Diversity of small non-volant mammals of Lita, northwestern Imbabura, Ecuador

The subtropical forests of the Pacific slope of Ecuador lie within a region of wide biodiversity due to the biogeographic influence of Choco. However, the diversity of small non-volant mammals in these forests is poorly understood. We conducted surveys at seven localities in 2020 and 2021 in Lita, northwestern Imbabura province, Ecuador. Sampling was done on an altitudinal range of 1,314-1,812 m. We used a combination of techniques (Sherman, Tomahawk, and pitfall traps) to capture non-volant small mammals. Our accumulated trapping effort was 2,724 trap/nights. We recorded 180 individuals of 23 species, of which rodents were the most diverse with 17 species, representing 73.9% of the composition. The record of Pattonimus musseri Brito et al. (2020) stands out, representing both latitudinal and elevational altitudinal range extensions. Finally, our results indicate that Lita is a natural area with a high concentration of non-volant mammals in the northwestern Ecuadorian subtropics.

Automated summary

Our survey in Lita, Ecuador revealed a high density and diversity of non-volant mammals, particularly rodents.