Tropical savanna small mammals respond to loss of cover following disturbance: A global review of field studies

Small-mammal faunas of tropical savannas consist endemic assemblages murid rodents, small marsupials, and insectivores on four continents. Small mammals in are understudied compared to other habitats taxonomic groups (e.g., Afrotropical megafauna or Neotropical rainforest mammals). Their importance as prey, ecosystem engineers, disease reservoirs, declining members biodiversity compels us understand the factors that regulate their abundance diversity. We reviewed field studies published last 35 years examined, mostly experimentally, effects varying three primary endogenous disturbances savanna ecosystems—fire, large mammalian herbivory (LMH), drought—on diversity non-volant mammals. These most likely affect habitat structure (cover concealment), food availability, both, for ground-dwelling herbivores, omnivores, insectivores. Of 63 (included 55 papers) meeting these criteria from Afrotropics, Neotropics, northern Australia (none was found southern Asia), 29 concluded responded (mostly negatively) a loss cover LMH fire); evidence increased predation lower-cover treatments grazed burned). Eighteen combination food- cover-limitation explained small-mammal responses disturbances. Only two declines response habitat-altering disturbance were caused by limitation not related reduction. Evidence date indicates richness mammals, general (with important exceptions), is enhanced vegetative (especially tall grass, but sometimes shrub cover) refugia prey species amid “landscape fear,” particularly diurnal, non-cursorial, non-fossorial species. have been called “decreasers” reduction, whereas minority shown be “increasers” disturbance-tolerant. Complex relationships between resources secondary factors, only six manipulated measured simultaneous manipulations. While more such needed, designing effective ones cryptic consumer communities omnivorous dietary opportunists significant challenge.