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Abstract: Current levels of bushmeat hunting in west and central Africa are largely unsustainable, and will lead to the loss of an important natural resource and cause the extinction of threatened species. Worryingly, great apes are hunted for their meat despite being protected across their range. In this paper, we highlight the main actors involved in the trafficking of great ape meat around the Dja Biosphere Reserve (DBR) in Cameroon, and describe the commodity chain associated with the trade. In total, 78 hunters, porters, traders and consumers were interviewed. Hunters, all men, were primarily driven by profit, encouraged by middlemen, though some hunt for their own consumption. However, we identify that great ape hunting is undertaken by specialized hunters along a relatively short supply chain. Gorilla and chimpanzee meat is sold to restaurants and wealthy buyers via few intermediaries. The price of great ape meat varied at different stages of the chain. Middlemen obtained the greatest financial gain, whereas wholesale traders profited least. Movement of ape meat to markets was predominantly by public transport and facilitated by the use of vehicles that can pass through checkpoints without being examined. Based on our study we recommend potential interventions, including support of law enforcement, investments in conservation and development initiatives, and monitoring and research. © 2018 The Zoological Society of London
Source title: International Zoo Yearbook
DOI: 10.1111/izy.12175
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040717770&doi=10.1111%2fizy.12175&partnerID=40&md5=2c99bc2f24ca3d4c3faf2c3fa1934192
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Hunting / Poaching ; Income-generating activities ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates

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Abstract: Archaeological surveys and excavations in the NGotto Forest Reserve, Central African Republic, discovered 98 artefact concentrations or cultural features that included ceramic scatters, iron-ore mines and iron smelting features. These investigations provide, for the first time, a series of radiocarbon dates that chronicle the timing and context of prehistoric occupation along the northern margin of the Congo Basin rain forest in the Central African Republic. Thirty-three age estimates from 19 sites are distributed throughout the late Holocene and together document 2500 years of occupations. A number of the dates are from iron extraction and processing features that reflect extensive pre-colonial use of the area between about AD 1750 and 1840, while a radiocarbon date of 2179 ± 37 BP in direct association with pottery signals settlement by ceramic-bearing peoples perhaps as early as 350 cal. BC. Three radiocarbon dates from two sites reflect occupations during the purported hiatus and reduction in regional forest populations c. 1400-800 BP and five dates from four additional sites in southern Central African Republic rain forests also fall during this interval. In concert with scrutiny of summed probability distributions and potential artefacts embedded within the radiocarbon calibration curve, the number of these dates question the reality of this occupational hiatus, at least in the north-central Congo Basin. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Source title: Azania
DOI: 10.1080/0067270X.2018.1471798
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047113927&doi=10.1080%2f0067270X.2018.1471798&partnerID=40&md5=91cfeeb0d545fc2347a366c4339bb427
Correspondence Address: Lupo, K.D.; Department of Anthropology, PO Box 750336, Southern Methodist UniversityUnited States; email: klupo@mail.smu.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Ngotto
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Anthropology / Ethnoscience

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Abstract: Many studies have demonstrated the importance of symbiotic microbial communities for the host with beneficial effects for nutrition, development, and the immune system. The majority of these studies have focused on bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract, while the fungal community has often been neglected. Gut anaerobic fungi of the class Neocallimastigomycetes are a vital part of the intestinal microbiome in many herbivorous animals and their exceptional abilities to degrade indigestible plant material means that they contribute significantly to fermentative processes in the enteric tract. Gorillas rely on a highly fibrous diet and depend on fermentative microorganisms to meet their daily energetic demands. To assess whether Neocallimastigomycetes occur in gorillas we analyzed 12 fecal samples from wild Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) from Dzanga–Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic, and subjected potential anaerobic fungi sequences to phylogenetic analysis. The clone library contained ITS1 fragments that we related to 45 different fungi clones. Of these, 12 gastrointestinal fungi in gorillas are related to anaerobic fungi and our phylogenetic analyses support their assignment to the class Neocallimastigomycetes. As anaerobic fungi play a pivotal role in plant fiber degradation in the herbivore gut, gorillas might benefit from harboring these particular fungi with regard to their nutritional status. Future studies should investigate whether Neocallimastigomycetes are also found in other nonhuman primates with high fiber intake, which would also benefit from having such highly efficient fermentative microbes. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Source title: International Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0052-8
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050611342&doi=10.1007%2fs10764-018-0052-8&partnerID=40&md5=9fe1004217528443f8277f15a80f5965
