The consequences of logging on primate density and diversity in Kibale National Park, Uganda
Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, SL5 7PY Ascot, Burks, UK
24 Dec 2011
22 Apr 2012
24 Jun 2012
conservation, deforestation, line transects, primates, rainforest, Shannon index
Since logging programmes finished in 1969, the group density and diversity of primate species have been recorded using line transect studies in Kibale National Park, Uganda, to test for significant differences between areas of rainforest, which differ in the levels of logging they have experienced. The area K30 is considered unlogged, K14 selectively logged and K15 logged. The Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were performed to evaluate the primate group density, whilst Shannon indexes were calculated for each area to evaluate the primate diversity. Logging treatment had no significant effect on the total primate group density, although some other studies have shown a significant variation in the individual species group density between these areas. Higher total primate group densities were observed in the unlogged K30 area. There was also a great variation in the Shannon index values calculated between areas, with larger index values found in the unlogged K30 and selectively logged K14 areas, compared with the logged K15 area. By evaluating the changes in the primate group density and diversity in differentially logged areas over time, we can start to understand the consequences logging has had on Kibale National Park's primate populations.