Vegetation Structure Complexity and Small Mammal Diversity in Grassland Restoration Projects

Abstract

Grasslands are important ecosystems that accommodate a very rich biodiversity, but their deterioration has resulted in a massive extinction of species, especially small mammals. The restoration projects in the grasslands are trying to restore these ecosystems, although the contribution of the complexity of vegetation structure towards sustaining the small mammal communities is not well understood. This paper examines the correlation between vegetation complexity (canopy cover, plant height, and plant species richness) and small mammal diversity in restored grasslands. The aim was to determine the influence of vegetation attribute variations on the small mammals. Live trapping was done in a variety of restoration sites where vegetation complexity was measured through canopy cover, height of plants, and plant richness. The diversity of small mammals was measured using the richness and evenness of species and the Shannon-Weiner index. Statistical results showed that there was a significant positive association between greater vegetation complexity and greater diversity (specifically canopy cover and plant height) small mammals species richness (regression analysis, p = 0.03), while ANOVA results confirmed significant differences in diversity across sites of varying complexity (p < 0.01).] Places having more complicated vegetation, where the height of plants and the density of ground cover were varied, had more species and higher diversity indices. These results indicate that small mammals can have more diverse habitats by increasing vegetation complexity through restoration work, which eventually leads to the enhancement of their population. This paper highlights the need to take into consideration the complexity of the habitat in the exercise of restoration planning of grasslands. Potential ways in which small mammal diversity can be boosted are by incorporating greater plant cover in the form of canopy cover and plant diversity. This, in its turn, will add to overall biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The study identifies vegetation complexity as an important factor in the grassland restoration plans to conserve biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystems in the long run.