Small Mammal Diversity and Conservation
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1007
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Considering the global diversity of wild mammals, small mammals are generally defined as species weighing less than 5 kg and typically measure less than one meter in body length. However, depending on the region and biome, this group also includes much smaller species—such as shrews, rats, bats, small primates, and marsupials—that may weigh only a few grams. These animals share distinctive traits, including high metabolic rates, rapid reproductive cycles (short gestation and larger litters), and elevated mortality, particularly due to predation. They also perform key ecological roles, contributing to seed dispersal, invertebrate predation, pest control, pollination, and even ecosystem engineering. Owing to these characteristics, small mammals often exhibit rapid ecological responses, yet they remain an overlooked component of biodiversity from a conservation perspective. Thus, a Special Issue dedicated to small mammals offers a timely opportunity to highlight their importance for the conservation of ecosystems worldwide.
Dr. Ana Cristina Mendes de Oliveira
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- small mammals
- biodiversity
- conservation
- ecosystem conservation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
