Small mammal community response to buffer zone, edge, and interior habitat in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

A dominant small mammal species, accounting for nearly 27% of records, serves as a potential proxy for assessing the ecological health and function of habitats within Nyungwe National Park. The study, conducted across interior, edge, and buffer zone habitats (including pine or tea plantations) over two seasons, revealed that modified edge habitats can support diverse small mammal communities. Researchers surveyed three sites for 20 days each month over six months, identifying four key species that thrive in these varied environments. This finding underscores the resilience of certain species to habitat modification and their potential role as indicators for biodiversity conservation efforts.

Majyambere, M. (2026). Small mammal community response to buffer zone, edge, and interior habitat in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda [figshare]. https://doi.org/10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.31728439