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Abstract: The Democratic Republic of Congo holds the most diverse assemblage of birds in Africa. However, ornithological surveys in its network of reserves are rare. In this paper we present the first detailed list of birds from the Man and Biosphere Reserve of Luki in the country’s southwestern tip based on collected specimens, photographs, audio recordings, and direct observations from two surveys conducted in 2012- 2013. We document a total of 136 species, including the threatened Psittacus erithacus. Range extensions of four species and breeding records for 19 species are also reported. Further surveys in the reserve, which covers the largest remaining forest patch along the Lower Congo River, are highly recommended. © 2015 Check List and Authors.
Source title: Check List
DOI: 10.15560/11.5.1755
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943238610&doi=10.15560%2f11.5.1755&partnerID=40&md5=94d98655a30b1bb21796ba42e564358d
Correspondence Address: Andersen, M.J.; University of Kansas, Biodiversity Institute, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, United States
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Luki
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Birds ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: Invasive species pose a serious threat to the conservation of biodiversity. Forestry is the most important driver of the introduction and spread of invasive woody plant species after horticulture. Nearly 450 invasive tree species have been recorded worldwide, amounting to more than half the world’s total invasive woody flora. Australian-native Acacia mearnsii De Wild. is one of world’s top invasive alien tree species related to forestry. The negative impacts of alien species spilling over into conservation areas because of forestry are increasingly being recognized, and we examined the context and timing of this Australian species’ arrival in Rwanda. The role of A. mearnsii in Rwanda’s colonial and postcolonial forestry and the species’ threat to biodiversity conservation are also investigated. The results suggest that A. mearnsii (a) was introduced into Rwanda between 1903 and 1918, with the earliest formal record dating back to 1941; (b) was a major forestry tree species until the late 1960s when its use in forestry declined significantly; and (c) demonstrates a comparatively higher occurrence and potential of regeneration within the understory of Eucalyptus plantations within the Congo-Nile ridge buttress; Bufundu and Bushiru; and Budaha, Ndiza, and Buberuka agro-bioclimatic zones. More recently, A. mearnsii has invaded national parks and forest reserves above 1,600 m of altitude. The most significant case was recorded at Nyungwe National Park (NNP), East Africa’s largest montane rainforest. A study of biomass and spatial patterns of this species in specific ecosystems, such as NNP, is strongly recommended in order to uphold effective conservation practices. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Source title: Journal of Sustainable Forestry
DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2015.1004715
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84926223669&doi=10.1080%2f10549811.2015.1004715&partnerID=40&md5=40eb3dd25ffed2eef45db552e10c68b1
Correspondence Address: Seburanga, J.L.; Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 117, Rwanda
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe ; Volcans ; Gishwati-Mukura ; Gishwati-Mukura ; Akagera ; Rugezi Marsh
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Rattans, one of the major non-timber forest products used by the population in and around Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo), are a significant source of income and the basis of a very active informal sector focused towards supplying the city with raw canes. We present the effects of harvest and light availability on the demography of two common rattan species in the Yoko forest reserve, near Kisangani: Eremospatha haullevilleana De Wild. and Laccosperma secundiflorum (P. Beauv.) Küntze. We studied clump demography for a year, under variable light condition and harvesting regimes (control, partial harvest and complete harvest of adult stems). We show a positive effect of full and partial light availability on the dynamic of individuals for both species but with variable treatment responses. We also demonstrate that a partial harvest of two-thirds of adults cane is beneficial or nondetrimental to the production of new shoots under partial or full-light conditions. These results suggest opportunities for multiple-use management that integrate timber and rattan harvesting in forest around Kisangani. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12187
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84942101286&doi=10.1111%2faje.12187&partnerID=40&md5=38579a9657e212d9e664c9cd5ae6a409
Correspondence Address: Nasi, R.; Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), P.O. Box 0113 BOCBD, Indonesia
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Yoko
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Structure / Biomass ; Non-timber forest products ; Income-generating activities