Correspondence Address: Schulz, D.; Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk UniversityCzech Republic; email: doreenschz@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Poaching is one of the greatest threats to wildlife conservation world-wide. However, the spatial and temporal patterns of poaching activities within protected areas, and the effectiveness of ranger patrols and ranger posts in mitigating these threats, are relatively unknown. We used 10 years (2006–2015) of ranger-based monitoring data and dynamic multi-season occupancy models to quantify poaching-related threats, to examine factors influencing the spatio-temporal dynamics of these threats and to test the efficiency of management actions to combat poaching in Nyungwe National Park (NNP), Rwanda. The probability of occurrence of poaching-related threats was highest at lower elevations (1,801–2,200 m), especially in areas that were close to roads and tourist trails; conversely, occurrence probability was lowest at high elevation sites (2,601–3,000 m), and near the park boundary and ranger posts. The number of ranger patrols substantially increased the probability that poaching-related threats disappear at a site if threats were originally present (i.e. probability of extinction of threats). Without ranger visits, the annual probability of extinction of poaching-related threats was an estimated 7%; this probability would increase to 20% and 57% with 20 and 50 ranger visits per year, respectively. Our results suggest that poaching-related threats can be effectively reduced in NNP by adding ranger posts in areas where they do not currently exist, and by increasing the number of patrols to sites where the probability of poaching activities is high. Synthesis and applications. Our application of dynamic occupancy models to predict the probability of presence of poaching-related threats is novel, and explicitly considers imperfect detection of illegal activities. Based on the modelled relationships, we identify areas that are most vulnerable to poaching, and offer insights regarding how ranger patrols can be optimally deployed to reduce poaching-related threats and other illegal activites, while taking into account potential sampling biases. We show that poaching can be effectively reduced by increasing ranger patrols to areas under high risk of poaching activities, and by adding ranger patrols near these sites. These findings are broadly applicable to national parks and protected areas experiencing a high degree of poaching and other illegal activities. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology © 2017 British Ecological Society
Source title: Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12965
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85026639072&doi=10.1111%2f1365-2664.12965&partnerID=40&md5=c18850f2ff398f9b8c166e92d6dc2c60
Correspondence Address: Moore, J.F.; Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of FloridaUnited States; email: jennmoore924@ufl.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Hunting / Poaching ; Conservation initiatives

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Abstract: Soil has been proposed as a driver explaining the development of monodominant forests in the tropics, for example, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forests (GDF) in central Africa. The aim of this study was to compare the physical and chemical properties of soils under GDF with those under an adjacent mixed forest (AMF), while controlling for topography. To this end, we set up sixteen 0.25-ha plots according to forest type and topography (plateau vs. bottomland), in the Yoko forest reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo. In each plot, we measured litter thickness and collected a total of 80 soil samples at depths of 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40 and 120-150 cm, for standard physical and chemical analyses. When controlling for topography and soil texture, we found that most of the chemical properties of soils under GDF did not differ from those of soils under AMF, particularly acidity, cation concentration, total N and the C:N ratio. The litter layer was 2.3 times thicker under GDF than under AMF stands, and, for a given texture, soils under GDF had a slightly higher organic C concentration in the 0-5 cm soil layer. This study suggests that G. dewevrei stands modify organic matter dynamics, which may be important in maintaining its monodominance. © Copyright Cambridge University Press 2018.
Source title: Journal of Tropical Ecology
DOI: 10.1017/S0266467418000135
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046472643&doi=10.1017%2fS0266467418000135&partnerID=40&md5=a5310744a90c482eec03bcc40b224414
Correspondence Address: Lokonda, M.; Institut Facultaire des Sciences Agronomiques de YangambiCongo; email: lokondamichel@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Yoko
Main topic: Environment ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Geology / Pedology ; Plants

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Abstract: Protected areas serve two objectives, biodiversity conservation and securing of ecosystem services. But the recent expansion of human activities around Cameroon’s Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve in this Era of Sustainable Development Goals is a call for concern. This study assesses land use and land cover change around the reserve and their potential impact on its sustainability. A total of 250 household surveys were conducted across 13 villages in four selected sites around the reserve in addition to 11 focus group discussions. Landsat 7 ETM (2000) and Landsat 8 OLI (2014) images and topographic maps were utilized to quantify land use and land cover change. During the 14-year period, dense forest dropped to 90.2% while settlements increased from 744.6 to 2148.8 hectares in 2014. Also, farmlands increased by 18.25% representing a change from 9400.4 to 11117.16 hectares. Over 98% and 85% of the respondents are engaged in the cultivation of food and cash crops and are dependent on the forests for timber and non-timber forests products. Land and tree-based interventions that improve soil fertility should be promoted among smallholder farmers to ensure the sustainability of protected areas in Cameroon. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis.
