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Abstract: This paper presents a multibaseline method to increase the accuracy of height estimation when using SAR tomographic data. It is based upon mitigating the temporal decorrelation induced by wind. The Fourier-Legendre function of different orders was fitted to each pixel as the structure function in the PCT model. It was combined with the motion standard deviation function from the random-motion-over ground (RMoG) model. L-band multibaseline data are used that were acquired during the AfriSAR campaign over La Lope National Park in Gabon with a height range between 0 and 60 m that has an average of 30 m and standard deviation of 15 m. The results were compared with those from the regular PCT model using the root mean square error (RMSE). Histograms were compared to the one obtained from Lidar height map. The average RMSE was equal to 7.5 m for the regular PCT model and to 5.6 m for the modified PCT model. We concluded that the accuracy of tree height estimation increased after modeling of temporal decorrelation. This is of value for future satellite missions that would collect tomographic data over forest areas. © 2008-2012 IEEE.
Source title: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2018.2869620
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048982067&doi=10.1109%2fJSTARS.2018.2869620&partnerID=40&md5=c0f6421b147d191b7c9aeef67ef7fa0d
Correspondence Address: Ghasemi, N.; Department of Earth Observation Systems, ITC Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of TwenteNetherlands; email: n.ghasemi@utwente.nl
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: Background: Majority of the people in rural areas depend on traditional fungi-based medicines to combat different illnesses. This ethnomycological survey was undertaken to document the traditional knowledge of mushrooms among the communities in the Kilum-Ijim mountain forest reserve. Although macrofungi are exploited for food and medicine, their ethnomycological knowledge has not been documented in this ecosystem. Methods: A field study was carried out between 2014 and 2015; 14 mushrooms used by the local communities were collected and identified using the polymorphism of the ribosomal ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 regions. Semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and pictorial method were used to collect information on edibility, local names, indigenous knowledge, and the role of macrofungi in ten communities. Results: Ethnomycological findings revealed that mushrooms were used as food and medicine, while the non-edible species were regarded as food from Satan. Eight species, Polyporus tenuiculus, Termitomyces striatus, Termitomyces microcarpus Auricularia polytricha, Laetiporus sulphureus, Termitomyces sp.1, Termitomyces sp.2, and Polyporus dictyopus, were reported as edible and Auricularia polytricha, Daldinia concentrica, Ganoderma applanatum, Lentinus squarrosulus, Polyporus dictyopus, Termitomyces microcarpus, Trametes versicolor, Vascellum pretense and Xylaria sp., were used as medicine in traditional health care. Local names were found to be a very important factor in distinguishing between edible, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms. Edible mushrooms are called "awo'oh" in Belo and "Kiwoh" in Oku. Poisonous mushrooms were commonly referred to as "awo'oh Satan" in Belo and "Kiwohfiyini" in Oku. Mushrooms were highly valued as a source of protein and as a substitute for meat in their diets. It is worth noting that Polyporus dictyopus was reported here for the first time in literature as an edible mushroom species. Conclusion: Local knowledge of medicinal mushrooms in the treatment of different illness still exists in all ten villages surveyed. Elderly men and women appear to play an important role in primary health care services in these communities. This survey underscores the need to preserve and document traditional knowledge of the different medicinal mushrooms used in treating different illnesses and for more future scientific research on the mushrooms to determine their efficacy and their safety. © 2018 The Author(s).
