altiplano taxa and their extralimital sister group 0.92 (0.46-1.52) My ago. The endemic species of Lake Titicaca are younger than the lake itself, implying primarily intralacustrine speciation. Moreover, the timing of evolutionary branching events and the ages of two precursors of Lake Titicaca, lakes Cabana and Ballivián, is congruent. Although Lake Titicaca appears to have been the principal site of speciation for the regional Heleobia fauna, the contemporary spatial patterns of endemism have been masked by immigration and/or emigration events of local riverine taxa, which we attribute to the unstable hydrographic history of the Altiplano. Thus, a hierarchical distribution of endemism is not evident, but instead there is a single genetic break between two regional clades. We also discuss our findings in relation to studies of other regional biota and suggest that salinity tolerance was the most likely limiting factor in the evolution of Altiplano species flocks.     

NMR spectroscopy based metabonomic studies on the comparative biochemistry of the kidney and urine of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), white toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) and the laboratory rat

The metabolic profiles of three wild mammals that vary in their trophic strategies, the herbivorous bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), the granivorous wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and the insectivorous white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens), were compared with that of a widely used strain of laboratory rat (Sprague Dawley). In conjunction with NMR spectroscopic investigations into the urine and blood plasma composition for these mammals, high resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied to investigate the composition of intact kidney samples. Adaptation to natural diet affects both renal metabolism and urinary profiles, and while these techniques have been used to study the metabolism of the laboratory rat little is known about wild small mammals. The species were readily separated by their urinary profiles using either crude metabolite ratios or statistical pattern recognition. Bank vole urine contained higher concentrations of aromatic amino acids compared with the other small mammals, while the laboratory rats produced relatively more hippurate. HRMAS 1H-NMR demonstrated striking differences in both lipid concentration and composition between the wild mammals and Sprague Dawley rats. Bank voles contained high concentrations of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan in all tissue and biofluids studied. This study demonstrates the analytical power of combined NMR techniques for the study of inter-species metabolism and further demonstrates that metabolic data acquired on laboratory animals cannot be extended to wild species.     

Faunal relationships and zoogeographical affinities of mammals in north-west Africa

The nonmarine mammal fauna of the Maghreb region of north‐west Africa is related to that from three potential source areas: the northern Palaearctic (Europe and south‐west Asia; here referred to as the European fauna), subsaharan Africa (the African fauna) and the arid Palaearctic (Sahara Desert: the desert fauna). On the basis of geographical distribution patterns, this fauna divisible into two groups: the bats, whose affinities are most closely related to southern Europe and south‐west Asia, and nonflying species, most closely related to subsaharan Africa but with an appreciable northern Palaearctic element. These affinities are even more pronounced if desert fauna are removed from the analysis. The nonflying European fauna probably colonized via south‐west Asia and north Africa, rather than direct from western Europe. The results demonstrate that terrestrial habitat barriers are less of an impediment to dispersal, for all mammals except bats, than even narrow stretches of water. The fauna of the Maghreb may be undergoing faunal relaxation, following immigration from tropical Africa and south‐west Asia during mesic phases in the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene.     

Patterns in the local assembly of Egyptian rodent faunas: Areography and species combinations

We implicate ecological processes in assembly patterns of Egyptian desert rodents using spatial variation of distribution and composition of local assemblages. We also compare our assemblages to prior analyses of North American and Australian small mammal communities in terms of species richness and representation of trophic groups.We studied patterns of occurrence of 29 rodent species among 335 collecting events in 308 sites using museum specimen records resulting from a country-wide survey. The studied taxa vary greatly in their natural histories and ecology. Fully 69% of studied species (20) were localized in 30 or fewer sites (9% of all sites). Site incidence was closely correlated with the geographic range size of species, while local abundance of a species showed little relationship to its geographic range. The species richness of local assemblages ranged from a lone species at 73 sites to 11 species at 3 sites. A total of 214 different combinations were recorded of which 164 (77%) were unique to a single site. G. gerbillus was both the most abundant and most ubiquitous species. Coexistence with other species was positively correlated with incidence and geographic range size. Body mass distribution was remarkably uniform for the fauna as a whole, and influenced the geographic distributions and abundance of individual species.Our sites have low species richness and substantial variability in species composition, which also characterize desert rodent communities elsewhere. Habitat requirements, exclusive distributions of sibling species, low primary productivity, and Egypt's location all influenced species assembly. The Egyptian and Australian deserts supported higher proportions of low richness assemblages compared to North America. As in North America, Egyptian sites were dominated by granivorous species.     

