Figure 3. Scatterplots showing placement within non-dimensional metric scaling (NMDS) ordination space of bird species and parasite lineages compositions.

NMDS is a nonparametric ordination technique that maps ranked data non-linearly onto ordination space using both taxa composition and abundance. The assemblage data (composition and relative abundance of taxa) were used to assign a position in ordination space to each sample. Samples with similar assemblages were positioned close to one another in ordination space, while samples with dissimilar assemblages were positioned further apart. NMDS ordination spaces of bird species (A) and parasite lineages (B) according to the habitat are represented. Symbols represent the two significant habitat grouping (circles: Atlantic rainforest; triangles: Brazilian savannah+seasonally dry forest).