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Abstract: Tropical forests provide critical ecosystem services worldwide. Nonetheless, ongoing agricultural expansion, timber extraction, and mining continue to jeopardize important forest resources. In addition, many tropical forests reside in countries that have experienced violent conflict in recent decades, posing an additional, yet poorly understood threat. Conflict may decrease or increase deforestation depending on the relationship between conflict and other causes of land use change, such as mining expansion or protected area establishment. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), home of the second largest tropical forest in the world, has experienced 20. years of violent conflict, resulting in the death of over 100,000 combatants and up to 5 million civilians. Expanding mining concessions also threaten the DRC's forest, even though nearly 12% of it is under some form of protection. In this study, we used spatially-explicit data on conflict, mining, and protected areas, along with a host of control variables, to estimate the impacts of these factors on forest cover loss from 1990 to 2010. Through a panel instrumental variables approach we found that: i) conflict increased forest cover loss, ii) mining concessions increased forest cover loss, but in times of conflict this impact was lessened, and iii) protected areas reduced forest cover loss, even in high conflict regions. Our results thus suggest that policy interventions designed to reduce violent conflict may have the co-benefit of reducing deforestation, especially in areas with low mining potential. Likewise, protected areas can be effective even in times of war. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.06.037
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84936972058&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2015.06.037&partnerID=40&md5=2c9e9b268ab238fcf5cf7175327567c7
Correspondence Address: Butsic, V.; Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 101 Sproul Hall, United States
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Humans ; Environment
Subtopic: Armed conflicts ; Conservation initiatives ; Land use / cover ; Mines ; Deforestation

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Abstract: Research programmes have been shown to exert a positive impact on faunal communities, but few studies provide empirical evidence. In this study, we surveyed three neighbouring sites, differing in terms of official protection status and level of active management, in the Dja Conservation Complex, southeast Cameroon. We recorded signs of human activity and anthropogenic pressures and found that they significantly differed by site. We assessed chimpanzee and gorilla relative abundance using nest count surveys. We found that chimpanzee nest abundance was related to the presence of active management, but both active management and availability of suitable habitat affected gorilla nest abundance. Our results suggest that gorillas are more tolerant of human activity. We also provide evidence that the presence and activities of the conservation research project Projet Grands Singes served to actively deter poachers and limit hunting of great apes as a result of researcher presence, community sensitization and of valuing living apes and intact forests by local people. Such empirical evidence for the positive effect of research activity on biodiversity preservation should encourage continued investment in such programmes as part of a landscape-wide, multi-stakeholder conservation management of great ape habitats. © 2015 The Zoological Society of London.
Source title: Animal Conservation
DOI: 10.1111/acv.12212
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84957838792&doi=10.1111%2facv.12212&partnerID=40&md5=49b0d556e59f0ce8c592daa900d23c00
Correspondence Address: Tagg, N.; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 20-26, Belgium; email: Nikki.tagg@kmda.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Abundance ; Periphery / Management ; Conservation initiatives ; Hunting / Poaching

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Abstract: African rainforest harbors herbivores at high density. However, because plants and soils typically lack in some essential minerals, rainforest is not always a suitable habitat for herbivores. How they fulfill the mineral requirements is therefore an important question to animal ecology and conservation. Although large marshes, called ‘bais’, are often mentioned as efficient mineral-resource, little information on other sodium resources has still been available. Our laboratory works and field surveys found that a peculiar item, decaying wood stumps of Anthostema aubryanum, played as a major sodium resource for herbivores in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon. When A. aubryanum is alive, the sodium content of its bark is low and its latex is toxic. Sodium is accumulated in decaying stumps (mean=1,343 mg/kg dry matter). Eight herbivores visited stumps to ingest the dead wood. Fecal sample analysis revealed that western lowland gorillas, a species most-frequently using the stumps, consumed large amount of the dead wood as regular food. Our findings suggest that decaying A. aubryanum is critical sodium-resources and is a key species for herbivores in our study area. Importance of the A. aubryanum may be particularly large there, because it is a limited sodium-rich material that is available year round. Our study site is known as the site where the densities of several herbivores are among the highest at Central Africa. The relatively high herbivores density in our study site may partly depend on decaying A. aubryanum as sodium resources. ©2015 The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science.
