The impact of forest canopy cover on small mammal community diversity in the giant panda National park, sichuan, China.

ABSTRACT: Small mammals play crucial roles as seed dispersers and ecosystem engineers in forest ecosystems. This study explores the impact of canopy cover on small mammal communities in the Xiaozhaizigou National Nature Reserve, part of the Giant Panda National Park, Northern Sichuan. Field surveys were conducted across 16 sampling plots (50 × 50 m²) in four canopy cover classes (0-24%, 25-49%, 50-74% and 75-100%) during 2023 and 2024. Forests with lowest canopy cover (Class I) exhibited the highest alpha-diversity due to greater habitat heterogeneity, while highest canopy cover forests (Class IV) supported habitat-specialist species, including endemic species Sciurotamias davidianus and Niviventer excelsior. Rodentia showed significantly higher abundance than Eulipotyphla across all canopy classes.

SUBMITTER: Liu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12659556 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature