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Abstract: Competition for land is increasing as a consequence of the growing demands for food and other commodities and the need to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Land conversion and the intensification of current agricultural systems continues to lead to a loss of biodiversity and trade-offs among ecosystem functions. Decision-makers need to understand these trade-offs in order to better balance different demands on land and resources. There is an urgent need for spatially explicit information and analyses on the effects of different trajectories of human-induced landscape change in biodiversity and ecosystem services. We assess the potential implications of a set of plausible socio-economic and climate scenarios for agricultural production and demand and model-associated land use and land cover changes between 2005 and 2050 to assess potential impacts on biodiversity in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. We show that different future socio-economic scenarios are consistent in their projections of areas of high agricultural development leading to similar spatial patterns of habitat and biodiversity loss. Yet, we also show that without protected areas, biodiversity losses are higher and that expanding protected areas to include other important biodiversity areas can help reduce biodiversity losses in all three countries. These results highlight the need for effective protection and the potential benefits of expanding the protected area network while meeting agricultural production needs. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Source title: Regional Environmental Change
DOI: 10.1007/s10113-016-0983-6
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84969776939&doi=10.1007%2fs10113-016-0983-6&partnerID=40&md5=7395f8c95d53456fbea235a4784b4704
Correspondence Address: van Soesbergen, A.; UNEP - World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, United Kingdom; email: arnout.van-soesbergen@unep-wcmc.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ; Burundi ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Environment
Subtopic: Land use / cover ; Crops

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Abstract: A detailed analysis of tool use behaviors can disclose the underlying cognitive traits of the users. We investigated the technique used by wild chimpanzees to extract the underground nests of stingless bees (Meliplebeia lendliana), which represent a hard-to-reach resource given their highly undetectable location. Using remote-sensor camera trap footage, we analyzed 151 visits to 50 different bee nests by 18 adult chimpanzees of both sexes. We quantified the degree of complexity and flexibility of this technique by looking at the behavioral repertoire and at its structural organization. We used Generalized Linear Mixed Models to test whether individuals differed in their action repertoire sizes and in their action sequencing patterns, as well as in their preferences of use of different behavioral elements (namely, actions, and grip types). We found that subjects showed non-randomly organized sequences of actions and that the occurrence of certain actions was predicted by the type of the previous action in the sequences. Subjects did not differ in their repertoire sizes, and all used extractive actions involving tools more often than manual digging. As for the type of grip employed, the grip involving the coordinated use of hands and feet together was most frequently used by all subjects when perforating, and we detected significant individual preferences in this domain. Overall, we describe a highly complex and flexible extractive technique, and propose the existence of inter-individual variation in it. We discuss our results in the light of the evolution of higher cognitive abilities in the human lineage. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22672
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018757337&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22672&partnerID=40&md5=fbbabb10f6d6166005f30ed0a3f81c34
Correspondence Address: Estienne, V.; Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyGermany; email: vittoria_estienne@eva.mpg.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Loango
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: The sole extant representative of the ancient family Zenkerellidae, the flightless anomalure (Zenkerella insignis), is one of the world's least studied mammals. No first-hand observations of its behavior and live appearance have been published to date. I report an observation of Z. insignis behavior, live appearance and habitat in the Central African Republic. © 2017 Elsevier GmbH
Source title: Zoology
DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2017.06.003
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85023595671&doi=10.1016%2fj.zool.2017.06.003&partnerID=40&md5=4e3144285962d752256283e1f4e01bf9