Source title: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science
DOI: 10.1292/jvms.15-0111
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946594476&doi=10.1292%2fjvms.15-0111&partnerID=40&md5=bb0f35e5b0d9193e7e8950e74c4b9aa9
Correspondence Address: Ushida, K.; Kyoto Prefectural University, Graduate School of Life and Environmental SciencesJapan; email: k_ushida@kpu.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: We studied links between human malnutrition and wild meat availability within the Rainforest Biotic Zone in central Africa. We distinguished two distinct hunted mammalian diversity distributions, one in the rainforest areas (Deep Rainforest Diversity, DRD) containing taxa of lower hunting sustainability, the other in the northern rainforest-savanna mosaic, with species of greater hunting potential (Marginal Rainforest Diversity, MRD). Wild meat availability, assessed by standing crop mammalian biomass, was greater in MRD than in DRD areas. Predicted bushmeat extraction was also higher in MRD areas. Despite this, stunting of children, a measure of human malnutrition, was greater in MRD areas. Structural equation modeling identified that, in MRD areas, mammal diversity fell away from urban areas, but proximity to these positively influenced higher stunting incidence. In DRD areas, remoteness and distance from dense human settlements and infrastructures explained lower stunting levels. Moreover, stunting was higher away from protected areas. Our results suggest that in MRD areas, forest wildlife rational use for better human nutrition is possible. By contrast, the relatively low human populations in DRD areas currently offer abundant opportunities for the continued protection of more vulnerable mammals and allow dietary needs of local populations to be met.
Source title: Scientific Reports
DOI: 10.1038/srep08168
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84941954605&doi=10.1038%2fsrep08168&partnerID=40&md5=0143fccb924b3159f60272c56999e3f9
Correspondence Address: Fa, J.E.; ICCS, Division of Biology, Imperial College LondonUnited Kingdom; email: jfa949@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central Africa ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Health ; Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Human health ; Hunting / Poaching ; Demography ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Abundance

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Abstract: In order to minimize risks of pathogen transmission with the development of ecotourism in Gabon, a seasonal inventory has been performed in five contrasted biotopes in Ivindo (INP) and Moukalaba-Doudou (MDNP) National Parks. A total of 10,033 hematophagous flies were captured. The Glossinidae, with six different species identified, was the most abundant group and constitutes about 60% of the captured flies compared to the Stomoxys (6 species also identified) and Tabanidae with 28% and 12%, respectively. The Glossinidae showed a higher rate of capture in primary forest and in research camps. In INP, the Stomoxys showed a higher rate of capture in secondary forest and at village borders, whereas in MDNP the Stomoxys were captured more in the savannah area. Thus, each fly group seemed to reach maximum abundance in different habitats. The Glossinidae were more abundant in primary forest and near research camps while Stomoxys were more abundant in secondary forest and savannah. The Tabanidae did not show a clear habitat preference. © P.Y. Bitome Essono et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2015.
Source title: Parasite
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2015023
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84937773264&doi=10.1051%2fparasite%2f2015023&partnerID=40&md5=bc0e6326c421973762989ea0d3cbad75
Correspondence Address: Bitome Essono, P.Y.; Université de Bourgogne, UMR 6282-Biogéosciences, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, France
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Ivindo ; Moukalaba-Doudou
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: We investigated the land snail fauna of Nyungwe Forest National Park in south-western Rwanda. Fifty plots at altitudes between 1718 and 2573m were studied. In total, 3461 specimens were collected and were assigned to 102 land snail species. With respect to land snail species, Nyungwe Forest is the richest forest known in Africa. A comparison with other forests in the northern Albertine Rift indicates that land snail species richness in this region is significantly correlated with distance from Pleistocene forest refugia. The high beta diversity in Nyungwe is the result of a high species turnover between sites, which has biogeographical and ecological origins. Nyungwe Forest is situated on the Congo-Nile divide where species of different geographical origin may meet. Moreover, Nyungwe Forest offers a high diversity of habitats because it extends across a wide range of altitudinal zones. Species richness decreased with increasing altitude. It was also correlated with the presence of bare rocks that offer additional microhabitats and shelter. Although the occurrences of different land snail species in Nyungwe Forest were significantly clustered, only a minority of the species could be assigned to a group of species with similar occurrences. The majority of the species respond individualistically to environmental variables. The significant nestedness of the occurrences of the land snail species in Nyungwe was mainly correlated with altitude. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 114, 363-375.
