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Small non-volant mammals of the Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua, Ecuador

Abstract:

We provide insights into the diversity of small non-volant mammals (SNVMs) in the Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua, a peri-urban natural area of Quito, Pichincha province, Ecuador. Based on Sherman-like traps and pitfall traps, we recorded 21 species of SNVMs. They represent 40% of the total species reported for the entire province, and include six species that are endemic to the northwestern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes. Despite its proximity to the city of Quito (less than 5 km), Pululahua seems to have an average richness compared with other similar localities in the Ecuadorian Andes. Our results are a baseline for future conservation plans for SNVMs.We are grateful to the Earth Deeds Carbon Mitigation Initiative of the Pacific Lutheran University for the financial support provided to J. Brito. We thank the personnel of the Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua for the logistic support, and E. Uthleb for the lodging facilities in the Chaupisacha ranch. We thank R. Vargas, K. Valdivieso, G. Pozo, P. Bombón, A. Suárez and P. Guerrero for their support in the fieldwork. We thank D. Székely for the language editing. The collection of the voucher material here reported was legally allowed by the Ministerio del Ambiente of Ecuador under permit access N°001-2016-IC-FAU-DPAP-MA. This research fulfils the ethical standards demanded by the local authorities and is consistent with the Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of wild mammals in research (Sikes et al. 2011).