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 65
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
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Keywords
- small mammals
- biodiversity
- conservation
- ecosystem conservation
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