Source title: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
DOI: 10.1111/bij.12418
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84921476288&doi=10.1111%2fbij.12418&partnerID=40&md5=b3d86f9eda55308bc3f8db23c57dab28
Correspondence Address: Wronski, T.; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A andF UniversityChina
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: African great apes are susceptible to infections with several species of Plasmodium, including the predecessor of Plasmodium falciparum. Little is known about the ecology of these pathogens in gorillas. A total of 131 gorilla fecal samples were collected from Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas to study the diversity and prevalence of Plasmodium species. The effects of sex and age as factors influencing levels of infection with Plasmodium in habituated gorilla groups were assessed. Ninety-five human blood samples from the same locality were also analysed to test for cross-transmission between humans and gorillas. According to a cytB PCR assay 32% of gorilla's fecal samples and 43·1% human individuals were infected with Plasmodium spp. All Laverania species, Plasmodium vivax, and for the first time Plasmodium ovale were identified from gorilla samples. Plasmodium praefalciparum was present only from habituated individuals and P. falciparum was detected from human samples. Although few P. vivax and P. ovale sequences were obtained from gorillas, the evidence for cross-species transmission between humans and gorillas requires more in depth analysis. No association was found between malaria infection and sex, however, younger individuals aged ?6 years were more susceptible. Switching between two different Plasmodium spp. was observed in three individuals. Prolonged monitoring of Plasmodium infection during various seasons and recording behavioural data is necessary to draw a precise picture about the infection dynamics. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015.
Source title: Parasitology
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182015000086
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84929263649&doi=10.1017%2fS0031182015000086&partnerID=40&md5=72121f778f88ff0e12b05d089bab70cb
Correspondence Address: Qablan, M.A.; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical SciencesCzech Republic; email: moneeb_78@hotmail.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: Tadpoles of Hyperolius castaneus and H. jackie were found in the Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and adjacent areas. Tadpoles of both species were identified by DNA-barcoding. At the shore of a bog pool three clutches of H. castaneus of apparently different age, all laid on moss pads (Polytrichum commune, Isotachis aubertii) or grass tussocks (Andropogon shirensis) 2–5 cm above the water level, were found. One clutch of H. castaneus was infested by larval dipterid flies. The most recently laid clutch contained about 20 eggs within a broad egg-jelly envelope. The eggs were attached to single blades of a tussock and distributed over a vertical distance of 8 cm. A pair of H. castaneus found in axillary amplexus was transported in a plastic container to the lab for observation. The pair deposited a total of 57 eggs (15 eggs attached to the upper wall of the transport container, 42 eggs floated in the water). Embryogenesis of the clutch was monitored in the plastic container at 20 ± 2 °C (air temperature) and documented by photos until Gosner Stage 25. The description of the tadpole of H. castaneus is based on a Gosner Stage 29 individual from a series of 57 tadpoles (Gosner stages 25–41). The description of the tadpole of H. jackie is based on a Gosner Stage 32 individual from a series of 43 tadpoles (Gosner stages 25–41). Egg laying behavior and embryogenesis are unknown for H. jackie. The labial tooth row formula for both species is 1/3(1) with a narrow median gap of the tooth row. Variation in external morphology was observed in size and labial tooth row formula within the species. With the tadpole descriptions of H. castaneus and H. jackie, 36 tadpoles of the 135 known Hyperolius species have been described, including five of the eleven Hyperolius species known from Rwanda. © Edgar Lehr et al.
Source title: ZooKeys
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.546.6044
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84950155715&doi=10.3897%2fzookeys.546.6044&partnerID=40&md5=31aa91c4219c451e5c969b2036d63652
Correspondence Address: Lehr, E.; Department of Biology, Illinois Wesleyan University, P.O. Box 2900, United States; email: elehr@iwu.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Nyungwe
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Amphibians ; Taxonomy ; Genetics ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Objective Here, we compare food availability and relate this to differences in energy intake rates, time spent feeding, and daily travel distance of gorillas in the two populations. Comparative intraspecific studies investigating spatiotemporal variation in food availability can help us understand the complex relationships between ecology, behavior, and life history in primates and are relevant to understanding hominin evolution. Differences in several variables have been documented between the two mountain gorilla populations in the Virunga Massif and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but few direct comparisons that link ecological conditions to feeding behavior have been made. Materials and Methods Using similar data collection protocols we conducted vegetation sampling and nutritional analysis on important foods to estimate food availability. Detailed observations of feeding behavior were used to compute energy intake rates and daily travel distance was estimated through GPS readings. Results Food availability was overall lower and had greater temporal variability in Bwindi than in the Virungas. Energy intake rates and time spent feeding were similar in both populations, but energy intake rates were significantly higher in Bwindi during the period of high fruit consumption. Daily travel distances were significantly shorter in the Virungas. Conclusions Overall, despite the differences in food availability, we did not find large differences in the energetics of gorillas in the two populations, although further work is needed to more precisely quantify energy expenditure and energy balance. These results emphasize that even species with high food availability can exhibit behavioral and energetic responses to variable ecological conditions, which are likely to affect growth, reproduction, and survival. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:487-500, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Physical Anthropology
