Functional traits and dietary ecology of cohabiting rodents in a tropical montane forest, Tanzania

Small mammals, with their widespread distribution and high abundance, have evolved coexistence mechanisms that contribute to their ecological success. Among these mechanisms, resource partitioning and foraging strategies play a crucial role in understanding their feeding ecology. Body size differences also potentially influence feeding behaviors and dietary patterns. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between dietary niche breadth and body size among cohabiting rodents in Mount Rungwe Forest Nature Reserve. Data were collected on four rodent species in different elevational bands of the mountain using snap traps. Rodents diet and body size were analysed, then Spearman correlation was applied to analyse the correlation between body size and niche breadth. Results showed that niche breadth and body size varies among species with 0.28 to 0.71 and 26 g to 74 g respectively. Results also revealed a positive correlation between body size and niche breadth. Montemys delectorum had low weight and narrow niche breadth and Beamys hindei was larger with broader niche breadth. While M. delectorum had the lowest body size with narrow niche breadth, its abundance was high, indicating its adaptability to the environment it lives. Understanding these patterns helps to inform conservation strategies and stresses the importance of habitat heterogeneity and ecological needs of species for conservation priorities. The findings supported the hypothesis that dietary niche breadth increases with body size among small mammals, highlighting the interplay between ecological factors and morphological traits in shaping resource use strategies.