Source title: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
DOI: 10.1186/s13002-018-0225-8
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044830377&doi=10.1186%2fs13002-018-0225-8&partnerID=40&md5=c922795a8e80684d10279206003b2fd0
Correspondence Address: Teke, N.A.; University of Buea, Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 63, Cameroon; email: arch237@yahoo.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Kilum Ijim, Mont Oku
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Ethnoscience ; Non-timber forest products ; Fungi

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Abstract: In group-living species, encounters with extragroup rivals can be one of the riskiest actions in which individuals participate. Different group members often have different incentives to participate during intergroup interactions, and individuals with fewer payoffs of competition, including those of the smaller sex and/or lower rank, may ‘free-ride’ to avoid the costs of conflict. However, there is little evidence for how different types of intergroup interactions (e.g. interactions that do not involve conflict) can influence the participation of individuals. We examined the ecological, demographic and social predictors of individual participation in interactions between 14 fully habituated mountain gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda from 2003 to 2015. The probability of an individual participating decreased with group size but remained relatively high in aggressive interactions and in multimale groups, illustrating the potential for ‘load lightening’ among group members. Males with fewer mating opportunities participated less often than males with more mating opportunities; however, male participation was significantly higher than female participation across all types of intergroup interactions. Females were more likely to be involved in aggressive interactions with solitary males, possibly to avoid the potential cost of infanticide if a resident male is killed or injured. Both sexes demonstrated more affiliative behaviours towards familiar groups, indicating a benefit of maintaining social relationships with familiar groups. Individuals show considerable variation in behaviour during intergroup interactions, and our results suggest that this variation is primarily driven by intergroup familiarity and individual reproductive benefits, both of which may have long-term consequences for individual fitness. © 2018
Source title: Animal Behaviour
DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.08.003
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053402769&doi=10.1016%2fj.anbehav.2018.08.003&partnerID=40&md5=8df2ffc7972e63c497d0f3970e28b050
Correspondence Address: Mirville, M.O.; School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Australia; email: melanie.mirville@research.uwa.edu.au
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Investigations on mammal species implicated in crop damage and control techniques used to protect fields was carried out in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR). The aim of this study was to identify mammal species causing damages on crops, the growth stages affected, the frequency and severity of damage in the fields and control techniques used. Data were collected in six villages using a standard questionnaire form translated in the main local languages (Swahili and Lingala), between 02-29 June and 07-31 August 2010. A probabilistic survey and structured interview have been used to collect data. Farmers of 7 main tribes were interviewed (a total of 210 farmers) who are living in OWR. The study shows that Primates (Cercocebus galeritus agilis, Papio anubis) and elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) cause considerable damage during maturation and fructification of maize, cassava and bananas in the fields. Farmers keep their fields under guard to drive away animals and prevent crop damage. © 2018 Nature Conservation Research. All Rights Reserved.
Source title: Nature Conservation Research
DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2018.007
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85061813398&doi=10.24189%2fncr.2018.007&partnerID=40&md5=dbaf7bbdfd3bccf63aa511f68260ab8d
Correspondence Address: Amundala, N.D.; University of KisanganiCongo; email: nicaise.amundala@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Okapis
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Human-wildlife conflicts ; Agriculture ; Periphery / Management

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Abstract: Rwanda's Nyungwe National Park is a biodiversity hotspot with the most endemic species in the ecoregion and the highest number of threatened species internationally. Nyungwe supplies critical ecosystem services to the Rwandan population including water provisioning and tourism services. Tourism in the Park has strong potential for financing enhanced visitor experiences and the sustainable management of the Park. This paper explores quantitatively the economic impacts of adjustment in Park visitation fees and tourism demand as a source of revenues to improve Park tourism opportunities and ongoing operations and maintenance. The methods developed in this paper are novel in integrating the results of stated preference techniques with a regional computable general equilibrium modelling approach to capture multisectoral, direct, indirect and induced impacts. Such methods have strong potential for assessing revenue generation alternatives in other contexts where park managers are faced with the need to generate additional revenue for sustainable park management while facing diminishing budget allocations. Results of this analysis demonstrate that adjustment of Park fees has a relatively small impact on the regional economy and well-being when compared with a strategy aimed at generating increased tourism demand through investment in improving the visitor experience at Nyungwe National Park. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Source title: Journal of Sustainable Tourism
DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2018.1456541
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053313849&doi=10.1080%2f09669582.2018.1456541&partnerID=40&md5=cf525e9e33a4e3bf451fafb638d7af0f
Correspondence Address: Banerjee, O.; Environment, Rural Development, Environment and Disaster Risk Management Division, Inter-American Development BankUnited States; email: onilb@iadb.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Tourism

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Abstract: [No abstract available]
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12576
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85057591364&doi=10.1111%2faje.12576&partnerID=40&md5=3e69a2d227cd3e7c68034c9fad77eb87
Correspondence Address: Moore, J.F.; University of FloridaUnited States; email: jenn.f.moore@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Protected areas (PAs) in Central Africa provide unprecedented opportunities to maintain ecosystem integrity and safeguard the unique wildlife of one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. However, conflicts exist between wildlife protection, and the needs of human populations adjacent to PAs. Although the use of wildlife resources within PAs is nominally regulated, wildlife exploitation in the areas surrounding parks benefit human nutrition and livelihoods of adjacent populations. In 2013–2014, we interviewed 28% of all known households in 37 villages surrounding the Odzala Kokoua National Park (OKNP), Republic of Congo. We gathered information on bushmeat consumption, income, material assets, and hunter perception of the state of wildlife. We show that bushmeat species (mostly duikers, small monkeys and porcupine) were consumed in 38–48% of meals, and 20–30% of households earned cash from hunting wildlife in most villages; more than any other single source of revenue, except cocoa. Although it remains unknown whether the park was a reservoir for wildlife for areas around the studied villages, we showed that more bushmeat was consumed closer to OKNP. By contrast, income from bushmeat sales in villages closer to markets was greater, and as a corollary, market access and household wealth were positively correlated. Overall, total household income, income from bushmeat sales, travel time, and distance to the OKNP were good predictors of household wealth. Wildlife, although considered more abundant around villages closest to the park, was perceived as generally declining around all village groups. Our results highlight the possible importance of PAs and adjacent areas as reservoirs of wildlife and in maintaining wild meat resources used by the surrounding human populations. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.03.036
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044949764&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2018.03.036&partnerID=40&md5=a01d80ab3adc99e58ed6bc39cdbcc135
Correspondence Address: Fa, J.E.; Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityUnited Kingdom; email: jfa949@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Odzala Kokoua
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Periphery / Management ; Income-generating activities ; Conservation initiatives ; Hunting / Poaching ; Perceptions / Behaviors

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Abstract: Poaching of forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) for ivory has decimated their populations in Central Africa. Studying elephant movement can provide insight into habitat and resource use to reveal where, when, and why they move and guide conservation efforts. We fitted 17 forest elephants with global positioning system (GPS) collars in 2015 and 2016 in the tropical forest-grassland mosaic of the Wonga Wongué Presidential Reserve (WW), Gabon. Using the location data, we quantified movement distances, home ranges, and habitat use to examine the environmental drivers of elephant movements and predict where elephants occur spatially and temporally. Forest elephants, on average, traveled 2,840 km annually and had home ranges of 713 km2, with males covering significantly larger home ranges than females. Forest elephants demonstrated both daily and seasonal movement patterns. Daily, they moved between forest and grassland at dawn and dusk. Seasonally, they spent proportionally more time in grassland than forest during the short-wet season when grasses recruit. Forest elephants also traveled faster during the short-wet season when fruit availability was greatest, likely reflecting long, direct movements to preferred fruiting tree species. Forest elephants tended to select areas with high tree and shrub density that afford cover and browse. When villages occurred in their home ranges elephants spent a disproportionate amount of time near them, particularly in the dry season, probably for access to agricultural crops and preferred habitat. Given the importance of the grassland habitat for elephants, maintenance of the forest-grassland matrix is a conservation priority in WW. Law enforcement, outreach, and education should focus on areas of potential human-elephant conflict near villages along the borders of the reserve. GPS-tracking should be extended into multi-use areas in the peripheries of protected areas to evaluate the effects of human disturbance on elephant movements and to maintain connectivity among elephant populations in Gabon. © 2018 Mills 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.0199387
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049664114&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0199387&partnerID=40&md5=e49f5b753db36bcd58b9bfaf95dead34
Correspondence Address: Poulsen, J.R.; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityUnited States; email: john.poulsen@duke.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Wonga-Wongué
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Infectious diseases including those caused by parasites can be a major threat to the conservation of endangered species. There is thus a great need for studies describing parasite infections of these species in the wild. Here we present data on parasite diversity in an agile mangabey (Cercocebus agilis) group in Bai Hokou, Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas (DSPA), Central African Republic. We coproscopically analyzed 140 mangabey fecal samples by concentration techniques (flotation and sedimentation). Agile mangabeys hosted a broad diversity of protistan parasites/commensals, namely amoebas (Entamoeba spp., Iodamoeba buetschlli), a Buxtonella-like ciliate and several parasitic helminths: strongylid and spirurid nematodes, Primasubulura sp., Enterobius sp., and Trichuris sp. Importantly, some of the detected parasite taxa might be of potential zoonotic importance, such as Entamoeba spp. and the helminths Enterobius sp., Trichuris sp., and strongylid nematodes. Detailed morphological examination of ciliate cysts found in mangabeys and comparison with cysts of Balantioides coli from domestic pigs showed no distinguishing structures, although significant differences in cyst size were recorded. Scanning or transmission electron microscopy combined with molecular taxonomy methods are needed to properly identify these ciliates. Further studies using molecular epidemiology are warranted to better understand cross-species transmission and the zoonotic potential of parasites in sympatric non-human primates and humans cohabiting DSPA. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22736
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040728198&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22736&partnerID=40&md5=f22b0e71ae73eee219fe0c675df6a082
Correspondence Address: Paf?o, B.; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical SciencesCzech Republic; email: barafrikacar@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Health ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animal health ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates

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Abstract: Deforestation and forest fragmentation are leading drivers of biodiversity loss. Protected areas have been the leading conservation policy response, yet their scale and scope remain inadequate to meet biodiversity conservation targets. Managed forest concessions increasingly have been recognized as a complement to protected areas in meeting conservation targets. Similarly, programs for voluntary third-party certification of concession management aim to create incentives for logging companies to manage forests more sustainably. Rigorous evidence on the impacts from large-scale certification programs is thereby critical, yet detailed field observations are limited, temporally and spatially. Remotely-sensed data, in contrast, can provide repeated observations over time and at a fine spatial scale, albeit with less detail. Using the Global Forest Change dataset, we examine annual forest loss in Cameroon during 2000–2013 to assess the impact of Forest Stewardship Council certification, as well as uncertified logging concessions and national parks. We use panel regressions that control for the effects of unobserved factors that vary across space or time. We find low forest loss inside the boundaries of each management intervention, with <1% lost over the study period. Yet those low levels of loss appear to be influenced more by a site's proximity to drivers of deforestation, such as distances to population centers or roads, than by national parks, uncertified concessions, or certification. The exception is that if a site faces high deforestation pressure, uncertified logging concessions appear to reduce forest loss. This may reflect private companies’ incentives to protect rights to forest use. Such an influence of private logging companies could provide a foundation for future impacts from certification upon rates of forest loss, at least within areas that are facing elevated deforestation pressures. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.09.013
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052916546&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2018.09.013&partnerID=40&md5=256f320dd5546124424b6aba8b37e714
Correspondence Address: Loucks, C.; World Wildlife Fund–United States, 1250 24th St. NW, United States; email: Colby.Loucks@wwfus.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Environment