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22808
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943785629&doi=10.1002%2fajpa.22808&partnerID=40&md5=c39086a25babaa0f29ef84d656245d07
Correspondence Address: Wright, E.; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Germany
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: The okapi Okapia johnstoni is an endangered, even-toed ungulate in the family Giraffidae, and is endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Okapi are highly elusive and very little is known about their behaviour and ecology in the wild. We used non-invasive genetic methods to examine the social structure, mating system and dispersal for a population of okapi in the Réserve de Faune a; Okapis, DRC. Okapi individuals were found to be solitary, but genetically polygamous or promiscuous. There was no evidence for any close spatial association between large groups of related or unrelated okapi for either sex, but we did find evidence for male-biased dispersal. An isolation by distance pattern of genetic similarity was present, but appears to be operating just below the spatial scale of the area investigated in the present study. We describe how the analyses used here can infer aspects of behavioural ecology and discuss the strengths and limitations of these analyses. We therefore provide a guide for future studies using non-invasive genetics to investigate behavioural ecology of rare, elusive animals. This study furthers scientific knowledge about a species that has recently been recognized by the IUCN as endangered, and is a potentially important flagship species for Central Africa. © 2015 The Zoological Society of London.
Source title: Journal of Zoology
DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12205
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925635547&doi=10.1111%2fjzo.12205&partnerID=40&md5=92346ffd50cda588adc08e71a7c0c6e2
Correspondence Address: Stanton, D.W.G.; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, United Kingdom
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Okapis
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Biology / Ecology ; Genetics

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Abstract: Countries in eastern Africa have set aside significant proportions of their land for protection. But are these areas representative of the diverse range of species and habitats found in the region? And do conservation efforts include areas where the state of biodiversity is likely to deteriorate without further interventions? Various studies have addressed these questions at global and continental scales. However, meaningful conservation decisions are required at finer geographical scales. To operate more effectively at the national level, finer scale baseline data on species and on higher levels of biological organization such as the eco-regions are required, among other factors. Here we adopted a recently developed high-resolution potential natural vegetation (PNV) map for eastern Africa as a baseline to more effectively identify conservation priorities. We examined how well different potential natural vegetations (PNVs) are represented in the protected area (PA) network of eastern Africa and used a multivariate environmental similarity index to evaluate biases in PA versus PNV coverage. We additionally overlaid data of anthropogenic factors that potentially influence the natural vegetation to assess the level of threat to different PNVs. Our results indicate substantial differences in the conservation status of PNVs. In addition, particular PNVs in which biodiversity protection and ecological functions are at risk due to human influences are revealed. The data and approach presented here provide a step forward in developing more transparent and better informed translation from global priorities to regional or national implementation in eastern Africa, and are valid for other geographic regions. © 2015 van Breugel et al.
Source title: PLoS ONE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121444
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84928902729&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0121444&partnerID=40&md5=bf76f5a85fc56ebf28a13b0ca4a1ae6e
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Environment ; Humans
Subtopic: Land use / cover ; Demography ; Conservation initiatives

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Abstract: A small chimpanzee habitat in the montane forest of Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, is connected with the lowland forest of this park through a corridor, which is affected by human encroachment. To assess the conservation status of the chimpanzee population in this small habitat, we estimated the size of the community and evaluated its genetic diversity by using 279 fecal samples collected in the montane forest of Kahuzi. Using autosomal microsatellite (or short tandem repeat, STR) loci, we identified 32 individuals, comprising 19 females and 13 males. Samples from 24 individuals were collected at least twice and a genetic mark-recapture analysis estimated that the community size was 36 (range: 32-42). Data on nest site sharing confirmed that all the samples belonged to the same community. Nest site sharing information may be useful in population studies of unhabituated chimpanzees. The genetic structure and diversity of the 32 genotyped individuals was assessed using Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci and mitochondrial D-loops. One dominant Y-STR haplotype was found, whereas there was no dominant haplotype in the mitochondrial region, reflecting a female-biased dispersal pattern, which is typical of chimpanzees. The genetic diversity for three markers in Kahuzi chimpanzees was comparable to that in other eastern chimpanzee populations. A relatively high heterozygosity and negative inbreeding coefficient (FIS) for STR loci suggests that the study community belongs to an outbreeding chimpanzee population. These findings suggest that individuals of the study community may have reproductive contact with other chimpanzee individuals from neighboring communities in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, at least in the recent past. Am. J. Primatol. 77:1015-1025, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22435
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84939571697&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22435&partnerID=40&md5=89c46f662875de3b37fabec23336a6ce
