Abstract
The species composition of the small mammal fauna in pastures and its relationship with pasture characteristics were investigated in the northern part of Tochigi, Japan. Small mammals were captured using the Sherman trap in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2001. Sixty-seven animals of 6 species (Apodemus speciosus, Micromys minutus. Microtus montebelli, Crocidura dsinezumi, Urotrichus talpoides, and A. argenteus) and 466 animals of 6 species were caught at pastures and woodlands. The number of captured animals in woodlands was seven times larger than that in pastures. Species richness is high in tall-grass pastures and shows significantly negative correlations with grazing intensity. In order to raise livestock in pastures while sustaining high species richness of small mammal fauna, it is important that grazing management is designed in consideration of the wood-land-pasture combination and tall-grass type pasture maintained by partial grazing regulations.
