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Abstract: Traditionally, the criteria used to measure conservation success or failure are based on biological factors. Biological factors include changes in the amount of targeted conserved species, biodiversity, and total area conserved. However, conservation efforts are not simply a matter of biological concern; environmental, political, social, and conflict pressures on different scales (ranging from local to global) also have strong influences on the outcome of conservation. These other factors can either pose threats to or enhance conservation, but are not addressed by current criteria. Using a proposed holistic rubric that includes interdisciplinary fields, this paper examines a set of conservation factors on different scales – ranging from local to global – to determine their importance in conservation. The paper analyses positive factor influences with more successful conservation and negative factor influences with less successful, or failed, conservation attempts. Neutral and non-applicable factor influences are also identified, defined, and ranked as a standardization mechanism. The determination of success changed when the holistic rubric was applied to conservation projects in Costa Rica, Mekong Valley, and Cameroon. In the Costa Rica case study, conservation success for Guanacaste and Talamanca national parks is rated ‘moderately low’. In the case of Mekong Valley, conservation success is rated ‘low’ for Lower Mekong, ‘moderately low’ for Greater Annamites, and ‘low’ for Phong Nha-Ke Bang national parks. Cameroon's Congo Basin and Sangha Tri-National conservation efforts are both rated ‘low’, while Dja Faunal is rated ‘very low’. We conclude that if conservation efforts are to attain a high level of success, the strategy for global conservation must move away from the traditional biological approach, which focuses mainly on biological concerns, and embrace a holistic approach, which in addition to biological concerns, addresses environmental, political, social, and conflict pressures, which have strong influences on the outcomes of conservation. © 2017 The Authors. Natural Resources Forum © 2017 United Nations
Source title: Natural Resources Forum
DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12132
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042131579&doi=10.1111%2f1477-8947.12132&partnerID=40&md5=295a4ad8645eb07dbf6a5907c0f7e8e4
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja ; Lobéké ; Nouabalé-Ndoki ; Dzanga-Ndoki
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity ; Environment
Subtopic: Conservation initiatives ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Plants ; Land use / cover ; Governance / Policy ; Periphery / Management ; Armed conflicts

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Abstract: We generated a large-scale mangrove forest height map using multiple TanDEM-X (TDX) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) acquisitions with various spatial baselines in order to improve the height estimation accuracy across a wide range of forest heights. The forest height inversion using InSAR data is strongly dependent upon the vertical wavenumber (i.e., perpendicular baseline). First, we investigated the role of the vertical wavenumber in forest height inversion from InSAR data using the sensitivity of the interferometric (volume) coherence to forest height. We used corrected but lower resolution and accuracy Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) mangrove height maps as a priori information over Akanda and Pongara National Parks in Gabon to estimate lower and upper boundaries of the vertical wavenumber over test sites from the measured coherence-to-height sensitivity. Only TDX acquisitions within the boundaries of the vertical wavenumber were selected and combined for multibaseline mangrove height inversion. Mangrove forest height was obtained with multibaseline TDX acquisitions and was validated against the reference height derived from field measurement data providing improvements in multibaseline inversion over existing height estimates (i.e., SRTM height) and single-baseline inversions (multibaseline inversion: r2= 0.98, root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.73 m; SRTM height: r2= 0.86, RMSE= 7.21 m; single-baseline inversions: r2= 0.08-0.97, RMSE= 3.86-11.10 m). As a result, to accurately estimate forest heights over a wide range (3-60 m), multibaseline InSAR acquisitions (at least three different baselines) are needed to exclude biases associated with the vertical wavenumber in forest height inversion. © 2008-2012 IEEE.
Source title: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.1109/JSTARS.2018.2835647
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048520108&doi=10.1109%2fJSTARS.2018.2835647&partnerID=40&md5=72c76ab15b1e5246519cc6742187577b
Correspondence Address: Lee, S.-K.; Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterUnited States; email: seungkuk.lee@nasa.gov
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Akanda ; Pongara
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Wetlands / Water bodies ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: Three new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pergalumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are described from litter and soil in the Korup National Park (Cameroon). Pergalumna jenoi sp. nov. differs from P. margaritata Mahunka, 1989 and P. pseudomargaritata Mahunka, 1994 by the presence of simple dorsosejugal suture, dentate anterior margin of the ventral plate, distinct reticulate pattern on the pteromorphs and dense stria on the genital plates, the localization of setal alveoli la posterior to porose areas Aa, and the absence of a median pore. Pergalumna tuberclesejugalis sp. nov. differs from P. mar-garitata and P. pseudomargaritata by the larger body size, the localization of porose areas Aa closer to lm than la, and setal alveoli h3 close and lateral to A2, the presence of sejugal porose areas, and the absence of a median pore and stria on the genital plates. Pergalumna grebennikovi sp. nov. differs from P. bifissurata Hammer, 1972 by the larger body size, the presence of smooth bothridial setae, well-developed interlamellar setae, reticulate anterior margin of pteromorphs, com-paratively long prodorsal median ridge and a median pore, and the localization of setal alveoli la and porose areas Aa. An identification key to the known species of the genus Pergalumna from the Ethiopian region is presented. Copyright © 2018 Magnolia Press.