Subtopic: Land use / cover ; Deforestation ; Forests

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Abstract: Objectives: Ecological factors, but also tooth-to-tooth contact over time, have a dramatic effect on tooth wear in primates. The aim of this study is to test whether incisor tooth wear changes predictably with age and can thus be used as an age estimation method in a wild population of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Materials and methods: In mountain gorillas of confidently known chronological age (N = 24), we measured the crown height of all permanent maxillary and mandibular incisors (I1, I1, I2, I2) as a proxy for incisal macrowear. Linear and quadratic regressions for each incisor were used to test whether age can be predicted by crown height. Using these models, we then predicted age at death of two individual mountain gorillas of probable identifications, based on their incisor crown height. Results: Age decreased significantly with incisor height for all teeth, but the upper first incisors (I1) provided the best results, with the lowest Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AICc) and lowest Standard Error of the Estimate (SEE). When the best age equations for each sex were applied to gorillas with probable identifications, the predicted ages differed 1.58 and 3.33 years from the probable ages of these individuals. Conclusions: Our findings corroborate that incisor crown height, a proxy for incisal wear, varies predictably with age. This relationship can be used to estimate age at death of unknown gorillas in the skeletal collection, and in some cases, to corroborate the identity of individual gorillas recovered from the forest postmortem at an advanced state of decomposition. Such identifications help fill gaps in the demographic database and support research that requires individual-level data. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Physical Anthropology
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23720
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055714945&doi=10.1002%2fajpa.23720&partnerID=40&md5=9099537827a959edb89017191b975bb2
Correspondence Address: Galbany, J.; Department of Anthropology, Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington UniversityUnited States; email: jgalbany@gwu.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Intergroup interactions in primates vary from nonagonistic to severely aggressive. Food resources and fertile females cause intergroup aggression when groups defend resources and mates from other groups. Peaceful intermingling during intergroup encounters is rare but has been reported in several primates, including bonobos (Pan paniscus). Although intergroup encounters in bonobos occur at both nonprovisioned and provisioned sites, provisioning may be one factor responsible for frequent intergroup encounters. We studied intergroup encounters between one bonobo group (PE) and its neighboring groups, one semihabituated and two habituated groups, under nonprovisioned conditions in 2010–2015 at Wamba, Democratic Republic of Congo. We examined whether fruit abundance and females with sexual swellings influenced encounter frequency. PE group encountered the other groups on 7.1 days (mean, range: 0–19) per month. Up to four different groups met simultaneously at one location. Encounter frequency was highest around the yearly peak in fruit abundance, suggesting that reduced food competition is linked to increased encounter frequency. During periods of relatively low fruit abundance, the probability of an encounter was higher when a higher number of adult females with maximum sexual swellings were present, suggesting that the attractiveness of females with sexual swellings promoted group encounters during periods of relatively low fruit abundance. These findings suggest that both competition for food and the availability of females with sexual swellings influence encounter frequency in bonobos. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Source title: International Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0058-2
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053544645&doi=10.1007%2fs10764-018-0058-2&partnerID=40&md5=ef42aaeb7c27d03fd17daca622f2bf20
Correspondence Address: Sakamaki, T.; Primate Research Institute, Kyoto UniversityJapan; email: sakamaki.tetsuya.8v@kyoto-u.ac.jp
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Luo Scientific Reserve
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Irvingia gabonensis fruit (bush mango) is amongst the most valuable Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Takamanda National Park (TNP). It experienced an increasing market demand in the last twenty years, which prompted the study reported here. We interviewed ninety I. gabonensis fruit collectors in five villages close to TNP to assess the effects of the increasing demand on the management of the species. Irvingia gabonensis is abundant in the natural forests of the area, but trees have been planted by 97% of respondents in their farms. The Village Traditional Councils have developed rules that regulate I. gabonensis fruit collection in the wild and ensure its sustainability. Collectors, along with many animal species are active agents involved in the efficient I. gabonensis seed dispersion in the wild. Although the pressure on the bush mango resource is high and growing, local people in and around the Takamanda National Park have developed, on the basis of their indigenous knowledge of the species, collective collection rules as well as protection and enrichment practices that together contribute to ensuring the sustainability of bush mango harvesting in the area. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Source title: Forests Trees and Livelihoods