Correspondence Address: Inoue, E.; Graduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversityJapan
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Kahuzi-Biega
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Abundance ; Genetics

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Abstract: Sinarundinaria alpina is a species of mountain bamboo which is a source of various conflicts between the managers of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) and surrounding communities. This mountainous species is threatened by these communities to meet their need for various uses. Six permanent plots of 3 hectares were set between 2000–3000 metres above sea level and floristic inventories were made. In addition, information related to anthropogenic threats related to bamboo exploitation was recorded. All data were analysed using quantitative statistical parameters. Results suggest the existence of 196 species in these six permanent plots of the group Bamboo. The position of this Sinarundinaria alpina vegetation in the dynamic rainforest recovery dynamics is confirmed by the presence of trees and tree-nurseries of these trees. Fifty-three species, 27% of the plants observed, including Sinarundinaria alpina seedlings, contribute to the daily feeding of great apes, mainly Grauer’s Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri). This forest appears to be one of their critical habitats. The decrease in the area covered by bamboos is due primarily to anthropogenic activities but also some natural hazards (expansion of Sericostachys scandens, natural fading of Bamboo and attacks by beetles). Following these findings, conservation strategies were proposed. Several strengths were noted, including multiplication of bamboo nurseries and distribution of seedlings to local communities. This can be seen as a strong development of this sector in the future. This study is a preliminary assessment for further investigation. © 2015, © 2015 Taylor & Francis.
Source title: International Journal of Environmental Studies
DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2014.961270
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84928635568&doi=10.1080%2f00207233.2014.961270&partnerID=40&md5=2d5b4de744b8bb0153f231cd17d0c76b
Correspondence Address: Mokoso, E.J.D.D.M.; Université Officielle de Bukavu, Faculté des Sciences, Département de Biologie, Laboratoire de Systématique Végétale et de Biodiversité, BP: 570 Bukavu, Congo
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Kahuzi-Biega
Main topic: Humans ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Periphery / Management ; Income-generating activities ; Conservation initiatives ; Governance / Policy ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Variation in the quality and availability of food resources can greatly influence the ecology, behavior, and conservation of wild primates. We studied the influence of altitudinal differences in resource availability on diet in wild drill monkeys (Mandrillus leucophaeus poensis) on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. We compared fecal samples (n=234) collected across three consecutive dry seasons for drills living in lowland (0-300m asl) forest with nearby (18km distance) drills living in montane forest (500-1000m asl) in the Gran Caldera Southern Highlands Scientific Reserve. Lowland forest drills had a frugivorous diet very similar to that reported from studies on nearby mainland drills (M. l. leucophaeus) and mandrills (M. sphinx), with fruits comprising 90% of their dried fecal samples. However drills living in montane forest had a more folivorous diet, with herbaceous pith, leaves and fungi comprising 74% of their dried fecal samples and fruit becoming a minor component (24%). Furthermore, a dietary preference index indicated that the differences in the proportion of fruit and fibrous vegetation in the diets of lowland compared to montane drills was not simply a result of relative availability. Montane drills were actively consuming a higher mass of the available fruits and fibrous vegetation, a condition reflected in the greater mass of their fresh feces. Our results demonstrate the unexpected flexibility and complexity of dietary choices of this endangered species in two adjacent habitat types, a comparison of considerable importance for many other limited-range species faced with habitat loss and climate change. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22479
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946483426&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22479&partnerID=40&md5=70666e2030fa8500f177c99594eb6578
Correspondence Address: Owens, J.R.590 Barclay Ct., United States
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Equatorial Guinea ;
Protected area: Caldera de Luba
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: The management of widely dispersed marine vertebrates can be facilitated by better understanding their distribution, density, population trends and threats. Unfortunately, for some populations of sea turtle spatial and temporal data are often lacking, particularly along the Atlantic coast of Africa, a region which is considered globally important. Here we combined spatially limited monitoring data from four nesting beaches over seven seasons with an extensive ground-based coastal survey that covered 585. km of Gabon's Atlantic coast, to provide the first population assessment for the olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. This species is currently classified as data deficient by the IUCN in the eastern Atlantic and so is considered a regional conservation priority. Whilst the logistics required to undertake such a comprehensive ground-based census were complicated, the method proved extremely effective in providing population estimates for a widely dispersed marine vertebrate and demonstrates the importance of focusing beyond intensively monitored beaches. In particular, our findings reveal that the presence of nesting activity spans almost the entirety of Gabon's coast, the density of which subsequently reveals that Gabon hosts one of the most important olive ridley rookeries in the Atlantic (2370-9814 clutches, approximating to 948-5452 breeding females per annum and a total estimate of 1422-8178 breeding females), with a significant proportion, 81. ±. 3.5% (mean. ±. 1 S.D.) of total nesting effort occurring within protected areas. These findings thus complement our existing knowledge base and further emphasise the regional and global importance of Gabon's nesting sea turtle populations. © 2015.