Source title: Zootaxa
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4425.2.1
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047787150&doi=10.11646%2fzootaxa.4425.2.1&partnerID=40&md5=28cbe394906ff9d8358536ca58eee30b
Correspondence Address: Ermilov, S.G.; Tyumen State UniversityRussian Federation; email: ermilovacari@yandex.ru
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pilizetes (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are described from litter and soil in the Korup National Park (Cameroon). Pilizetes paradudichi sp. nov. differs from Pilizetes dudichi Balogh, 1966 by the presence of long interlamellar setae and clearly longer notogastral setae. Pilizetes parasellnicki sp. nov. differs from Pilizetes sellnicki Balogh, 1958 by the presence of thickened, heavily ciliated and long epimeral setae 3b, 4a, 4b and 4c. © Systematic & Applied Acarology Society.
Source title: Systematic and Applied Acarology
DOI: 10.11158/saa.23.2.12
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042364651&doi=10.11158%2fsaa.23.2.12&partnerID=40&md5=55f99cd5e5f5656739ea0e0ed55b8f29
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: Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Galumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are described from litter and soil in the Korup National Park, Cameroon. Galumna korupensis sp. n. differs from Galumna tricuspidata Engelbrecht, 1969 by the smaller body size, the presence of two oval postanal porose areas, one tooth on each lamellar lines and striate genital plates, and the absence of median pore and lateral teeth on the rostrum. Galumna cameroonica sp. n. differs from Galumna incisa Mahunka, 1982 by the presence of long cilia on bothridial heads, band-like postanal porose area, striate genital plates, three pairs of notogastral porose areas, and the position of notogastral lyrifissures im. © 2018, Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Source title: Biologia (Poland)
DOI: 10.2478/s11756-018-0032-7
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045105534&doi=10.2478%2fs11756-018-0032-7&partnerID=40&md5=4e31d7e57b4b7ed001f4d9da9708df5c
Correspondence Address: Ermilov, S.G.; Tyumen State University, Semakova 6, Russian Federation; email: ermilovacari@yandex.ru
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates

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Abstract: In the context of producing a revised phylogenetic Linnean taxonomy of angraecoid orchids, the monotypic and narrow-endemic genus Ossiculum is synonymised with Calyptrochilum. Accordingly, a new combination in Calyptrochilum is proposed for Ossiculum aurantiacum. The morphological and DNA-based evidence for this transfer is discussed. Moreover, Calyptrochilum aurantiacum is here firstly reported outside Cameroon, with a record from the Republic of the Congo. The Red List conservation status of this species is reassessed and it is to be downgraded from "Critically Endangered" (CR) to "Endangered" (EN), following the recent discovery of additional subpopulations in Cameroon. © Murielle Simo-Droissart et al.
Source title: PhytoKeys
DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.98.23511
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046674416&doi=10.3897%2fphytokeys.98.23511&partnerID=40&md5=aab1d1ef0abdb00a3a30cc85c09107f1
Correspondence Address: Simo-Droissart, M.; Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Cameroon; email: murielle.simo@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Bayang-Mbo ; Odzala Kokoua
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: Lions (Panthera leo) are of particular conservation concern due to evidence of recent, widespread population declines in what has hitherto been seen as a common species, robust to anthropogenic disturbance. Here we use non-invasive methods to recover complete mitochondrial genomes from single hair samples collected in the field in order to explore the identity of the Gabonese Plateaux Batéké lion. Comparison of the mitogenomes against a comprehensive dataset of African lion sequences that includes relevant geographically proximate lion populations from both contemporary and ancient sources, enabled us to identify the Plateaux Batéké lion as a close maternal relative to now extirpated populations found in Gabon and nearby Congo during the twentieth century, and to extant populations of Southern Africa. Our study demonstrates the relevance of ancient DNA methods to field conservation work, and the ability of trace field samples to provide copious genetic information about free-ranging animals. © 2018, The Author(s).