DOI: 10.1080/14728028.2018.1512423
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053062774&doi=10.1080%2f14728028.2018.1512423&partnerID=40&md5=bce798d41349c86ccdfb21e44db24c3a
Correspondence Address: Nfornkah, B.N.; Department of Forestry, University of Dschang-ForestryCameroon; email: bneba80@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Note
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Takamanda
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Non-timber forest products ; Income-generating activities ; Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Periphery / Management ; Governance / Policy ; Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Abundance

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Abstract: [No abstract available]
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12453
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85034758410&doi=10.1111%2faje.12453&partnerID=40&md5=d3098d72c7d1f93c0eb337e6a62fecfa
Correspondence Address: Kirsten, I.; Foundation LeoNetherlands; email: iriskirsten@hotmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Bouba Ndjida
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: The establishment of protected areas is an accepted means of achieving biodiversity conservation and associated tourism development; yet, there is limited evidence of the relationship between the two and how this influences local communities’ attitudes to conservation and tourism. Joint venture models are one way to achieve these two outcomes. The African Wildlife Foundation conservation enterprise model aims to improve the quality of life of local communities and encourage positive local attitudes to conservation; yet, this has not been tested. This research adopted one-on-one structured questionnaire interviews to examine community and tourism lodge staff’s attitudes towards conservation of, and tourism in, protected areas in two case-study sites in rural Botswana and Rwanda. Findings indicate that at both case-study sites lodge staff and the local community were generally supportive of conservation, and had positive attitudes towards conservation and tourism. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Source title: Journal of Ecotourism
DOI: 10.1080/14724049.2016.1258074
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84997769557&doi=10.1080%2f14724049.2016.1258074&partnerID=40&md5=008e3dd48d72105225931917177abfd2
Correspondence Address: Cobbinah, P.B.; Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt UniversityAustralia; email: pcobbinah@csu.edu.au
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Perceptions / Behaviors ; Tourism ; Conservation initiatives ; Periphery / Management

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Abstract: Giant ground pangolins (Smutsia gigantea) are poorly known and difficult to study due to their nocturnal and burrowing habits. Here, we test the efficacy of using camera traps on potentially active burrows identified by local Ba’Aka guides to rapidly locate giant ground pangolins in the wild for subsequent observation and tagging for telemetry studies. We deployed nine cameras on potential giant ground pangolin burrows in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon. One camera photographed an adult male giant ground pangolin using a burrow within 2 days of camera deployment. The pangolin used the same burrow several times over a 25-day period and possible scent-marking behavior was recorded. © The Author(s) 2018.
Source title: Tropical Conservation Science
DOI: 10.1177/1940082917749224
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041751323&doi=10.1177%2f1940082917749224&partnerID=40&md5=e8015402d0c5947a805584fb25525ec9
Correspondence Address: Bruce, T.; Zoological Society of London—CameroonCameroon; email: Thomas.Bruce@zsl.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: The social organization of a group-living animal is defined by a balance between group dynamic events such as group formation, group dissolution, and dispersal events and group stability in membership and over time. Understanding these processes, which are relevant for questions ranging from disease transmission patterns to the evolution of polygyny, requires long-term monitoring of multiple social units over time. Because all great ape species are long-lived and elusive, the number of studies on these key aspects of social organization are limited, especially for western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). In this study, we used non-invasive genetic samples collected within an approximately 100 km2 area of Loango National Park, Gabon to reconstruct group compositions and changes in composition over more than a decade. We identified 98 gorillas and 11 mixed sex groups sampled during 2014–2017. Using published data from 85 individuals and 12 groups surveyed between 2005 and 2009 at the same locality, we tracked groups and individuals back in time. The identification of 11 silverbacks via parentage analyses and the genetic tracking of 39 individuals across studies allowed us to infer six group formations, five group dissolutions, and 40 dispersal events within 12 years. We also observed four groups persisting across the sampling periods with a maximum inferred existence of nearly 17 years and exhibiting variation in membership stability. Our results highlight the variation in composition and stability among groups of western lowland gorillas and illustrate the power of non-invasive genetic sampling for long-term monitoring. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22898