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Rodents ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Vast, pristine ecosystems and their biodiversity are vanishing globally at frightening speed, but many large tracts of wilderness have not yet been systematically inventoried and important natural populations of threatened species remain poorly characterized. The forest-savanna ecotone of the Eastern Central African Republic (CAR) is one such poorly studied area. Using camera traps, transect walks and collected fecal samples, we provide the first quantitative survey of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in this region previously classified as a highly important chimpanzee conservation unit. In contrast to species distribution models and expert predictions, we did not find any evidence of chimpanzees in the large and remote forest blocks west of the Chinko River despite considerable search effort. Our study thus highlights the limitations of relying solely on remote sensing data to predict the presence or absence of endangered species and illustrates the necessity of extensive field surveys to accurately assess occurrence and density in remote areas. However, we did discover a sizeable and reproducing population of chimpanzees east of the Chinko River. Based on a density of 0.81 chimpanzees/km2 in closed canopy forest that we inferred from nest count data, we estimate 910 weaned chimpanzees to inhabit the Chinko Nature Reserve (CNR) and further predict additional 2700 individuals in adjacent, unmanaged hunting zones and reserves. According to microsatellite data, these chimpanzees genetically cluster with P. t. schweinfurthii populations in East Africa. Conservation action and appropriate management plans are urgently needed to protect this important population and to prevent heavily-armed nomadic pastoralists from the Sahel, illegal miners, as well as elephant and meat poachers, from irretrievably destroying the natural vegetation and local biodiversity of the area. © 2017
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.031
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85022047872&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2017.06.031&partnerID=40&md5=2157cd2220f5c782842143b84baabf7a
Correspondence Address: Wegmann, D.; University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, Switzerland; email: daniel.wegmann@unifr.ch
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Chinko
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Abundance

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Abstract: The growing population number and traffic loads, increasing environmental pressures, agricultural intensification, and the establishment of Mount Cameroon National Park demand farsighted environmental management in the region and the definition of a favorable ecological status. Since plants grow in the interface between soils and the atmosphere they can be used as passive biomonitors for the environmental quality. At the same time, the accumulation of nutrients and pollutants in crops is linked to human health, so that foliar elemental levels can be used as an integrative measure for environmental pollution and impact assessment. In the present study, we collected leaf samples of plantain, cassava, cocoyam, and maize on 28 sites at the southern flanks of Mt. Cameroon and determined 20 chemical elements. Air pollution in the study area comes from biomass and waste burning mainly, but emissions from traffic and a large refinery were believed to also play a significant role. However, spatial patterns in foliar elemental concentrations reflected the geochemistry rather than specific sources of pollution. Significant differences in foliar metal and nutrient levels were observed between the four species, indicating a different demand and uptake of specific elements. The results were compared to published data on nutrient concentrations in the tested species and the so-called reference plant. The data can be used as a baseline for future studies in plant nutrition and the environmental monitoring in inner tropical regions where these crops are grown. © 2017, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
Source title: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-5896-4
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85017007140&doi=10.1007%2fs10661-017-5896-4&partnerID=40&md5=87d9913d0ea925cdd488b40b92401792
Correspondence Address: Franzaring, J.; Institute for Plant and Landscape Ecology, University of Hohenheim, August von Hartmann Str. 3, Germany; email: Juergen.Franzaring@uni-hohenheim.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Mont Cameroun
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Plants ; Pollution

