3.2. Species accumulation
A comparison of species accumulation in relation to sample size using
rarefaction curves shows that adjacent habitat areas attained the
asymptote while curves of degraded forest edges and primary forest
interior did not attain the asymptote (Fig. 2). For the sites that did
not attain the asymptote it means that further surveys might yield more
species.
3.3. Rodent and shrew habitat association in Mabira
Central Forest
Reserve
The different microhabitat attributes for the different survey areas in
MCFR were clustered forming groups as a result of association of
different species with different habitat attributes. Group 1 is
associated with closed canopy habitats, Group 2 is associated
with grass fallow, gardens, bush fallow and sugarcane plantations,Group 3 is associated with thick undergrowth and leaf litter;Group 4 is associated with habitats around homes; and Group
5 had habitats associated with rivers, streams and open canopy.
An indicator species analysis was completed, and an indicator species
list for each microhabitat (or microhabitat group combination) was
obtained. Two species Scutisorex congicus and Praomys
missonnei were found to be significantly associated (p=0.043 and 0.051
respectively) with closed canopy, leaf litter and thick undergrowth.Mastomys erythroleucus was significantly associated with grass
and bush fallows, gardens and plantations (p=0.012). Cricetomys
ansorgei , Hylomyscus stella and Praomys jacksoni , were
associated with microhabitat groups one, three and five at p=0.012,
p=0.025 and p=0.026 respectively.
The chi square test of independence between the different habitat
variables and species (X2 = 1165.329, P=0.000001),
suggests that there is a significant strong association between species
and their associated habitats. A correspondence analysis graph showing
the chi-square distances among sites of MCFR and the strength of
association between species and sampling areas is represented in Figure
3.