Source title: Journal of Sustainable Forestry
DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2018.1449121
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044289873&doi=10.1080%2f10549811.2018.1449121&partnerID=40&md5=f2e14ac92e4aefb69956f43f62d7550d
Correspondence Address: Yujun, S.; State Forestry Administration, Key Laboratory for Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Beijing Forestry UniversityChina; email: sunyj@bjfu.edu.cn
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Rumpi Hills
Main topic: Environment
Subtopic: Land use / cover

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Abstract: Understanding major drivers of tree species distribution and tropical forest composition is imperative for biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assessing the floristic diversity and structure of Lesio-louna forest in southern Republic of Congo and its implications for sustainable development. The measurements were made in six plots: three plots located in the Iboubikro forest and three in Blue Lake Forest (circular plots of 1,256 m2 or 40 m of plot diameter). 85 trees of DBH ? 10 cm, divided into 25 species and 14 families have been recorded. Biomass data was collected using the tree-ring or floristic inventory method and data analyzed using SPSS v.18.0 statistical software. The results showed that, the Fabaceae had significant trees (17 species), with a relative diversity index of 20% followed by the Mimosaceae with 14 species and a relative diversity index of 16%. Millettia laurentii, Pentaclethra eetveldeana, Eriocoelum macrocarpum, Millettia pinnata and Sorindeia juglandifolia were listed as most important species in the area based on their relative frequency. Further study has been done to identify and determine the trees taxon for Lesio-louna tropical forest and their phytogeographical distribution. Flora of Lesio-louna protected area has a remarkable diversity and the floristic richness is very considerable in its specific composition. © 2018, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary.
Source title: Applied Ecology and Environmental Research
DOI: 10.15666/aeer/1601_837853
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041736900&doi=10.15666%2faeer%2f1601_837853&partnerID=40&md5=9b1cb62d7377967a919b0bba8ce020aa
Correspondence Address: Liu, X.D.; Laboratory of Ecological Planning and Management, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry UniversityChina; email: xd_liu@bjfu.edu.cn
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Lessio-Louna
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Background: Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) of chimpanzees and gorillas from Central Africa crossed the species barrier at least four times giving rise to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) groups M, N, O and P. The paradigm of non-pathogenic lentiviral infections has been challenged by observations of naturally infected chimpanzees with SIVcpz associated with a negative impact on their life span and reproduction, CD4+ T-lymphocyte loss and lymphoid tissue destruction. With the advent and dissemination of new generation sequencing technologies, novel promising markers of immune deficiency have been explored in human and nonhuman primate species, showing changes in the microbiome (dysbiosis) that might be associated with pathogenic conditions. The aim of the present study was to identify and compare enteric viromes of SIVgor-infected and uninfected gorillas using noninvasive sampling and ultradeep sequencing, and to assess the association of virome composition with potential SIVgor pathogenesis in their natural hosts. Results: We analyzed both RNA and DNA virus libraries of 23 fecal samples from 11 SIVgor-infected (two samples from one animal) and 11 uninfected western lowland gorillas from Campo-Ma'an National Park (CP), in southwestern Cameroon. Three bacteriophage families (Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae) represented 67.5 and 68% of the total annotated reads in SIVgor-infected and uninfected individuals, respectively. Conversely, mammalian viral families, such as Herpesviridae and Reoviridae, previously associated with gut- and several mammalian diseases were significantly more abundant (p < 0.003) in the SIVgor-infected group. In the present study, we analyzed, for the first time, the enteric virome of gorillas and their association with SIVgor status. This also provided the first evidence of association of specific mammalian viral families and SIVgor in a putative dysbiosis context. Conclusions: Our results suggested that viromes might be potentially used as markers of lentiviral disease progression in wild gorilla populations. The diverse mammalian viral families, herein described in SIVgor-infected gorillas, may play a pivotal role in a disease progression still unclear in these animals but already well characterized in pathogenic lentiviral infections in other organisms. Larger sample sets should be further explored to reduce intrinsic sampling variation. © 2018 The Author(s).