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Abstract: Changes in phenology are an inevitable result of climate change, and will have wide-reaching impacts on species, ecosystems, human society and even feedback onto climate. Accurate understanding of phenology is important to adapt to and mitigate such changes. However, analysis of phenology globally has been constrained by lack of data, dependence on geographically limited, non-circular indicators and lack of power in statistical analyses. To address these challenges, especially for the study of tropical phenology, we developed a flexible and robust analytical approach – using Fourier analysis with confidence intervals – to objectively and quantitatively describe long-term observational phenology data even when data may be noisy. We then tested the power of this approach to detect regular cycles under different scenarios of data noise and length using both simulated and field data. We use Fourier analysis to quantify flowering phenology from newly available data for 856 individual plants of 70 species observed monthly since 1986 at Lopé National Park, Gabon. After applying a confidence test, we find that 59% of the individuals have regular flowering cycles, and 88% species flower annually. We find time-series length to be a significant predictor of the likelihood of confidently detecting a regular cycle from the data. Using simulated data we find that cycle regularity has a greater impact on detecting phenology than event detectability. Power analysis of the Lopé field data shows that at least 6 years of data are needed for confident detection of the least noisy species, but this varies and is often >20 years for the most noisy species. There are now a number of large phenology datasets from the tropics, from which insights into current regional and global changes may be gained, if flexible and quantitative analytical approaches are used. However, consistent long-term data collection is costly and requires much effort. We provide support for the importance of such research and give suggestions as to how to avoid erroneous interpretation of shorter length datasets and maximise returns from long-term observational studies. © 2016 The Authors. Methods in Ecology and Evolution © 2016 British Ecological Society
Source title: Methods in Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.12704
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85006765623&doi=10.1111%2f2041-210X.12704&partnerID=40&md5=81b87711dbaf27c43ef0ce2106e53fed
Correspondence Address: Bush, E.R.; Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingUnited Kingdom; email: e.r.bush@stir.ac.uk
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Freshwater biodiversity is highly threatened and is decreasing more rapidly than its terrestrial or marine counterparts; however, freshwaters receive less attention and conservation investment than other ecosystems do. The diverse group of freshwater megafauna, including iconic species such as sturgeons, river dolphins, and turtles, could, if promoted, provide a valuable tool to raise awareness and funding for conservation. We found that freshwater megafauna inhabit every continent except Antarctica, with South America, Central Africa, and South and Southeast Asia being particularly species rich. Freshwater megafauna co-occur with up to 93% of mapped overall freshwater biodiversity. Fifty-eight percent of the 132 megafauna species included in the study are threatened, with 84% of their collective range falling outside of protected areas. Of all threatened freshwater species, 83% are found within the megafauna range, revealing the megafauna's capacity as flagship and umbrella species for fostering freshwater conservation. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.
Source title: BioScience
DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix099
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85031816518&doi=10.1093%2fbiosci%2fbix099&partnerID=40&md5=6fa336e0022f0a8d2122729ba5d50e8b
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central Africa ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Fish ; Mammals ; Reptiles ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: North-central Africa (i.e. Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad) once held important populations of large mammals, including the hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius. Exports of hippopotamus trophies from Cameroon were suspended in 2012 but the species' status and population trends remain poorly known. Using the same methodology as in 2000 and 2008, we counted hippopotamuses in Faro National Park and bordering hunting zones in 2014. We counted 685 individuals along 97 km of river, compared with 647 and 525 in 2000 and 2008, respectively. The stability of this population contrasts with the declines in populations of large mammals across north-central Africa. We attribute this conservation success to private efforts (i.e. safari hunting) compensating for a decline in state protection. However, the situation remains fragile, as highlighted by an influx of transhumant cattle and gold diggers. We recommend increasing public-private conservation efforts, including incentives for the safari hunting industry, which is also under pressure. © Copyright 2016 Fauna & Flora International.
Source title: ORYX
DOI: 10.1017/S0030605315001258
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84980328093&doi=10.1017%2fS0030605315001258&partnerID=40&md5=6790c2166c02c74b7dc924958c1fca72
Correspondence Address: Scholte, P.Nieuwe Teertuinen 12 C, Netherlands; email: pault.scholte@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Faro
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: Tropical montane forests provide an important natural laboratory to test ecological theory. While it is well-known that some aspects of forest structure change with altitude, little is known on the effects of altitude on above ground biomass (AGB), particularly with regard to changing height-diameter allometry. To address this we investigate (1) the effects of altitude on height-diameter allometry, (2) how different height-diameter allometric models affect above ground biomass estimates; and (3) how other forest structural, taxonomic and environmental attributes affect above ground biomass using 30 permanent sample plots (1-ha; all trees ? 10 cm diameter measured) established between 1250 and 2600 m asl in Kahuzi Biega National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Forest structure and species composition differed with increasing altitude, with four forest types identified. Different height-diameter allometric models performed better with the different forest types, as trees got smaller with increasing altitude. Above ground biomass ranged from 168 to 290 Mg ha-1, but there were no significant differences in AGB between forests types, as tree size decreased but stem density increased with increasing altitude. Forest structure had greater effects on above ground biomass than forest diversity. Soil attributes (K and acidity, pH) also significantly affected above ground biomass. Results show how forest structural, taxonomic and environmental attributes affect above ground biomass in African tropical montane forests. They particularly highlight that the use of regional height-diameter models introduces significant biases in above ground biomass estimates, and that different height-diameter models might be preferred for different forest types, and these should be considered in future studies. © 2017 Imani 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.0179653
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85021067451&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0179653&partnerID=40&md5=b335b2eb32f702553a9971dc283acf1f
Correspondence Address: Imani, G.; Biology Department, Université Officielle de BukavuCongo; email: imanigerard2006@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Kahuzi-Biega
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: The new species Heterodermia pindurae, found in the Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Parks in Rwanda, is described and illustrated. It differs from the morphologically similar H. subcomosa and H. pellucida in the minute, only 0.3–0.6 cm long thallus, blackish cilia, lack of laciniae, the pedicellate, cup-like apothecia with sorediate margins and production of norstictic acid. © 2017 Magnolia Press.
Source title: Phytotaxa
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.311.3.8
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85021795461&doi=10.11646%2fphytotaxa.311.3.8&partnerID=40&md5=67c7e2bb8b628629254eb279d7bee02d
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe ; Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Lichens ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: SUMMARY Syngamid strongylids of the genus Mammomonogamus undoubtedly belong among the least known nematodes with apparent zoonotic potential and the real diversity of the genus remains hard to evaluate without extensive molecular data. Eggs of Mammomonogamus sp. are frequently found in feces of African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas. Using sedimentation-based coproscopic techniques, we found the eggs of Mammomonogamus in 19·7% elephant and 54·1% gorilla fecal samples with 8-55 and 1-24 eggs per gram of fecal sediment for elephants and gorillas, respectively. We used a combination of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and a partial sequence of 18S rDNA isolated from single eggs to test the hypothesis of possible Mammomonogamus conspecificity in gorillas and elephants. Whereas 18S rDNA sequences were identical in both gorillas and elephants, we distinguished seven different haplotypes within the cox1. Two haplotypes were found in both gorillas and elephants suggesting sharing of Mammomonogamus. Assignment of the parasite to M. loxodontis is proposed. Provided sequences represent the first genomic data on Mammomonogamus spp. © Cambridge University Press 2017.
Source title: Parasitology
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182017000221
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014603013&doi=10.1017%2fS0031182017000221&partnerID=40&md5=475380ff0854150f5883a60e5c99f128
Correspondence Address: ?ervená, B.; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého t?. 1946/1, Czech Republic; email: bara.cervena@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Animal health

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Abstract: Peri-urban pressure on the Luki Biosphere Reserve in Bas-Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, is fuelled by growing demand in urban markets coupled with easy access. With data from 175 randomly selected households, this paper examines factors that motivate households to collect two major forest products found in the reserve for cash. We analyse the factors determining the choice of engaging in collection of bushmeat and eru (Gnetum africanum) and the factors determining the success (outcome) in collection using the Heckman selection model. This model explicitly separates estimation of selection into the activity from the outcome, to provide unbiased estimates of both. Results show that being local, higher household labour availability and higher asset endowment were positively related to selection into bushmeat hunting, reflecting higher risk-carrying capacities, ease of access to equipment and resources. Greater market distance being a female-headed household and greater age of household heads negatively affected selection into eru collection, reflecting characteristics of cash harvesting activities. Low education and more local knowledge characterised more successful outcome of eru collection, whereas having more household labour tended to lower outcomes of both bushmeat and eru collection suggesting that labour pools engaged in these activities were not sufficiently skilled, or that a higher proportion was consumed in such households. We discuss our findings in relation to the role of these activities in providing a pathway out of poverty and stress the needs for better integration of conservation and development policies. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Source title: Environment, Development and Sustainability
DOI: 10.1007/s10668-016-9812-9
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84969951782&doi=10.1007%2fs10668-016-9812-9&partnerID=40&md5=ff1e6eebf10676d00bd211bb9844412f
Correspondence Address: Bakkegaard, R.K.; Department of Forest and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Denmark; email: riyong@hotmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Luki
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Income-generating activities ; Non-timber forest products ; Hunting / Poaching ; Perceptions / Behaviors

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Abstract: Sedimentological and geochemical analyses and 14C dating were performed for a sedimentary core sample from the Lopé 2 marsh in the northern zone of Gabon's Lopé National Park. The results produced a division of the core sample into three main units. The basal part of the core sample was dated to 2,320 years cal BP. At this time, the Lopé 2 marsh was a topographic hollow that flooded sporadically during the rainy season. This unit corresponds to a soil formation of clay, quartz and highly decomposed organic matter. The upper boundary of this unit corresponds to the end of the climatic deterioration that affected central Africa around 2,500 years BP. The second unit represents the period from 2,320 to 585 years cal BP. This shows a gradual decrease in the flow of quartz that reflects the increasing relative density of the marsh vegetation as the climate became more humid. The organic matter in this unit is of mixed origin, relatively abundant and with a high content of refractory material. The third unit, representing the period from 585 years cal BP to the present, shows plant cover associated with developing marshland (which began in unit 2) that was sustained by the humid climate. The organic matter here is rich in biological material.
Source title: Bois et Forets des Tropiques
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030649361&partnerID=40&md5=f1ff7329e676927da46965b2f93ed095
Correspondence Address: Obame, V.N.; Département de Géologie, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, BP 901, Gabon; email: victory.nfoumou@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: French
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Lopé
Main topic: Environment
Subtopic: Geology / Pedology

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Abstract: Development projects in west Central Africa are proceeding at an unprecedented rate, often with little concern for their effects on biodiversity. In an attempt to better understand potential impacts of a road development project on the anuran amphibian community, we conducted a biodiversity assessment employing multiple methodologies (visual encounter transects, auditory surveys, leaf litter plots and pitfall traps) to inventory species prior to construction of a new road within the buffer zone of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon. Because of difficulties in morphological identification and taxonomic uncertainty of amphibian species observed in the area, we integrated a DNA barcoding analysis into the project to improve the overall quality and accuracy of the species inventory. Based on morphology alone, 48 species were recognized in the field and voucher specimens of each were collected. We used tissue samples from specimens collected at our field site, material available from amphibians collected in other parts of Gabon and the Republic of Congo to initiate a DNA barcode library for west Central African amphibians. We then compared our sequences with material in GenBank for the genera recorded at the study site to assist in identifications. The resulting COI and 16S barcode library allowed us to update the number of species documented at the study site to 28, thereby providing a more accurate assessment of diversity and distributions. We caution that because sequence data maintained in GenBank are often poorly curated by the original submitters and cannot be amended by third-parties, these data have limited utility for identification purposes. Nevertheless, the use of DNA barcoding is likely to benefit biodiversity inventories and long-term monitoring, particularly for taxa that can be difficult to identify based on morphology alone; likewise, inventory and monitoring programs can contribute invaluable data to the DNA barcode library and the taxonomy of complex groups. Our methods provide an example of how non-taxonomists and parataxonomists working in understudied parts of the world with limited geographic sampling and comparative morphological material can use DNA barcoding and publicly available sequence data (GenBank) to rapidly identify the number of species and assign tentative names to aid in urgent conservation management actions and contribute to taxonomic resolution. © 2017, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
Source title: PLoS ONE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187283
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85033672593&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0187283&partnerID=40&md5=5971b82bf90a0c0d3f5894fa3bcde88a
Correspondence Address: Deichmann, J.L.; Center for Conservation and Sustainability, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological ParkUnited States; email: jessiedeichmann@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Moukalaba-Doudou
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Amphibians ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Bocaparvoviruses have been studied extensively owing to their ability to cause respiratory illness or gastroenteritis in humans. Some bocaparvoviruses have been detected in non-human primates (gorillas and chimpanzees), but the diversity and evolution of these viruses are not fully understood. In this study, we collected 107 fecal samples from wild western lowland gorillas in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in Gabon to investigate the presence of bocaparvoviruses. Using a combination of pan-bocaparvovirus PCR and individual identification by microsatellite genotyping, we found that two samples from two apparently healthy infant gorillas were positive for bocaparvovirus. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the two gorilla bocaparvovirus strains are nearly identical and are closely related to viruses in the species Primate bocaparvovirus 2 (with 86.0% nucleotide identity to a human bocavirus 2 isolate). To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the presence of a non-human primate bocaparovirus within Primate bocaparvovirus 2. Our findings provide novel insights into the diversity and evolution of bocaparvoviruses and highlight the importance of surveying these viruses for the safe management of gorilla-based ecotourism. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Source title: Infection, Genetics and Evolution
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.05.004
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019181960&doi=10.1016%2fj.meegid.2017.05.004&partnerID=40&md5=db5cd810af8203ededd86b6ab8dab4a7
Correspondence Address: Tsukiyama-Kohara, K.; Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi UniversityJapan; email: kkohara@agri.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Moukalaba-Doudou
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Animal health

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Abstract: This study quantifies changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stock as a result of woody encroachment on savannas. Changes in SOC stocks occur below 30 cm depth, indicating the subsoil as the principal compartment contributing to SOC sequestration, and suggesting the need to consider the entire profile (0–100 cm) to thoroughly assess the effect of woody encroachment on SOC stocks. © 2016 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Source title: Biotropica
DOI: 10.1111/btp.12369
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84992533170&doi=10.1111%2fbtp.12369&partnerID=40&md5=e181da97cce347cf7e01b665033e1eeb
Correspondence Address: Chiti, T.; Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest system (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, via San C. De Lellis s.n.c., 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

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Abstract: Land change was assessed in the Albertine rift region (ARR) using its central section of north-western Rwanda as case study. This region is one of Africa's most ecologically sensitive environments under severe pressure from human activities. The study maps and quantifies the spatial extent of land use-land cover (LULC) changes between 1987 and 2016 from Landsat images. Transitions between five major land classes were identified in order to understand the trajectory of observed changes. In terms of gains, the forest class, the urban built-up and bare land class increased by 9% and 4% respectively over the study period. The gains of forest were mainly derived from the afforestation of some agricultural lands in the southern part, whereas the gains of built-up and bare lands were mostly from cultivated land which was a net losing class. Forest increase is in line with government's policy to increase the national forest cover to 30% by 2020. Forest losses occurred mostly outside protected areas due to land conversion for settlement and agricultural purposes. Much needed information about changes in LULC over the last three decades is provided. This study demonstrates in a timely manner how to analyse and monitor LULC change and the drivers in an environment where field based research is a challenge due to the mountainous terrain. The ecological richness of the region, which coincides with heightened human population pressure, necessitates the monitoring of land change as input for improving land use planning with focus on conserving biodiversity. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Applied Geography
DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.07.016
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029350329&doi=10.1016%2fj.apgeog.2017.07.016&partnerID=40&md5=840ee958f4b090e21834755ae558c3d7
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Environment
Subtopic: Land use / cover

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Abstract: The present study compares the association of large- and medium-sized mammals to habitats in two Community Hunting Zones managed as one entity, located in the northern periphery of Boumba-Bek National Park (BBNP), southeastern Cameroon. The wildlife survey was conducted along 126 2-km transects and 101 recce walkways between transects, for a total effort of 398 km. A total of 31 species, or groups of species, of large- and medium-sized mammals were observed in the primary forest (PF), secondary forest (SF), swamp (SW), plantation (PL) and fallow (FA) habitats. Species richness and abundance were significantly higher in PF and SF, than in SW, FA and PL. Accordingly, three sites located in PF and SF enclosing patches of SW, FA and PL were selected and proposed to establish eighteen permanent biomonitoring transects. These will provide data for developing an effective wildlife management model in the area. © International Society for Tropical Ecology.
