Topic
Suncus montanus
About: Suncus montanus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8 publications have been published within this topic receiving 71 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: The analysis of spatial interactions between the species, habitat discrimination and use, and the removal experiments suggest that interspecific competition may not be a strong force in structuring these small mammal communities.
Abstract: Small mammals were sampled in two natural habitats (montane stunted evergreen forests and montane grassland) and four anthropogenic habitats (tea, wattle, bluegum and pine plantation) in the Upper Nilgiris in southern India. Of the species trapped, eight were in montane evergreen forests and three were in other habitats. Habitat discrimination was studied in the rodents Rattus rattus and Mus famulus and the shrew Suncus montanus in the montane forest habitat. Multivariate tests on five variables (canopy cover, midstorey density, ground cover, tree density, canopy height) showed that R. rattus uses areas of higher tree density and lower canopy cover. Suncus montanus and M. famulus use habitat with higher tree density and ground cover and lower canopy height. Multivariate tests did not discriminate habitat use between the species. Univariate tests, however, showed that M. famulus uses areas of higher tree density than R. rattus and S. montanus. Rattus rattus was the dominant species in the montane forest, comprising 60.9% of total density, while the rodent Millardia meltada was the dominant species in the grassland. Studies of spatial interaction between these two species in habitats where they coexisted showed neither overlap nor avoidance between the species. Rattus rattus, however, did use areas of lower ground cover than did M. meltada. The analysis of spatial interactions between the species, habitat discrimination and use, and the removal experiments suggest that interspecific competition may not be a strong force in structuring these small mammal communities. There are distinct patterns in the use of different habitats by some species, but microhabitat selection and segregation is weak. Other factors such as intraspecific competition may play a more important role in these communities.
41 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the mtDNA sequence data from the cytochrome-b and 16S genes of the mountain shrew Suncus montanus were used to identify the species of S. montanus from Sri Lanka and India.
Abstract: The Sri Lankan and Indian populations of the mountain shrew Suncus montanus have hitherto been recognized as a single species, due to their similarity in size and colour. Here we present mitochondrial DNA sequence data from the cytochrome- b and 16S genes that suggest these populations represent distinct species. Phylogenetic analyses further reveal that the Sri Lankan and Indian populations are not sister taxa: S. montanus sensu stricto from Sri Lanka is the sister species of S. murinus , while ‘ S. montanus ' from India is the sister species of S. stoliczkanus . The uncorrected genetic distance for cytochrome- b between Sri Lankan and Indian ‘ S. montanus ' is ca. 7.5%, which is substantially higher than genetic distances within other species of shrews, or within vertebrate species in general, again supporting their recognition as distinct species. The name Suncus niger is available for the Indian shrew hitherto referred to S. montanus. Suncus montanus and S. niger should now be considered as endemic to Sri Lanka and India, respectively. Key words: Phylogenetic relationships, mitochondrial genes, genetic distance, cytochrome- b , 16S doi: 10.4038/cjsbs.v37i2.500 Cey. J. Sci. (Bio. Sci.) 37 (2): 129-136, 2008
15 citations
Hokkaido University1, Kyoto University2, University of Miyazaki3, National Institutes of Health4, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology5, University of Veterinary Science6, Yadanabon University7, University of Yangon8, University of Peradeniya9, University of Malaya10, Indonesian Institute of Sciences11, The Heritage Foundation12, University of Antananarivo13, Gifu University14
TL;DR: A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene nucleotide sequences of 169 individuals of house shrews from 44 localities in East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and islands in the western Indian Ocean, finding that shrews of these regions appeared to have originated from one or a few localities.
Abstract: . A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene nucleotide sequences of 169 individuals of house shrews (Suncus murinus and S. montanus) from 44 localities in East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and islands in the western Indian Ocean. Shrews from China (Zhejiang), Japan (Okinawa), Vietnam, and Indonesia (Java) formed a monophyletic group with less genetic variation. Therefore, the shrews of these regions appeared to have originated from one or a few localities. Contrary to this, shrews from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Pakistan consisted of several haplogroups. This finding suggests immigration movements to these areas. Fascinating findings were also obtained concerning the islands in the western Indian Ocean. First, shrews on Zanzibar Island (Tanzania) had almost the same haplotype as those in southwestern Iran. Therefore, the house shrew in Zanzibar may have immigrated from Iran (or vice versa). Second, shrews from Madagascar and Grande Comore Island shared the...
11 citations
TL;DR: Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data are used, combined with morphometric analyses, to clarify the systematic relationships and taxonomy of two complex species of shrews, Suncus montanus and S. murinus, in Sri Lanka, confirming their classification as a single species.
11 citations
TL;DR: Although the community structure of small mammals is broadly determined by habitat structure, the specific microhabitat preferences of individual species could not be determined from these data.
Abstract: Small mammal communities were studied in four tropical habitats (dry thorn, dry and moist deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests) in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, southern India. Species composition, community structure, and population variables of small mammals in these habitats were examined. The relationship between small mammal community structure and select habitat variables was also examined. Six species of rodents and one insectivore were represented by 396 captures of 195 individuals out of a total of 7,425 trap nights (5.3% capture rate). Small mammals showed distinct distribution patterns across habitat types. Community structure, species richness, species diversity, relative abundance, and biomass varied across habitats, with each type having a different dominant species. Cremnomys blanfordi, which was the most abundant species, comprised 39%, Mus platythrix 29%, Rattus rattus 12%, M. musculus 9%, Tatera indica 5%, Suncus montanus 5%, and Platacanthomys lasiurus 1% of captures. Deciduous forest habitats supported the highest abundance and biomass of small mammals. However, based on the distinct distribution patterns, all four forest types are believed to be important for maintaining the local diversity of small mammal populations. Small mammal abundance was positively correlated with habitat heterogeneity. Although the community structure of small mammals is broadly determined by habitat structure, the specific microhabitat preferences of individual species could not be determined from these data.
9 citations
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Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
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| 2020 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |