Seasonal variation in population and community structure of shrews in a tropical forest of Gabon

摘要: The composition, structure, and reproductive phenology of a community murid rodents were investigated for 1 year at two sites in an undisturbed forest southwestern Gabon, Africa. We captured 1531 mice belonging to 11 species eight genera. At both sites, richness varied seasonally tended be maximal during the pe- riod trap success. For most abundant (Hylomyscus stella, Hybomys univittatus, Heimyscus fumosus, Praomys cf. misonnei), general unimodal trend success was detected, owing variations breeding activity survival, with minimum around long rainy season maximum either short or beginning following dry season. These fluctuations magnitude among spe- cies, seasonal relative abundance recorded. Our results support assumption that trop - ics, rainfall associated patterns fruit insect are important factors which may act directly indirectly initiate so lactation occurs time greatest food abundance. Finally, intrapopulational differences age sexual maturity found, between sexes individuals same sex.