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050454221&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22898&partnerID=40&md5=be68bd3816ee66c150dd3571339e6d57
Correspondence Address: Hagemann, L.; Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyGermany; email: laura_hagemann@eva.mpg.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Loango
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Abstract: Intergroup interactions in social animals can vary from hostile to affiliative and may be influenced by factors such as competitive ability, resource values and existing intergroup relationships. Despite the potential for intergroup interactions to affect individual fitness and group stability, few studies have comprehensively tested how social, demographic and ecological factors may simultaneously influence intergroup interactions. Using 13 years of continuous data on intergroup interactions (n = 464), group composition, range use and diet, we investigated the factors that influenced the initiation and escalation of intergroup interactions in a fully habituated subpopulation of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The majority of interactions were non-physically agonistic (57%), while peaceful exchanges and physical aggression were less common (18% and 25% of interactions respectively). Solitary males and young dominant silverbacks were the most likely to initiate an interaction, presumably because these males have the highest incentive to attract mates. Aggressive interactions between a group and a solitary male involved a high number of participating group members, reflecting the incentive to avoid injury and infanticide associated with solitary male encounters. Aggression between social groups escalated when groups were similarly sized, perhaps because these groups have similar competitive abilities. Peaceful intergroup interactions most commonly involved opponents that contained familiar and related individuals, suggesting that the short dispersal distance of gorillas may facilitate kin-selected intergroup tolerance. Variation and plasticity in gorilla behaviour during intergroup interactions are therefore dependent on the opponent’s familiarity and threat level. Significance statement: Intergroup interactions can vary from aggressive physical disputes to tolerant intermingling among extra-group individuals. Competition for access to limiting resources can often influence the occurrence of aggressive intergroup competition, but may not be sufficient to describe peaceful mingling between groups in social species. We found that although the main driver of intergroup interactions may be mating competition between males, interactions between familiar social groups were significantly more peaceful than interactions involving unfamiliar groups. These findings suggest that maintaining social and kin relationships with neighbouring groups may act as a strategy for reducing conflict in group-structured social species. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Source title: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2592-5
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055421334&doi=10.1007%2fs00265-018-2592-5&partnerID=40&md5=b6443cf014989474af8a041cd4d0b68e
Correspondence Address: Mirville, M.O.; The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Australia; email: melanie.mirville@research.uwa.edu.au
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: In the face of increased defaunation in tropical regions, embracing the complexity of wildlife population trends is important to guide the development of effective conservation and restoration strategies. Here, based on a case study in Democratic Republic of the Congo, we use an ethnozoological approach, with a protocol that captures spatially explicit and temporal ecological knowledge on defaunation. Our case study evidences the overall depletion profile for the majority of mammal species in the whole landscape and particularly for red colobus, orycterope, and chimpanzee. The elephant has already disappeared locally, and okapi and forest buffalo only persist in the northern part of the landscape. On the other hand, postdepletion sustainability seems to characterize Yangambi Reserve, with more stable populations of fast-reproducing/small-sized species. Local extinctions or sharp declines in mammal populations in our landscape are either the direct consequence of conflict or the result of cascading effects that have their origins in the rebellions between 1996 and 2002. From a conservation perspective, the challenge is to understand how the depletion process can be reversed in a postconflict context and to identify the levers that can inverse the cascading effect to allow species recovery. We encourage the use of our methodology in regions that are regularly used by a significant number of observers. The proposed methodology provides cost-effective, reliable, and spatially explicit data on population trends, covering for a wide range of species and allows to understand the historical pattern of defaunation as well the wider context in which changes occurred. © The Author(s) 2018.