Source title: Conservation Genetics
DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-1039-2
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045073380&doi=10.1007%2fs10592-017-1039-2&partnerID=40&md5=cd0bb2c4a81f7ba6df8d97e66166ee49
Correspondence Address: Barnett, R.; Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Denmark; email: DrRossBarnett@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Plateaux Batéké ; Odzala Kokoua
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVgor) causes persistent infection in critically endangered western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) from west central Africa. SIVgor is closely related to chimpanzee and human immunodeficiency viruses (SIVcpz and HIV-1, respectively). We established a noninvasive method that does not interfere with gorillas' natural behaviour to provide wildlife pathogen surveillance and health monitoring for conservation. A total of 1,665 geo-referenced fecal samples were collected at regular intervals from February 2006 to December 2014 (123 sampling days) in the Campo-Ma'an National Park (southwest Cameroon). Host genotyping was performed using microsatellite markers, SIVgor infection was identified by serology and genetic amplification was attempted on seropositive individuals. We identified at least 125 distinct gorillas, 50 were resampled (observed 3.5 times in average) and 38 were SIVgor+ (seven individuals were seroconverters). Six groups of gorillas were identified based on the overlapping occurrence of individuals with apparent high rates of gene flow. We obtained SIVgor genetic sequences from 25 of 38 seropositive genotyped gorillas and showed that the virus follows exponential growth dynamics under a strict molecular clock. Different groups shared SIVgor lineages demonstrating intergroup viral spread and recapture of positive individuals illustrated intra-host viral evolution. Relatedness and relationship genetic analysis of gorillas together with Bayesian phylogenetic inference of SIVgor provided evidence suggestive of vertical transmission. In conclusion, we provided insights into gorilla social dynamics and SIVgor evolution and emphasized the utility of noninvasive sampling to study wildlife health populations. These findings contribute to prospective planning for better monitoring and conservation. © 2018 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4478
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055529593&doi=10.1002%2fece3.4478&partnerID=40&md5=9aee9e6d315f739859bea8a67f31bc13
Correspondence Address: Villabona-Arenas, C.J.; TransVIHMI, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Université de MontpellierFrance; email: christian-julian.villabona-arenas@ird.fr
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: The decline of wildlife in Central and West African border parks has been directly linked to Islamic terrorism in the region in media and government discourse. Using Waza National Park in the Far North Region of Cameroon as a case study, we show that wildlife declines in the park long preceded the appearance of Boko Haram, the extremist group best known for kidnapping over 200 girls in northern Nigeria. We also show that there is no evidence that Boko Haram are using wildlife products from the park to sustain their operations. Instead, the 'poacher-as-terrorist' narrative obscures complex, historically embedded reasons for insecurity in northern Cameroon as well as massive losses of biodiversity in this region. The media and governments' focus on the 'poacher-as-terrorist' narrative has important implications for the victims of Boko Haram, including mobile pastoralists. It is their cattle that are most likely a major source of sustenance and funding for the operations of Boko Haram. However, because these mobile pastoralist groups are 'invisible' in the bush, their struggles remain ignored. We argue that the continued espousal of the 'poacher-as-terrorist' narrative allows Boko Haram violence against mobile pastoralists to continue, and makes way for further environmental degradation in Cameroon's protected areas. Copyright © Pennaz 2017.
Source title: Conservation and Society
DOI: 10.4103/cs.cs_16_153
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045520908&doi=10.4103%2fcs.cs_16_153&partnerID=40&md5=ab74aa39b4278555b7b9dd0314a58df2
Correspondence Address: Pennaz, A.K.; Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of CaliforniaUnited States; email: abk@berkeley.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Waza
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Armed conflicts ; Hunting / Poaching ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Governance / Policy ; Income-generating activities ; Periphery / Management ; Agriculture

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Abstract: The new species Combretum longistipitatum Jongkind, sp.nov. (Combretaceae) from Gabon is described and illustrated. This liana differs from other Combretum subgen. Combretum species by the exceptionally long stipe of the fruit compared to the size of the wings. The only location where the new species is known from is now part of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris. © Publications scientifques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.