The role of refuges in the persistence of Australian dryland mammals

Irruptive population dynamics are characteristic of a wide range of fauna in the world's arid (dryland) regions. Recent evidence indicates that regional persistence of irruptive species, particularly small mammals, during the extensive dry periods of unpredictable length that occur between resource pulses in drylands occurs as a result of the presence of refuge habitats or refuge patches into which populations contract during dry (bust) periods. These small dry‐period populations act as a source of animals when recolonisation of the surrounding habitat occurs during and after subsequent resource pulses (booms). The refuges used by irruptive dryland fauna differ in temporal and spatial scale from the refugia to which species contract in response to changing climate. Refuges of dryland fauna operate over timescales of months and years, whereas refugia operate on timescales of millennia over which evolutionary divergence may occur. Protection and management of refuge patches and refuge habitats should be a priority for the conservation of dryland‐dwelling fauna. This urgency is driven by recognition that disturbance to refuges can lead to the extinction of local populations and, if disturbance is widespread, entire species. Despite the apparent significance of dryland refuges for conservation management, these sites remain poorly understood ecologically. Here, we synthesise available information on the refuges of dryland‐dwelling fauna, using Australian mammals as a case study to provide focus, and document a research agenda for increasing this knowledge base. We develop a typology of refuges that recognises two main types of refuge: fixed and shifting. We outline a suite of models of fixed refuges on the basis of stability in occupancy between and within successive bust phases of population cycles. To illustrate the breadth of refuge types we provide case studies of refuge use in three species of dryland mammal: plains mouse (Pseudomys australis), central rock‐rat (Zyzomys pedunculatus), and spinifex hopping‐mouse (Notomys alexis). We suggest that future research should focus on understanding the species‐specific nature of refuge use and the spatial ecology of refuges with a focus on connectivity and potential metapopulation dynamics. Assessing refuge quality and understanding the threats to high‐quality refuge patches and habitat should also be a priority. To facilitate this understanding we develop a three‐step methodology for determining species‐specific refuge location and habitat attributes. This review is necessarily focussed on dryland mammals in continental Australia where most refuge‐based research has been undertaken. The applicability of the refuge concept and the importance of refuges for dryland fauna conservation elsewhere in the world should be investigated. We predict that refuge‐using mammals will be widespread particularly among dryland areas with unpredictable rainfall patterns.     

Une faune de petits mammiferes d'age turolien moyen(Miocene superieur) a Cucuron (Vaucluse); donnees nouvelles sur le genre Stephanomys (Rodentia) et consequences stratigraphiques

A small mammal fauna, including rodents and a new species of Murid, Stephanomys stadii n. sp., has been found in a continental formation underlying the deposits with the famous big mammal fauna of Mont Luberon. This fauna of small mammals is a little younger than the fauna of Los Mansuetos (Spain), so, the Pikermian fauna of Mont Luberon, which is said to be of the same age as the fauna of Pikermi is younger than the fauna of big and small mammals of Los Mansuetos.     

大鵟的食性改变:来自稳定性碳同位素的证据

通过对大规模灭鼠后的海北高寒草甸生态系统大鵟、小型哺乳类以及雀形目鸟类肌肉稳定性碳同位素比值的测定发现,大篱的肌肉稳定性碳同位素比值介于-22．60‰和-23．10‰之间;小型哺乳类和主要雀形目鸟类肌肉稳定性碳同位素比值分别介于-25．57‰和-25．78‰以及-24．81‰和-22．51‰之间,且它们之间差异性显著。基于碳同位素的分馏模式(即动物和它食物之间稳定性碳同位素分馏在1‰～2‰之间),我们推断经大规模灭鼠后,大篱的食性发生了较大变化,其食物主要来源于高寒草甸的雀形目鸟类,而非原来的小型哺乳类。通过稳定性同位素营养级模型的运算发现,大蔫处在4．23左右的营养级;雀形目鸟类处在2．4到3．39左右的营养级,而小型哺乳类则处在1．45到1．82左右的营养级。进而采用稳定性同位素质量平衡模型计算得出,大篱的食物由35．04％的小型哺乳类和64．96％的雀形目鸟类所组成,进一步说明小型哺乳类在大量灭鼠后仅占大篱食物的很小一部分。由此可见,采取大规模的化学灭鼠,不仅降低了小型啮齿类天敌——大鵟的数量,而日使得其食谱发毕了巨大改变而转向草甸主要雀形目鸟类[动物学报49(6)：764～768,2003]。     

