3.4 Temporal fluctuations in rodent and shrew abundance in
Mabira (CFR)
Overall abundance of small mammals significantly varied across habitats
(F2,33 = 5.68, p = 0.007). Adjacent habitats were
characterized by the highest abundance (mean = 44.33±12.6), followed by
primary forest interior (mean = 36.4±13.4) and the least abundance along
degraded forest edges (mean = 27.4±10.8). Temporal fluctuations in
abundance for four most abundant species indicates peaks forHylomyscus stella in September, December and May with least
captures in March, Praomys jacksoni had peaks in
September-November, February and May with least captures in December
while Hylomyscus stella was at a peak (Figure 4). In adjacent
forest habitats, Lemniscomys striatus had two peaks in September
and March while L. stanleyi showed two major peaks in December
and March (Figure 4). It was also observed that species sharing the same
habitat alternate in dominance over time