Source title: Adansonia
DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2018v40a9
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050881655&doi=10.5252%2fadansonia2018v40a9&partnerID=40&md5=e0b72e0c7c2a7478891f371085c2289a
Correspondence Address: Jongkind, C.C.H.; Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, Belgium; email: carel.jongkind@kpnmail.nl
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Moukalaba-Doudou
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: Background: Free-tailed bats of the genus Otomops are poorly known, and most species are documented from a handful of widely scattered localities. Recently, two allopatric species of Otomops were recognized in continental Africa: Otomops martiensseni (Matschie, 1897) in southern, central and western Africa, and the new species O. harrisoni Ralph et al., 2015 in the northeast and in Yemen. Methods: We collected additional samples of Otomops in Kenya and Rwanda where the ranges of these taxa approach one another to clarify their geographic ranges and taxonomic status. Mitochondrial and nuclear intron sequences served to identify and delimit species; we also documented their echolocation call variation and ectoparasite complements. Results: Otomops martiensseni, the southern African species, was documented in northern Kenya in Marsabit National Park. O. harrisoni, the northeastern African-Arabian species, was documented in southern Kenya and in a cave in Musanze District, Rwanda. Moreover, individuals of both species were found together at the Musanze cave, establishing them in precise spatial and temporal sympatry. Analyses ofmitochondrial and nuclear loci identify no evidence of admixture between these forms, although available samples limit the power of this analysis. Echolocation call differences are also apparent among the three localities we analyzed. Three orders of insects and two families of mites are newly reported as ectoparasites of O. harrisoni. Discussion: Our results corroborate species rank for O. harrisoni and establish a zone of potential geographic overlap with O. martiensseni spanning at least 800 km of latitude. The new records establish the species in sympatry in northern Rwanda and add an additional species to the bat faunas of both Kenya and Rwanda. Future studies are needed to understand Otomops roosting requirements and movements, thereby explaining the paucity of known colonies and yielding better estimates of their conservation status. The discovery of mixed roosting associations in Rwanda invites further investigation. © 2018 Patterson et al.
Source title: PeerJ
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4864
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047535029&doi=10.7717%2fpeerj.4864&partnerID=40&md5=e84a4b71ff18219e2e2009f54c49deee
Correspondence Address: Patterson, B.D.; Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural HistoryUnited States; email: bpatterson@fieldmuseum.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Survey / Monitoring ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: The present study is based on oribatid mite material (Acari, Oribatida) collected from the Cameroonian Korup National Park in 2016. A list of identified taxa, including 51 species from 33 genera and 19 families, is presented; of these, 28 species, 16 genera and 6 families are recorded in Cameroon for the first time. Two new species belonging to the genera Lasiobelba and Haplozetes are described: Lasiobelba camerunica sp. nov. differs from Lasiobelba decui (Vasiliu & Ivan, 1995) by the presence of eight pairs of notogastral setae (c represented by alveoli, h3 and their alveoli absent), spindle-form bothridial setae with distinct thin apex and longer notogastral setae la, lm and lp; Haplozetes paracancellatus sp. nov. differs from Haplozetes cancellatus Beck, 1964 by the presence of long interlamellar setae and foveolate anogenital region. © Systematic & Applied Acarology Society.
Source title: Systematic and Applied Acarology
DOI: 10.11158/saa.23.4.12
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045949137&doi=10.11158%2fsaa.23.4.12&partnerID=40&md5=e39d1219ee126c8c755bec625738f886
Correspondence Address:
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: Human–elephant conflict is a common conservation problem throughout Africa, but poorly studied where forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) occur. Here, we investigated people's perceptions towards the impact of elephants around Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, northern Congo. We aimed to understand the perceptual differences amongst residents of four villages that varied substantially in the degree of conservation benefits received. We used a multivariate analysis to investigate how socio-economic variables, such as employment, wealth, education and ethnicity, influenced perceptions. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, we found that the majority of respondents experienced elephant impacts, mainly through crop raiding. Residents of the village where the local conservation project is based had significantly more positive perceptions of elephants, whereas perceptions of farmers were mostly negative. We identified some misunderstandings regarding the responsibilities of elephant impact mitigation regarding benefit sharing, stakeholder involvement and lawbreaking, but also willingness to apply mitigation measures. To mitigate the prevalent impact of elephants, a comprehensive approach of measuring impact, exploring community-based mitigating strategies and understanding of the root causes of the conflict is crucial. We propose a long-term programme within logging concessions organizing groups of farmers to cooperate on mitigation techniques and explore alternative incomes. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12435
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030125231&doi=10.1111%2faje.12435&partnerID=40&md5=8f3f1f7008a81f89a811127795c9c38a
Correspondence Address: Breuer, T.; Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation SocietyUnited States; email: tbreuer@wcs.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Nouabalé-Ndoki
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Conservation initiatives ; Periphery / Management ; Human-wildlife conflicts

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Abstract: Human malaria parasites have rarely been reported from free-ranging great apes. Our study confirms the presence of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium ovale wallikeri in western lowland gorillas and humans in Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic, and discusses implications for malaria epidemiology. © 2018, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.