Benthic invertebrates of some saline lakes of the Sud Lipez region,Bolivia

The benthic invertebrates fauna of most of the saline lakes of the Sud Lipez region (Bolivia, Altiplano) has been until now quite unstudied. Samples collected during an extensive survey of 12 lakes and two small inflow rivers allow a first list of the main macroinvertebrates living in these biotopes.The heterogeneous nature of these saline lakes with their freshwater springs and phreatic inflows offers a variety of habitats to macroinvertebrates. The benthic fauna in lakes with salinities > 10 g l^–1 is not so low in density but includes few species and is dominated by Orthocladiinae and Podonominae larvae. In contrast, the freshwater springs and inflows are colonized by a diverse fauna, with a mixture of both freshwater and saline taxa, but dominated by Elmidae and Amphipoda. The lakes are quite isolated and, apart from some cosmopolitan organisms, their fauna can be quite distinctive.     

Mammals of Borneo – small size on a large island

Aim Island mammals have featured prominently in models of the evolution of body size. Most of these models examine size evolution across a wide range of islands in order to test which island characteristics influence evolutionary pathways. Here, we examine the mammalian fauna of a single island, Borneo, where previous work has detected that some mammal species have evolved a relatively small size. We test whether Borneo is characterized by smaller mammals than adjacent areas, and examine possible causes for the different trajectories of size evolution between different Bornean species. Location Sundaland: Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Malay/Thai Peninsula. Methods We compared the mammalian body size frequency distributions in the four areas to examine whether the large mammal fauna of Borneo is more depauperate than elsewhere. We measured specimens belonging to 54 mammal species that are shared between Borneo and any of the other areas in order to determine whether there is an intraspecific tendency for Bornean mammals to evolve small body size. Using data on diet, body size and geographical ranges we examine factors that are thought to influence body size. Results Borneo has fewer large mammals than the other areas, but this is not statistically significant. Large Bornean mammals are significantly smaller than their conspecifics in the other regions, while there are no differences between the body sizes of mammals on Sumatra, Java and the Malay/Thai Peninsula. The finding that large mammals show the greatest size difference between Borneo and elsewhere contrasts with some models of size evolution on islands of different areas. Diet does not correlate with the degree of size reduction. Sunda region endemics show a weaker tendency to be small on Borneo than do widespread species. Main conclusions We suggest that soil quality may drive size evolution by affecting primary productivity. On Borneo, where soils are generally poor in nutrients, this may both limit biomass and cause mammals to be reduced in body size. We hypothesize that widespread species respond to low resource abundance by reducing in size, while endemic elements of the fauna have had longer to adjust to local conditions by altering their behaviour, physiology and/or ecology, and are thus similar in size across the region.     

Changes of community composition at multiple trophic levels due to hunting in Nigerian tropical forests

Hunting in tropical forests decimates large mammals, and this may have direct and indirect effects on other trophic levels and lead to trophic cascades. We compared replicated sites of hunted and protected forests in southeastern Nigeria, with respect to community composition of primates, other mammals, birds, plant seedlings, and mature trees. We make predictions regarding the community composition at the different trophic levels. In forests where large primates are rare, we hypothesize that their ecological role will not be fully compensated for by small frugivores. We apply multivariate methods to assess changes in community composition of mammals, birds, and seedlings, controlling for any differences between sites in the other groups, including mature trees. Medium and large (4–180 kg) primates were much rarer in hunted sites, while porcupine and rock hyrax increased in abundance with hunting. In contrast, the community composition of birds was similar in both types of forests. Seedling communities were significantly related to the community composition of mammals, and thus strongly affected by hunting. In protected forests primate dispersed plant seedling species dominated, whereas in hunted forests the seedling community was shifted towards one dominated by abiotically dispersed species. This was probably both a consequence of reduced seed dispersal by primates, and increased seed predation by rodents and hyrax. Hence we found no evidence for buffering effects on tree regeneration through functional compensation by non‐hunted animals (such as birds). Our results highlight how seedling communities are changed by the complex plant–animal intera ctions, triggered by the loss of seed dispersers. The results predict a rarity of primate‐dispersed trees in future tropical forest canopies; a forest less diverse in timber and non‐timber resources.     