Source title: Retrovirology
DOI: 10.1186/s12977-018-0402-9
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041387387&doi=10.1186%2fs12977-018-0402-9&partnerID=40&md5=4158d28e2253ebbfefa4606b3fc6418b
Correspondence Address: Soares, M.A.; Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA)Brazil; email: masoares@biologia.ufrj.br
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Campo-Ma'an
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Animal health

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Abstract: [No abstract available]
Source title: New England Review-Middlebury Series
DOI: 10.1353/ner.2018.0087
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85054101510&doi=10.1353%2fner.2018.0087&partnerID=40&md5=a416897fb32cc89376ff073659fc0dc1
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Chinko
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Perceptions / Behaviors ; Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Hunting / Poaching ; Conservation initiatives

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Abstract: One of the largest of antelopes, Derby eland (Taurotragus derbianus), is an important ecosystem component of African savannah. While the western subspecies is Critically Endangered, the eastern subspecies is classified as least concern. Our study presents the first investigation of population dynamics of the Derby eland in the Chinko/Mbari Drainage Basin, Central African Republic, and assesses the conservation role of this population. We analysed data from 63 camera traps installed in 2012. The number of individuals captured within a single camera event ranged from one to 41. Herds were mostly mixed by age and sex, mean group size was 5.61, larger during the dry season. Adult (AD) males constituted only 20% of solitary individuals. The overall sex ratio (M:F) was 1:1.33, while the AD sex ratio shifted to 1:1.52, reflecting selective hunting pressure. Mean density ranged from 0.04 to 0.16 individuals/km2, giving an estimated population size of 445–1,760 individuals. Chinko harbours one of the largest documented populations of Derby eland in Central Africa, making Chinko one of its potential conservation hotspots. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12431
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047831711&doi=10.1111%2faje.12431&partnerID=40&md5=537fb8e1839d34fd5dd54bdc6533f77f
Correspondence Address: Brandlová, K.; Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences PragueCzech Republic; email: karolina@derbianus.cz
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Chinko
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamic Investigation (GEDI) mission has been designed to measure forest structure using lidar waveforms to sample the earth's vegetation while in orbit aboard the International Space Station. In this paper, we used airborne large-footprint (LF) lidar measurements to simulate GEDI observations from which we retrieved ground elevation, vegetation height, and aboveground biomass (AGB). GEDI-like product accuracy was then assessed by comparing them to similar products derived from airborne small-footprint (SF) lidar measurements. The study focused on tropical forests and used data collected during the NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) AfriSAR ground and airborne campaigns in the Lope National Park in Central Gabon. The measurements covered a gradient of successional stages of forest development with different height, canopy density, and topography. The comparison of the two sensors shows that LF lidar waveforms and simulated waveforms from SF lidar are equivalent in their ability to estimate ground elevation (RMSE = 0.5 m, bias = 0.29 m) and maximum forest height (RMSE = 2.99 m, bias = 0.24 m) over the study area. The difference in the AGB estimated from both lidar instruments at the 1-ha spatial scale is small over the entire study area (RMSE = 6.34 Mg·ha -1, bias = 11.27 Mg·ha-1) and the bias is attributed to the impact of ground slopes greater than 10-20° on the LF lidar measurements of forest height. Our results support the ability of GEDILF lidar to measure the complex structure of humid tropical forests and provide AGB estimates comparable to SF-derived ones. © 2008-2012 IEEE.