Source title: Tropical Ecology
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85028359670&partnerID=40&md5=e39fb5ed38cf2cbc83a7220393a9eea5
Correspondence Address: Bobo, K.S.; Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Cameroon; email: bobokadiris@yahoo.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Boumba Bek
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Environment
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Land use / cover ; Forests

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Abstract: Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is not a recent concern in Africa. HWCs have become more frequent and severe in Africa in recent decades due to increasing competition for land in previously wild and uninhabited areas. The conclusions of a review of HWCs in Africa by FAO and the International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife formed the basis of discussions at the 17th Session of the Working Party on Wildlife Management and Protected Areas, held back-to-back with the 16th Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission in Khartoum, the Sudan, in 2008. The Working Party recommended that FAO should support the efforts of countries to manage HWCs by facilitating networking among stakeholders for sharing information; generating guidance on best practices; providing technical guidelines for the development of national policies; and implementing field activities. A dearth of tools and low technical capacity are significant issues for the staff of wildlife services, who are supposed to assist farmers in addressing HWCs. A significant challenge, therefore, is to improve and facilitate access to such tools. The first prototype of an HWC toolbox was developed for southern Africa jointly by FAO, CIRAD (the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development), the BIO-HUB Trust1 and other partners. Sharing information and experiences is essential for preventing and mitigating HWCs. Data on HWCs are entered directly onto a form generated by the KoBoCollect app and sent from the smartphone. to the OFAC server, thereby centralizing all collected information. The HWCs are geolocated using either the automatic or manual recording of global positioning system coordinates, and the information is encrypted to protect it.
Source title: Unasylva
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016310735&partnerID=40&md5=ed5fef5ecd32630f6caf4b4b07522867
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central Africa ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Human-wildlife conflicts

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Abstract: Species composition of Necator hookworms was surveyed in (i) Ugandan chimpanzees living around farms and villages at Bulindi, (ii) Gabonese gorillas under habituation in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park (MDNP), and (iii) Gabonese villagers living adjacent to MDNP. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rDNA and partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) gene of mtDNA were analyzed from larvae obtained by coproculture. Three ITS types (I, II and III) and three Cox1 haplotype groups (A, B and C) were demonstrated. ITS type I and Cox1 haplotype group A, representing Necator americanus, were demonstrated in the hookworm larvae from Gabonese gorillas and humans, but not from Ugandan chimpanzees. Type II and haplotype groups B and C, presumably representing N. gorillae, were found in larvae from Ugandan chimpanzees and Gabonese gorillas and humans. These features were overall similar with those found previously in the Central African Republic. Meanwhile, type III was proven in a larva from a Gabonese gorilla as the first demonstration from a non-human primate. Cox1 haplotypes obtained from Ugandan chimpanzees formed a subgroup within group B, presumably reflecting dispersal and diversification processes of the apes. © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Source title: Parasitology International
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.11.003
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84997181571&doi=10.1016%2fj.parint.2016.11.003&partnerID=40&md5=50ed995ddbc56fb52dab42d07b9f820f
Correspondence Address: Hasegawa, H.; Department of Infectious Disease Control, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Hasama, Japan; email: hasegawa@oita-u.ac.jp
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Moukalaba-Doudou
Main topic: Health
Subtopic: Animal health