AbstractSpecies diversity of rodents is a good index to analyze local environmental change, since rodents have not only the ability to adapt to a wide range of habitats but also are sensitive to environmental changes. In order to understand the influence of habitat types on rodent diversity, the species composition and diversity of rodent communities in six different habitats in Hexi Corridor were studied. Field work was carried out from July to August, 2001. Rodents (<200 g ) were sampled with 2-dimensional grids in all habitats. Average distance between grids was 100 m. One hundred snap traps were set for for two days in each sample line with 5 m spacing. A total of 5320 trap nights were operated in six habitats. Traps were baited in the afternoon with peanuts and were checked the next morning. Thirteen species of rodents among 354 individuals were collected, belonging to six families (or subfamilies) and nine genera. Species associated with palaercitic fauna dominated the community. The result of diversity analysis shows that the values of the species richness index R_Margalef for the six habitats ranged from 0.6139 to 1.9689, while the species diversity index (Shannon Wiener index) ranged from 1.0695 to 1.5607, and Pielou and Simpson indices ranged from 0.7242 to 0.9735 and from 0.2768 to 0.4683, respectively. The tendency of diversity, including N₁ and the Shannon Wiener index, was for similarity in all six habitats, while the tendency of N₂ was such that habitats of semi desert brush > habitats of mountainous grassland > habitats of desert > habitats of cultivated fields > habitats of forest > habitats of semi desert mountain brush. Precipitation was the major restricted factor that directly influenced species composition and diversity for the rodent community in these habitats. Latitude and human disturbance also affect species composition of the rodent community.