Patterns in the structure of Asian and North American desert small mammal communities

Aim We compared assemblages of small mammal communities from three major desert regions on two continents in the northern hemisphere. Our objective was to compare these with respect to three characteristics: (1) species richness and representation of trophic groups; (2) the degree to which these assemblages exhibit nested community structure; and (3) the extent to which competitive interactions appear to influence local community assembly. Location We studied small mammal communities from the deserts of North America (N=201 sites) and two regions in Central Asia (the Gobi Desert (N=97 sites) and the Turan Desert Region (N=36 sites), including the Kara-Kum, Kyzyl-Kum, NE Daghestan, and extreme western Kazakhstan Deserts). Method To provide baseline data we characterized each desert region in terms of alpha, beta, and gamma diversity, and in terms of the distribution of taxa across trophic and locomotory groups. We evaluated nestedness of these communities using the Nestedness Temperature Calculator developed by Atmar & Patterson (1993, 1995) , and we evaluated the role of competitive interactions in community assembly and applied a null model of local assembly under varying degrees of competitive interaction ( Kelt et al., 1995, 1996 ). Results All three desert regions have low alpha diversity and high beta diversity. The total number of species in each region varied, being highest in North America, and lowest in the Turan Desert Region. The deserts studied all present evidence of significant nestedness, but the mechanism underlying this structure appears different in North American and Asia. In North America, simulations strongly implicate interspecific competition as a dominant mechanism influencing community and assemblage structure. In contrast, data from Asian desert rodent communities suggest that these are not strongly influenced by competition; in fact, they have greater numbers of ecologically and morphologically similar species than expected. These results appear to reflect strong habitat selection, with positive associations among species that share similar habitat requirements in these communities. Our analyses support earlier reports suggesting that predation and abiotic forces may have greater influences on the assembly and organization of Asian desert rodent communities, whereas interspecific competition dominates assembly processes in North America. Additionally, we suggest that structuring mechanisms may be very different among the two Asian deserts studied. Gobi assemblages appear structured by trophic and locomotory strategies. In contrast, Turan Desert Region assemblages appear to be randomly structured with respect to locomotory strategies. When trophic and locomotory categories are combined, however, Turan species are positively and nonrandomly associated. Main conclusions Very different ecological dynamics evidently exist not only between these continents, but within them as well. These small mammal faunas differ greatly in terms of community structure, but also appear to differ in the underlying mechanisms by which communities are assembled. The underlying role of history and geography are strongly implicated as central features in understanding the evolution of mammalian faunas in different deserts of the world.     

Diversity,community composition,and bioactivity of cultivable fungal endophytes in saline and dry soils in deserts

Fungal endophyte communities are poorly investigated in extreme habitats such as deserts. We used cultivation and Sanger sequencing to investigate the effects of environmental variables on the endophytic fungal communities of eight Iranian desert plants. Host species was the main factor shaping the endophyte composition, while soil type additionally affected endophytes of above- and below-ground organs. Redundancy analysis showed that soil pH and electric conductivity determine fungal endophyte communities in plants in dry and saline soils. In a follow-up experiment, we showed that these endophytes could be used in crop production under salinity/drought stress and as biocontrol agents. Although compared to other ecosystems, the endophytic fungi associated with the studied Iranian desert plants are of low diversity, our results suggest that they probably play an essential role in the survival of their hosts. Further investigation is necessary to evaluate the potential benefits and applicability of such endophytes in agricultural practices in drylands.     

The Seasonal Succession of Biotic Communities in Wetlands of the Tropical Wet-and-Dry Climatic Zone: IV. The Free-Living Sarcodines and Ciliates of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso,Brazil

This fourth paper in a series on the effects of the wet-and-dry climate on the northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, provides an outline of the seasonal activity of sarcodine and ciliate species. Both of these groups of protozoans include grazers on bacteria and algae, predators, and omnivores. Apparently because of their more complex trophic relationships and competition from small metazoans, the fauna of these groups in the Pantanal is considerably less rich in species than the alga flora, and the populations of most species remain small throughout the year. The presence of only 97 species was recorded during a period of study lasting about three and a half years. While the number of testacean species encountered is not notably less than expected, the number and diversity of the ciliate fauna are remarkably low compared to those encountered not only in the eutrophic waters of the temperate zones but also in water bodies in the eastern part of Brazil. The species found are almost exclusively cosmopolitan or circumtropical in distribution.     