Source title: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2018.2816962
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045208102&doi=10.1109%2fJSTARS.2018.2816962&partnerID=40&md5=6f86e24b5ce5693fdf5937e3a5a6b79b
Correspondence Address: Silva, C.A.; Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of TechnologyUnited States; email: carlos_engflorestal@outlook.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Structure / Biomass ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: The Albertine Rift region of Africa is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, with more threatened and endemic vertebrates than elsewhere on the continent. Many of the endemic species are confined to montane forest or alpine areas. We assessed impacts of loss of habitat to agriculture and predicted impacts from niche modelling of climate change to the endemic species of the Albertine Rift. Modelling species distributions for 162 endemic terrestrial vertebrates and plants, we estimated the average percentage of habitat already lost to agriculture at 38% across all species. However, of the remaining suitable habitat the average percentage protected is currently 46%, greatly increased by the recent establishment of Itombwe, Kabobo and Ngandja Reserves in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo from 30%. Species ranges in 2080 were estimated using climate models and predicted to lead to an average loss of an additional 75% of remaining suitable habitat across all species. An estimated 34 endemic species were predicted to lose >90% of their current remaining suitable habitat. The percentage of the total suitable habitat protected in parks or reserves increases under future climate change to 56% because as ranges contract more of the remaining area occurs within existing protected areas. This indicates that the protected area coverage is reasonably well located for future climate change. Based on these data we estimate that 46% of the endemic species we assessed would qualify for threatened status on the global Red List. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.02.001
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044788347&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2018.02.001&partnerID=40&md5=33b9f7037d11a8755f8c2ab64ceeb2ce
Correspondence Address: Plumptre, A.J.; Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, United States; email: aplumptre@wcs.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ; Rwanda ; Burundi ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Environment
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Vertebrates ; Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Land use / cover ; Crops ; Climate

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Abstract: In this study, we quantified the contribution of forest-derived carbon (FDC) to the soil organic C (SOC) pool along a natural succession from savanna (S) to mixed Marantaceae forest (MMF) in the Lopè National Park, Gabon. Four 1-ha plots, corresponding to different stages along the natural succession, were used to determine the SOC stock and soil C isotope composition (?13C) to derive the FDC contribution in different soil layers down to 1 m depth. Besides, to investigate changes in SOC stability, we determined the 14C concentration of SOC to 30 cm depth and derived turnover time (TT). Results indicated that SOC increased only at the end of the succession in the MMF stage, which stored 46% more SOC (41 Mg C ha?1) in the 0–30 cm depth than the S stage (28.8 Mg C ha?1). The FDC contribution increased along forest succession affecting mainly the top layers of the initial successional stages to 15 cm depth and reaching 70 cm depth in the MMF stage. The TT suggests a small increase in stability in the 0–5 cm layer from S (146 years) to MMF (157 years) stages. Below 5 cm, the increase in stability was high, suggesting that FDC can remain in soils for a much longer time than savanna-derived C. In conclusion, the natural succession toward Marantaceae forests can positively impact climate change resulting in large SOC stocks, which can be removed from the atmosphere and stored for a much longer time in forest soils compared to savanna soils. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Source title: Biology and Fertility of Soils
DOI: 10.1007/s00374-018-1313-6
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053789351&doi=10.1007%2fs00374-018-1313-6&partnerID=40&md5=f4b8146e0aa90aa12ed4dfb2fcf7fae4
Correspondence Address: Chiti, T.; Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, via San C. De Lellis snc, Italy; email: tommaso.chiti@unitus.it
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Environment ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Geology / Pedology ; Carbon ; Plants ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: A new subgenus, with two new species, of the genus Cavernocepheus (Oribatida, Otocepheidae) are described from soil and litter of Korup National Park in Cameroon. Cavernocepheus (Paracavernocepheus) subgen. nov. differs from the nominative subgenus by the presence of four pairs of genital setae. Revised generic and subgeneric diagnoses and an identification key to the known taxa of the genus Cavernocepheus are presented. © Systematic & Applied Acarology Society.
Source title: Systematic and Applied Acarology
DOI: 10.11158/saa.23.3.8
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042867984&doi=10.11158%2fsaa.23.3.8&partnerID=40&md5=9e9b3b7298b5a005e7773db959547e34
Correspondence Address: Ermilov, S.G.; Tyumen State UniversityRussian Federation; email: ermilovacari@yandex.ru
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: Tropical forest vegetation structure is highly variable, both vertically and horizontally, and provides habitat to a large diversity of species. The forest-savanna mosaic in the northern part of Lopé National Park, Gabon, has a large and complex variation in vegetation structure along a successional gradient. The goal of this research is to assess whether large footprint full-waveform lidar data can be used to distinguish successional vegetation types based on their vertical structure in this area. Eleven vegetation metrics were derived from the lidar waveforms: canopy height, canopy fractional cover, total Plant Area Index (PAI) and vertical profile of PAI. The PAI profiles from airborne waveform lidar showed good agreement with those from Terrestrial Laser Scanning, sampled at eight field plots across different vegetation types (r2 = 0.95, RMSE = 0.63, bias = 0.41). The agreement further strengthened our confidence that lidar waveforms can be used to distinguish between the five vegetation types, within the limits of the sampled structure, because TLS was known to provide distinct PAI profiles for these vegetation types. We then employed a Random Forest model, trained with 193 locations of known vegetation type, to classify the entire study area into five successional vegetation types (classification accuracy = 81.3%). The resulting predictive map revealed the overall spatial pattern of vegetation types across the study area. Our results suggest that lidar-derived vegetation profiles can provide valuable information on vegetation type and successional stage. This, in turn, can further help to improve habitat and biodiversity conservation and forest management activities. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.
