3.1 Species composition and abundance
A total of 1411 individuals were captured from 18360 trap nights
representing 19 species of murid rodents (Muridae) and 5 species of
shrews (Soricidae) (Table 1). Species richness was equally highest in
adjacent habitats and degraded forest edges with 19 species, and lowest
in primary forest interior. Species diversity was highest in adjacent
habitats and least in the primary forest interior while trap success was
highest in adjacent habitats and least along the degraded forest edges
(Table 1).
Hylomyscus stella and Praomys jacksoni were the most
abundant species in forested areas while Lemniscomys striatus was
the most abundant in adjacent habitats (Table 1). Lophuromys
stanleyi and Crocidura olivieri were the only species recorded from all
sampled habitats. Other notable species recorded includeScutisorex congicus (Hero shrew), Deomys ferrugineus andMalacomys longipes , i.e. typical Congo basin forest species with
MCFR being their eastern geographical limit (Thorn & Kerbis 2009,
Monadjem et al. 2015, IUCN 2018).