diversity, tree density and forest cover to old-growth sites (Fig. 2;
Table 1). In contrast, the basic rehabilitation sites had significantly
lower tree diversity, plant diversity, tree density and forest cover
(Fig. 2; Table 1). In the case of tree diversity and density the difference
is particularly marked as no trees were recorded at any
basic rehabilitation sites (Fig. 2). Basic rehabilitation sites were also
found to have less than half of the plant diversity and less than one
third of the forest cover found at the KGBRP rehabilitation and oldgrowth
sites (Fig. 2).
As with the plant community, significant differences were found
between the fauna communities in the two rehabilitation treatments
with the KGBRP rehabilitation sites most closely resembling
the old-growth sites The most noteworthy differences between
faunal communities across sites were found by examining the indicators
of mudskipper and crab density. Total mudskipper density
and Boleophthalmus spp. density were significantly higher at basic
rehabilitation sites than KGBRP rehabilitation and old-growth sites
(Fig. 3: Table 2). In addition, the KGBRP rehabilitation sites also had
greater total mudskipper and Boleophthalmus spp. density than oldgrowth
sites (Fig. 3: Table 2). The density of Periophthalmodon spp.
and ocypodid crabs followed a similar pattern with significantly
more found at the basic rehabilitation sites than the KGBRP rehabilitation
and old-growth sites, however no significant difference
was found between the KGBRP rehabilitation and old-growth sites
(Fig. 3: Table 2). When the ratio of ocypodid to grapsid crabs was
compared across sites there was no significant difference found
between the two rehabilitation treatments, however there was a
marginally significant difference between the basic and old-growth
sites (Fig. 3: Table 2). The density of large crab holeswas found to be
relatively low in the KGBRP rehabilitation and basic rehabilitation
treatments and not significantly different (Fig. 3: Table 2). The
density of large crab holes was found to be significantly higher in
old-growth sites than in basic fenced and KGBRP rehabilitation sites