Source title: Remote Sensing of Environment
DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2018.07.023
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050683329&doi=10.1016%2fj.rse.2018.07.023&partnerID=40&md5=020ba3e992784f49fa0bb277afc5bca0
Correspondence Address: Marselis, S.M.1150 Lefrak Hall, 6903 Preinkert Drive, United States; email: marselis@umd.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians is caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and has resulted in dramatic declines and extinctions of amphibian populations worldwide. A hypervirulent, globally-dispersed pandemic lineage (Bd-GPL) is thought to be largely responsible for population declines and extinctions, although numerous endemic lineages have also been found. Recent reports of amphibian declines have been linked to the emergence of Bd in Cameroon, a major hotspot of African amphibian diversity. However, it is not known whether Bd-GPL or other lineages have been found in this region. This study therefore aims to examine Bd lineage diversity in the region and predict the distribution of this pathogen under current and future climate conditions using data from this study and from historical records. Almost 15% (52/360) of individuals tested positive for Bd using a standard quantitative PCR diagnostic. Infected amphibians were found at all eight sites sampled in this study. Species distribution models generated in BIOMOD2 indicate that areas with highest predicted environmental suitability occur in the Cameroon highlands and several protected areas throughout the country. These areas of high environmental suitability for Bd are projected to shift or decrease in size under future climate change. However, montane regions with high amphibian diversity are predicted to remain highly suitable. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS sequences obtained from a set of positive Bd samples indicate that most fall within the Bd-GPL lineage while the remainder group with isolates from either Brazil or South Korea. Although more in depth phylogenetic analyses are needed, identification of Bd-GPL lineages in areas of high amphibian diversity emphasizes the need to continue to monitor for Bd and develop appropriate conservation strategies to prevent its further spread. © 2018 Miller et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Source title: PLoS ONE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199288
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048892182&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0199288&partnerID=40&md5=647b9ac36b97df7b44b4dead2d048db5
Correspondence Address: Miller, C.A.; Department of Biological Sciences, University of New OrleansUnited States; email: camille3@uno.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Campo-Ma'an ; Ebo ; Lobéké ; Mbam Djerem ; Mont Cameroun ; Takamanda
Main topic: Health ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animal health ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Amphibians ; Fungi ; Diversity

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Abstract: The composition of herbaceous vegetation was evaluated with the aim of characterizing forests at various ages of stand development. Herb stems were sampled in 250 4-m² square plots distributed within six habitat types. A total of 36 herb species belonging to 15 families were recorded. Species richness did not significantly differ between habitat types. Most herb species occurred in all habitat types and were therefore generalists. However, a few indicator herb species were detected, and the results roughly suggested that herb species of the families Poaceae and Araceae were indicative of late successional forests; Zingiberaceae are indicative of early successional forests; and Commelinaceae, Costaceae, Cyperaceae and Marantaceae are indicators of flooded habitats. Species diversity and stem density of herbaceous plants did not change with forest succession as a decrease in abundance and frequency of occurrence of pioneer species in late successional forests was counterbalanced by the presence of generalist and late successional species. However, increasing proportions of dwarf stems in late successional forests translated to changes in the vertical structure of herbaceous plant communities. Herbivory pressure by gorillas did not have a notable effect on herbaceous plant community development. This study contributes to the definition of herbaceous ecological indicators of forest succession in different settings. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12454
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85035029529&doi=10.1111%2faje.12454&partnerID=40&md5=3c04615806ecc0175339bdb2629a73b7
