Non-target small mammal communities in invertebrate pitfall traps: effects of season, habitat, and elevation

Despite considerable endeavours of scientists to avoid it, non-target species are frequently trapped for ecological and conservation research. Nevertheless, these data can provide valuable insights into how ecosystems function. Small mammals not targeted for epigeic fauna research were caught in pitfall traps over 20 years. At 186 sites between 2003 and 2023, 1,091 specimens of 21 species of insectivores and small rodents (Eulipotyphla, Rodentia) were caught in such traps. Our results show: (i) abundance of small mammals is affected by season, habitat, and elevation level; (ii) species richness of small mammals is affected by habitat and elevation levels and not by season. The efficiency of pitfall traps was compared with snap traps and live traps for sampling small mammals, where the results suggested significant differences in species richness only between pitfall and snap traps. The assemblage of small mammals found in pitfall traps was completely separated from that in live and snap traps. Capturing small mammals in pitfall traps is suitable for determining species richness for faunistic research in specific territories.