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types in Sabah, Malaysia

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types (primary forest, logged forest, acacia plantation and oil palm plantation) in Sabah, Malaysia was investigated using three different methods based on habitat levels (Winkler sampling, flight-interception-trapping and mist-blowing). The overall diversity was extremely high, with 1711 species recorded from only 8028 individuals and 81 families (115 family and subfamily groups). Different degrees of environmental changes had varying effects on the beetle species richness and abundance, with oil palm plantation assemblage being most severely affected, followed by acacia plantation and then logged forest. A few species became numerically dominant in the oil palm plantation. In terms of beetle species composition, the acacia fauna showed much similarity with the logged forest fauna, and the oil palm fauna was very different from the rest. The effects of environmental variables (number of plant species, sapling and tree densities, amount of leaf litter, ground cover, canopy cover, soil pH and compaction) on the beetle assemblage were also investigated. Leaf litter correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of subterranean beetles. Plant species richness, tree and sapling densities correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of understorey beetles while ground cover correlated only with the species richness and abundance of these beetles. Canopy cover correlated only with arboreal beetles. In trophic structure, predators represented more than 40% of the species and individuals. Environmental changes affected the trophic structure with proportionally more herbivores (abundance) but fewer predators (species richness and abundance) in the oil palm plantation. Biodiversity, conservation and practical aspects of pest management were also highlighted in this study.     

四川九寨沟自然保护区兽类调查

2002 年至2003 年, 对九寨沟自然保护区兽类进行了6 次野外考察。调查确认, 保护区有兽类78 种, 其中东洋界种类50 种, 古北界种类25 种, 广布种3 种; 有10 种分布型。保护区兽类物种分布体现了较高的南北类群渗透性和残遗性; 有20 种国家I、II 级保护动物, 其中I 级6 种, 珍稀性较明显; 有四川林跳鼠、四川毛尾睡鼠、沟牙田鼠等稀有小型种类; 随着海拔增加, 兽类分布呈现古北界种类增多, 东洋界种类减少的趋势, 但在海拔3 200～3 600 m , 古北界和东洋界种类都仍然丰富, 仍然表现出区系的过渡性特征。     

Episodic outbreaks of small mammals influence predator community dynamics in an east African savanna ecosystem

Little is known about the dynamics of small mammals in tropical savanna: a critical gap in our understanding of Africa's best known ecosystems. Historical evidence suggested small mammals peak in abundance (outbreak) in Serengeti National Park (SNP), as in agricultural systems. We asked 1) what are bottom–up drivers of small mammals and 2) do predators have top–down effects? We documented dynamics of small mammals, birds of prey, and mammalian carnivores in SNP and agricultural areas. We used climatic fluctuations and differences between unmodified and agricultural systems as perturbations to examine trophic processes, key to understanding responses to climate change and increasing human pressures. Data were derived from intermittent measures of abundance collected 1968–1999, combined with systematic sampling 2000–2010 to construct a 42‐year time series. Data on abundance of black‐shouldered kites (1968–2010), eight other species of rodent‐eating birds (1997–2010), and 10 carnivore species (1993–2010) were also collated. Outbreaks occurred every 3–5 years in SNP, with low or zero abundance between peaks. There was a positive relationship between rainfall in the wet season and 1) small mammal abundance and 2) the probability of an outbreak, both of which increased with negative Southern Oscillation Index values. Rodent‐eating birds and carnivores peaked 6–12 months after small mammals. In agricultural areas, abundance remained higher than in natural habitats. Abundances of birds of prey and mammalian carnivores were extremely low in these areas and not related to small mammal abundance. Small mammals are an important food resource for higher trophic levels in the Serengeti ecosystem. Changes in climate and land use may alter their future dynamics, with cascading consequences for higher trophic levels, including threatened carnivores. Although outbreaks cause substantial damage to crops in agricultural areas, small mammals also play a vital role in maintaining some of the diversity and complexity found in African savanna ecosystems.     

Small mammals of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (Cerrado of Central Brazil): ecologic, karyologic, and taxonomic considerations.

This work is based on a survey of small mammals carried out in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, a natural reserve located in the mountains of the Planalto Central Goiano in the Cerrado of Central Brazil. The 227 specimens collected represented six marsupial and 13 rodent species. Taxonomic, karyologic, and ecologic considerations are present and discussed in the present work. Our data reflected the faunal heterogeneity with respect to both elevation and vegetation because only eight of the 19 species were collected at both high and low elevations. The composition of the small mammal fauna of the park is influenced by predominance of forest formations at low elevations and cerrado with rupestrian areas at high elevations. Presence of endemic species and one undescribed demonstrated that the cerrado has an endemic fauna and a little known diversity of small mammals.