Correspondence Address: Willie, J.; Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent UniversityBelgium; email: jacob.willie@ugent.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Diplopods (millipedes) are one of the important groups of terrestrial Arthropoda in tropical forest ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, data on millipede populations are still scarce and outdated in Cameroon. The first comparative eco-faunistic analysis is presented of two local populations of Diplopoda in two lowland rainforests (nearly primary and secondary) during 12 months (2015–2016) at the southern periphery of the Campo Ma'an National Park in southern Cameroon. The millipedes were collected using pitfall trapping and quadrat sampling, their diversity and distribution analyzed with the help of two diversity indexes and two nonparametric estimators. Overall, 27 species in eighteen genera, ten families and four orders were revealed in the two forests, yet each faunule was about equally rich (23 and 22 species in the primary and secondary forest, respectively) and peculiar (five and four species unique, respectively). The Odontopygidae was the most abundant family, which made up to 33% of the total species diversity. The most abundant species in both forests was Aporodesmus gabonicus (26.8% of occurrences). This study shows that despite the similarity in millipede species richness between both habitats, the species composition of all habitats was different. Some species occurred in two habitats whilst others were restricted to only one habitat. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12418
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019624928&doi=10.1111%2faje.12418&partnerID=40&md5=accebff804a77e370980347f9dd605f6
Correspondence Address: Mbenoun Masse, P.S.; Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Yaounde I, PO Box: 812, Cameroon; email: masseserge@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Campo-Ma'an
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Understanding the complex Entamoeba communities in the mammalian intestine has been, to date, complicated by the lack of a suitable approach for molecular detection of multiple variants co-occurring in mixed infections. Here, we report on the application of a high throughput sequencing approach based on partial 18S rDNA using the Illumina MiSeq platform. We describe, to our knowledge, for the first time, the Entamoeba communities in humans, free-ranging western lowland gorillas and central chimpanzees living in the Dja Faunal Reserve in Cameroon. We detected 36 Entamoeba haplotypes belonging to six haplotype clusters, containing haplotypes possessing high and low host specificity. Most of the detected haplotypes belonged to commensal Entamoeba, however, the pathogenic species (Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba nuttalli) were also detected. We observed that some Entamoeba haplotypes are shared between humans and other hosts, indicating their zoonotic potential. The findings are important not only for understanding the epidemiology of amoebiasis in humans in rural African localities, but also in the context of wild great ape conservation. © 2018 Australian Society for Parasitology
Source title: International Journal for Parasitology
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.11.008
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044153959&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijpara.2017.11.008&partnerID=40&md5=bb3f9a22892448999e305e9fe1d80528
Correspondence Address: Vl?ková, K.; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého t?. 1946/1, Czech Republic; email: klari.vlckova@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Human & animal health

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Abstract: Poaching is rapidly extirpating African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) from most of their historical range, leaving vast areas of elephant-free tropical forest. Elephants are ecological engineers that create and maintain forest habitat; thus, their loss will have large consequences for the composition and structure of Afrotropical forests. Through a comprehensive literature review, we evaluated the roles of forest elephants in seed dispersal, nutrient recycling, and herbivory and physical damage to predict the cascading ecological effects of their population declines. Loss of seed dispersal by elephants will favor tree species dispersed abiotically and by smaller dispersal agents, and tree species composition will depend on the downstream effects of changes in elephant nutrient cycling and browsing. Loss of trampling and herbivory of seedlings and saplings will result in high tree density with release from browsing pressures. Diminished seed dispersal by elephants and high stem density are likely to reduce the recruitment of large trees and thus increase homogeneity of forest structure and decrease carbon stocks. The loss of ecological services by forest elephants likely means Central African forests will be more like Neotropical forests, from which megafauna were extirpated thousands of years ago. Without intervention, as much as 96% of Central African forests will have modified species composition and structure as elephants are compressed into remaining protected areas. Stopping elephant poaching is an urgent first step to mitigating these effects, but long-term conservation will require land-use planning that incorporates elephant habitat into forested landscapes that are being rapidly transformed by industrial agriculture and logging. © 2017 Society for Conservation Biology
Source title: Conservation Biology
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13035
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042610895&doi=10.1111%2fcobi.13035&partnerID=40&md5=83d8479a88b5e59ada6fd8a19bcacf2b
Correspondence Address: Poulsen, J.R.; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, P.O. Box 90328, United States; email: john.poulsen@duke.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central Africa ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Biology / Ecology