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.05.008
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84930965976&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2015.05.008&partnerID=40&md5=e08976dc8aee703d62157e5cc364e145
Correspondence Address: Godley, B.J.; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, United Kingdom
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Pongara ; Wonga-Wongué ; Loango ; Sette-Cama ; Ouanga Plain ; Mayumba
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Reptiles ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: The metabolic activities of gut microbes significantly influence host physiology; thus, characterizing the forces that modulate this micro-ecosystem is key to understanding mammalian biology and fitness. To investigate the gut microbiome of wild primates and determine how these microbial communities respond to the host's external environment, we characterized faecal bacterial communities and, for the first time, gut metabolomes of four wild lowland gorilla groups in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic. Results show that geographical range may be an important modulator of the gut microbiomes and metabolomes of these gorilla groups. Distinctions seemed to relate to feeding behaviour, implying energy harvest through increased fruit consumption or fermentation of highly fibrous foods. These observations were supported by differential abundance of metabolites and bacterial taxa associated with the metabolism of cellulose, phenolics, organic acids, simple sugars, lipids and sterols between gorillas occupying different geographical ranges. Additionally, the gut microbiomes of a gorilla group under increased anthropogenic pressure could always be distinguished from that of all other groups. By characterizing the interplay between environment, behaviour, diet and symbiotic gut microbes, we present an alternative perspective on primate ecology and on the forces that shape the gut microbiomes of wild primates from an evolutionary context. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: Molecular Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/mec.13181
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84928322620&doi=10.1111%2fmec.13181&partnerID=40&md5=f57c041a067d0e937d9438290e1c9332
Correspondence Address: Gomez, A.; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignUnited States
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Sangha
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Understanding the habitat requirements of great apes is essential for effective conservation strategies. We examined annual habitat use of a bonobo group in the Wamba field site within the Luo Scientific Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Using satellite imagery, we categorized the group's ranging area into three forest types: (1) primary and old secondary forest (P/OS), (2) young secondary forest and agriculture (YS/Ag), and (3) swamp forest (Sw). We tracked the group for 1 year (2007-2008) and compared usage of the three forest types for ranging, feeding, and night-sleeping. We also recorded what the bonobos ate and monitored monthly fruit availability in each forest type. The group ranged and fed more often in P/OS and less often in YS/Ag and Sw than expected based on habitat availability. Also, the group slept mostly in P/OS (94% of nights monitored), but also in YS/Ag (1%), and Sw (5%). Fruit availability in P/OS had no significant effect on habitat selection, but the group fed in YS/Ag most often during the two months when fruits in P/OS were least abundant. In June, when fruit of Uapaca spp. (selectively eaten by bonobos) was generally abundant in Sw, the group mostly ranged and slept there. The bonobos fed most often on herbaceous plants in all three forest types. In Sw, the bonobos frequently ate mushrooms. Our results show that semi-open forest with abundant herbaceous plants such as YS/Ag could be an important feeding habitat and may provide fallback food for bonobos when fruits are scarce. Furthermore, Sw can serve seasonally as a main habitat to complement P/OS if adequate food resources and tree nesting opportunities are available. We conclude that bonobos use diverse habitats depending on their needs and we highlight the importance of minor-use habitats for sustaining populations of target species in conservation planning. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source title: American Journal of Primatology
DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22392
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84929120574&doi=10.1002%2fajp.22392&partnerID=40&md5=bf907aa69a2f0d816043f389f47ef43b
Correspondence Address: Terada, S.; Primate Research Institute, Kyoto UniversityJapan
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Luo Scientific Reserve
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Environment
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology ; Land use / cover ; Forests ; Crops