Source title: Tropical Conservation Science
DOI: 10.1177/1940082918799494
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068876478&doi=10.1177%2f1940082918799494&partnerID=40&md5=89ca9e4ece6d60b77ca094fd2d8ca2ef
Correspondence Address: van Vliet, N.; Center for International Forestry ResearchFrance; email: vanvlietnathalie@yahoo.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Yangambi
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Abundance ; Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Hunting / Poaching

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Abstract: La commercialisation des graines de Ricinodendron heudelotii et de feuilles de Gnetum spp. a ete etudiee autour du Pare National de Lobeke au Cameroun. Les acteurs des chaines d'approvisionnement de produits forestiers non ligneux (PFNL) ont ete identifies, ainsi que leurs benefices financiers et les problemes rencontres. Des questionnaires semi-structures ont ete utilises aupres del52 collecteurs de 8 villages et de 120 commergants de quatre marches. Les acteurs principaux sont les collecteurs, les grossistes, les detaillants et les consommateurs. Les marges beneficiaires annuelles des collecteurs de R. heudelotii variaient significativement entre 120.000 FCFA a Kika et 23.992 FCFA a Koumela. Par contre, les marges des commergants van'aient significativement entre 442,880 FCFA a Yokadouma et 14.800 FCFA a Kika. La marge beneficiaire des recolteurs du Gnetum etait plus elevee (324.740 FCFA) a Mambele qu'a Koumela (74.657 FCFA). Les commergants ont gagne 2.182.700 FCFA a Yokadouma et 1.397.933 FCFA a Moloundou (P=0,05). Les problemes rencontres etaient: les difficultes de transformation, la saisonnalite de R. heudelotii, les longues marches pour les collectes, /'agression des animaux, les faibles prix de vente et le manque d'information sur le marche. Les PFNL sont collectes a partir de stocks naturels et traites au de fagon minimaliste a I'aide d'outils rudimentaires. La domestication des especes PFNL, I'amelioration de la transformation et de I'acces au marche et a /'information sur celui-ci, des actions collectives et I'etablissement d'entreprises PFNL locales pourraient ameliorerles avantages des acteurs. © 2009- Bib. des Sciences agronomiques - ULiège.This study investigated the marketing of Ricinodendron heudelotii kernels and leaves of Gnetum buchholzianum/G. africanum around Lobeke National Park in Eastern Cameroon. Non-timber forest products (NTFP) supply chain actors were identified and their financial benefits and problems encountered in their activities assessed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 152 producers in eight villages and 120 traders in four markets. Direct actors are producers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. The annual mean profits (AMP) of producers of R. heudelotii varied significantly between 120,013 FCFA in Kika and 23,992 FCFA in Koumela, whereas those of traders varied significantly between 442,880 FCFA in Yokadouma and 14,800 FCFA in Kika (P=0.05). Producers of Gnetum spp. earned AMP between 324,740 FCFA in Mambele, and 74,657 FCFA in Koumela, while traders earned between 2,182,700 FCFA in Yokadouma and 1,397,933 FCFA in Moloundou (P=0.05). The problems encountered include difficulty to process and seasonality of R. heudelotii, long walking distances to collection sites and animal threats, low prices and lack of market information. NTFPs are collected from natural stocks and minimally processed using rudimentary tools. Domestication of NTFP species, improved processing and access to market and market information, collective action and establishment of local NTFP enterprises will enhance the benefits of actors. © 2009- Bib. des Sciences agronomiques - ULiège.
Source title: Tropicultura
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85054633823&partnerID=40&md5=b2c814047262314cc5c7a68f618d51f5
Correspondence Address: Caspa, R.G.; Ecole Regionale Post-Universitaire d'Amenagement, Gestion Integres des Forets et Territoires TropicauxDemocratic Republic Congo; email: rcgusua@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Lobéké
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Income-generating activities ; Non-timber forest products ; Periphery / Management ; Plants