Graphical Display and Interpretation of Antelope Census Data in African Wildlife Areas, Using Correspondence Analysis

Abstract

Census data are represented on 17 antelope genera, constituting 9 tribes, in 16 sub—Saharan African wildlife areas. A multidimensional graphical technique, correspondence analysis, is described and then used to represent the genera, or tribes, and the wildlife areas in a joint planar display. The interpretation of these displays is discussed in the light of supplementary ecological information available for each wildlife area. In the displays of the present analysis gross vegetational physiogonomy, that is height and spacing of the cover, emerges as the most important influence on the grouping of ecosystems, antelope tribes, and ecosystems with tribes.