Species richness and ecology of tree squirrels in low altitude forests from Yoko Forest Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Because of their arboreal lifestyle, the diversity and life history of squirrels in low-altitude Afrotropical forests are currently under-researched. Following a 72-day inventory using traditional traps, we provide insights into the diversity and population dynamics of tree squirrels of the Yoko Forest Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Out of seven squirrel species recorded, Funisciurus anerythrus was the most abundant and ubiquitous species in the habitats surveyed, followed by two sympatric taxa potentially belonging to a species complex of Funisciurus cf. bayonii; one previously unidentified Funisciurus sp., as well as Protoxerus stangeri, Heliosciurus rufobrachium and Paraxerus cf. boehmi. Statistics on species richness based on incidence data estimated eight squirrel species, indicating that our inventory was likely nearly complete. We show that 9 days are sufficient to sample >87% of species, confirming that 12–15 days are sufficient to sample the representative species richness of rodents colonising a given habitat in Afrotropical forests. Diversity appeared higher in secondary forests and fallow lands than in primary forests. The sex ratio for Funisciurus anerythrus favoured males. All species appeared to reproduce throughout the year, but for most, reproduction was less intensive during the sub-dry season (December, January, February, June, July and August) compared to the rainy season (March, April, May, September, October and November).