Assessing the richness of medium- sized mammals in a semi urban area : case study of the University of Balamand campus in Al Kurah, North Lebanon

Abstract

Urbanization is a global threat to biodiversity. Some animals are threatened but others are found to adapt to such urbanization. The University of Balamand (UOB) campus is a typical example of a semi urban environment with all its growing construction projects. It has a concentrated center of buildings but also encompasses forests dominated by oak trees. The aim of this study is to assess the mammalian biodiversity richness at the Balamand campus creating a scientific database for the campus. This will help in raising awareness and in taking protection measures. The methodology follows the indirect non invasive approach, where the quadrat transect method is used to record the signs of the medium sized mammals, along with camera traps to confirm and complement the quadrat transect method. Field visits were carried weekly for 11 months covering 48 quadrats. 1 to 2 quadrats per week were assessed resulting in a total of 37 field visits covering 40 accessible quadrats that were sampled twice. The signs recorded, along with the photos obtained from the cameras as well as the direct sightings resulted in the identification of nine medium sized mammals: Wild Boar, Golden Jackal, Red Fox, Stone Marten, Domestic Cat, Domestic Dog, East European Hedgehog, Domestic Goat and Indian Crested Porcupine. Several maps were produced using the Geographical Information System applications indicating the mammalian distribution inside the study area. Statistical Tests using SPSS were carried out to check the difference in mammalian activity between areas B and C of the study area and between the first sampling (starting February until mid-July) and the second one (starting mid-July until December).