Source title: Emerging Infectious Diseases
DOI: 10.3201/eid2408.180010
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050399820&doi=10.3201%2feid2408.180010&partnerID=40&md5=4efad9e74f5eb5bfb0de40663637d468
Correspondence Address: Fuehrer, H.-P.; University of Veterinary Medicine Institute of Parasitology, Veterinaerplatz 1, Austria; email: hans-peter.fuehrer@vetmeduni.ac.at
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Letter
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Human & animal health

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Abstract: Despite its wide distribution in continental Africa, the serval (Leptailurus serval Schreber) has received relatively little scientific attention so far. We did camera-trapping in the forest–savannah mosaic of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo. The park's savannahs represent the northernmost extension of the savannahs of the Batéké Plateaux, a large ecoregion of open habitat in Central Africa. During 8 months of camera-trapping, we recorded 51 individuals. Almost two-thirds of individuals recorded belonged to the servaline morph, with a pattern mutation of small “freckled” spots. Using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian spatially explicit capture–recapture methods serval density was 7.7–9.8 individuals/100 km². ML analyses favoured a model with trap placement and gender as covariates. Serval males were largely nocturnal whereas females were mainly diurnal. Differences in activity patterns were likely related to the occurrence of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta Erxleben). Spotted hyaenas were highly nocturnal and, consequently, had a higher overlap in activity patterns with male servals. Our study provided the first robust density estimates for this medium-sized carnivore in Central Africa. To achieve sufficient precision in density estimates, we recommend that future studies also include individual and trap placement covariates in analyses. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12520
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046421347&doi=10.1111%2faje.12520&partnerID=40&md5=a2686e3f8ea9554218f99e72ddf48b73
Correspondence Address: Bohm, T.; Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchGermany; email: torstenb@african-parks.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Odzala Kokoua
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Survey / Monitoring ; Abundance ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Land use change near dense forests is the single major cause of emergence of forest-based emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) among humans. In an attempt to predict where the next EID would originate from, we are hypothesizing that future EIDs would originate from a region having high population density, excessive poverty, and is located near dense vegetation. Using ArcGIS, we identified forest regions in ten countries across the globe that meet all the three conditions identified in the hypothesis. We further narrowed down the locations using Global Forest Watch data, which eliminates locations next to protected forests and fragmented forests. Our results indicate that there is high likelihood of next infectious disease originating from the southern and eastern forests around Freetown in Sierra Leone, the forest region around Douala in Cameroon, or the southern forest region in Nigeria. Concerted efforts need to be made to identify any new disease in the areas as soon as it emerges in the human population and contain the spread within the population. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature.
Source title: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6711-6
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046646827&doi=10.1007%2fs10661-018-6711-6&partnerID=40&md5=01017430f481a55b75dbeef630b87dd5
Correspondence Address: Shah, V.; College of the Sciences and Mathematics, West Chester University of PennsylvaniaUnited States; email: vshah@wcupa.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Douala Edéa
Main topic: Health ; Humans ; Environment
Subtopic: Human health ; Demography ; Land use / cover ; Forests

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Abstract: We report on preliminary frog inventories from three sites in Gabon that are located in close proximity to three national parks. In the lowland forest surrounding Ossélé Village, located north of Batéké Plateau National Park, we documented 14 species from nine genera and six families. The species assemblage within the area of Ossélé Village was markedly different from what is known in the Batéké Plateau National Park from recent inventory work, likely due to the secondary rainforest located outside of the national park and the savanna grassland interspersed with gallery forest within the protected area. We recorded 10 species from eight genera and five families in the buffer zone of Birougou National Park. From the buffer zone of Minkébé National Park, we documented 16 species from eight genera and six families. The majority of these species are widely distributed in the lowland forests of Central Africa. No amphibian surveys have yet been undertaken within Birougou and Minkébe National Parks, but the information provided by these inventories provides insight into species that are likely present since the habitat in these buffer zones is found in the adjacent protected areas. We examined the similarity of the frog fauna of eight of the 13 national parks in Gabon and Ossélé Village, discovering that the frog community of Batéké Plateau National Park is highly distinct from all other compared areas. Lastly, we provide an updated checklist for frogs from these eight national parks. © 2018. Joanna G. Larson. All rights reserved.
Source title: Herpetological Conservation and Biology
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046300952&partnerID=40&md5=cb375d65da69d792cce334795fe8ea44
Correspondence Address: Larson, J.G.; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Zoology, University of MichiganUnited States; email: jglarson@umich.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Plateaux Batéké ; Monts Birougou ; Minkebe
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Amphibians ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: As part of biodiversity monitoring in the Kisangani Forest Region, a survey of bats was conducted in three protected areas, specifically Lomami, Yangambi and Epulu. In this pilot study, a total of 201 specimens were collected using Japanese nets of different lengths (6, 9 and 12 m long) and a height of 2 m with a mesh size of 2 × 2 cm to capture bats. Captured specimens were identified using determination keys appropriate for the study area. The results of inventories in the three sites revealed that 201 specimens of captured bats belong to 2 sub-orders, 4 families, 9 genera and 12 species. The most abundant species were Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus woermannii and Myotis bocagii. The following species, Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus woermanii, Casinycteris argynnis, and Hipposideros caffer were found at all three sites. Based on the Shannon Index, it was observed that the Lomami site has a higher specific diversity than the two other areas (Yangambi and Epulu) 1.74 against 1.51 and 1.42 respectively. © 2018 Nature Conservation Research. All Rights Reserved.
Source title: Nature Conservation Research
DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2018.006
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85061817335&doi=10.24189%2fncr.2018.006&partnerID=40&md5=1c30646222c29bf69462df2ea161e971
Correspondence Address: Kotote-Nyiwa, N.; University of KinshasaCongo; email: jpngbolua@unikin.ac.cd
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Lomami National Park ; Yangambi ; Okapis
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: The soil macrofauna is frequently cited for its important role in the physicochemical parameters of cultivated land. Moreover, the tillage frequency and the cropping intensity are key factors to be considered in the management of cropping systems. An inventory related to the changes in land use on the earthworm fauna was carried out. The diversity and the abundance of the harvested species were determined in savannah and in forest ecosystems. The study was conducted in the "Réserve et Domaine de chasse" of Bombo-Lumene located on Bateke Plateaus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six types of environments have been prospected: semi-deciduous dense forests, gallery forests, second-growth forests, grasslands, woodland savannas, and crop land). Collected earthworm species are presented according to their habitat, their feeding habit, the kind of prostomium, and their geographical distribution. © 2018, Agri-Overseas.
Source title: Tropicultura
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044778939&partnerID=40&md5=e06fe4a8364436faf0ca2f7ea10d67bb
Correspondence Address: Milau, F.; Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Laboratoire de Gestion des Ressources NaturellesDemocratic Republic Congo; email: filsmilau@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: French
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Bombo Lumene
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Environment
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Abundance ; Land use / cover ; Forests ; Savannas ; Crops

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Abstract: The futures of nonhuman primate species and human communities in shared landscapes rely on our ability to engage with and understand the complex histories and multiscalar aspects of human–animal relationships. We use the Critically Endangered Preuss’s red colobus (Piliocolobus preussi) as a case study to examine the important ways in which histories of multiscalar human–primate interactions play out in the village of Ikenge-Bakoko, Korup National Park, Cameroon. We contextualize ethnographic and catchment data from adult men (N = 32) and women (N = 31) within long-term diurnal primate monitoring datasets to better understand the relationships among hunting practices, local perceptions of diurnal primates, populations of P. preussi, and conservation management. Our data indicate a disconnect between local cultural definitions of “hunter” and Western assumptions as to the makeup and nature of this and other categories. We show that such contradictions can have negative outcomes for conservationists seeking to turn the science of establishing accurate off-take rates of prey species into practical management solutions. Using a single village as a focal point, we highlight the importance of an ethnoprimatological approach to understanding the intricate entanglements among conservation histories, subsistence strategies, and human and nonhuman primate lives. The application of ethnoprimatology is critical for twenty-first century primatologists who must navigate conservation concerns while also acknowledging and valuing the experiences of the human communities living alongside the primates we study. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Source title: International Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0020-3
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042525579&doi=10.1007%2fs10764-018-0020-3&partnerID=40&md5=4ff0b4fdbfca74e161dc0917e9d25302
Correspondence Address: Hofner, A.N.; Department of Anthropology, Centre for Conservation Environment and Development, Oxford Brookes UniversityUnited Kingdom; email: Hofnera@my.canisius.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Ethnoscience ; Hunting / Poaching ; Conservation initiatives ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates