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Abstract: Three new species of the lampeye genus Hylopanchax are described from the central Congo basin: H. leki, new species, H. ndeko, new species, and H. moke, new species. These differ considerably in body shape from the two previously de-scribed species, H. stictopleuron and H. silvestris, with two deep bodied and one small and slender species. A redefinition of the diagnostic characters of the genus Hylopanchax is presented, including pronounced sexual dimorphism. © 2013 Magnolia Press.
Source title: Zootaxa
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3701.1.3
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84882951085&doi=10.11646%2fzootaxa.3701.1.3&partnerID=40&md5=e2364a539c0515bcc647eb7172ec34f8
Correspondence Address: Van Der Zee, J.R.; Royal Museum for Central Africa, Vertebrate Section, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium; email: joukevdz@upcmail.nl
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Salonga
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Fish ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: Cette étude se focalise sur la vérification de l'hypothèse que l'altitude influence l'occurrence de la flore des Fougères et leurs alliées au sein de l'écosystème forestier des montagnes du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega. Un échantillonnage de la végétation y a été effectué en considérant 24 parcelles localisées par paires le long de 12 transects installés entre 1278 m et 3123 m d'altitude. Les données obtenues ont été traitées par des méthodes statistiques, principalement la régression et des analyses multivariées. Au total, 157 espèces ont été recensées. Les résultats montrent que la richesse spécifique décroît linéairement avec l'augmentation de l'altitude à partir de 2600 m. Cette tendance prévaut à la fois dans les sites perturbés (R 2 = 0.58; P < 0.001) et dans les endroits non perturbés (R 2 = 0.81; P < 0.001). Trente-sept espèces (soit 23.56%) représentent les espèces communes dans les trois étages du site d'étude et s'adaptent à toutes les conditions altitudinales. Une analyse canonique a montré que les facteurs abiotiques pris en compte dans cette recherche absorbent de 71.7% de la variance de la distribution des Fougères et leurs alliées trouvées et que l'altitude qui est prépondérante. Comme la température est tributaire de ce paramètre, les Fougères et leurs alliées circonscrites dans les étages ci-dessus se révèlent respectivement macrothermes, mésothermes et microthermes. This study concerns the hypothesis that altitude influences the occurrence of ferns and their allies in the forest ecosystem of the mountains in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. To obtain an inventory of the ferns and their allies, a sampling of the vegetation was made in 24 squares located in pairs along 12 transects lying between 1278 metres and 3123 metres altitude. The data were statistically analysed, mainly with regression methods and multivariate analysis. A total of 157 species were recorded. Species richness decreases in a linear way with higher altitude from 2600 metres. This tendency is observed in disturbed (R 2 = 0.58; P < 0.001) as well as in intact sites (R 2 = 0.81; P < 0.001). Among the observed species, only 37 (i.e. 23.56%) are common elements of the three vegetation belts in the study area (submontane, montane and subalpine) and are adapted to all altitudinal conditions. A canonical analysis (DCA) showed that the abiotical factors considered in the study (altitude, slope, substrates, temperature) explain 71.7% of the variance of the distribution of the ferns and their allies found, with altitude being the dominant factor. As temperature depends on this factor, the ferns and their allies occurring in the belts mentioned above can be characterised as macrothermal, mesothermal and microthermal. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Source title: International Journal of Environmental Studies
DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2013.778007
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84878532377&doi=10.1080%2f00207233.2013.778007&partnerID=40&md5=504b2847cb182f034dd62be786603322
Correspondence Address: Mokoso, J. M.; Département de Biologie, Université d'Anvers, Universiteitsplein 1-C, Antwerp-Wilrijk, B-2610, Belgium; email: JeandeDieu.MangambuMokoso@student.ua.ac.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Kahuzi-Biega
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Background and aims - Eighty per cent of Gabon's territory is covered by forest with most species inventory work focused on these areas. However, herbaceous open vegetation types are abundant in this country and can be found in savannas on the coast, in the centre and in the south, and on inselbergs. The species diversity patterns of these habitats remain largely unexplored yet are targeted for both conservation and development. Here, we evaluate the floristic diversity of savannas in Gabon, their affinities with the inselberg open vegetation, and their contribution to the national park system in Gabon, which is currently undergoing a gap analysis. We then use a case study from the Batéké Plateaux to demonstrate species rarity in a single savanna. Materials and methods - Species presence in the grassy formations of the savannas in Loango, Lopé, Pongara, and Plateaux Batéké national parks and in Kum inselberg is compared using ordination and clustering based on a similarity matrix (Sorensen index). For the Batéké Plateaux savannas, the species rarity and distributions are assessed using Star ratings. Key results - The species in the open herbaceous vegetation in Gabon account for at least 11% of the total flora of the country (508 species out of 4, 710). Except for the coastal savannas, all sites are highly dissimilar in floristic composition (Sorensen index 0.065-0.26) and no dominant savanna type occurs within the dataset. The inselberg site is the most dissimilar and constitutes a separate vegetation unit. Most savanna species of the Batéké Plateaux area are widely distributed, but not weedy. A few are extremely rare and are linked with moist habitats, substrate, and fire occurrence. Our results show the diversity and the conservation value of open, herbaceous habitats. Currently, the Gabonese National Park network is partly protecting the savanna and inselberg vegetation. However, several areas remain un-assessed and merit further exploration. ©2013 National Botanic Garden of Belgium.
Source title: Scripta Botanica Belgica
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906706322&partnerID=40&md5=f6844127c6d4b280729119583f3e68b2
Correspondence Address: Walters, G.; University College London, Department of Anthropology, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom; email: g.walters@ucl.ac.uk
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Loango ; Lopé ; Pongara ; Plateaux Batéké
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Forty-four species of Phaneropterinae are recorded from Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in the Central African Republic. Eight species collected within the park are described as new to science: Phlaurocentrum morettoi n. sp., P. paratuberosum n. sp., P. elegans n. sp., Myllocentrum raggei n. sp., Poreuomena sanghensis n. sp., Cestromoecha longicerca n. sp., C. magnicerca n. sp., and Goetia purpurea n. sp. An additional new species from Guinea is described from specimens preserved in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales of Madrid, Poreuomena huxleyi n. sp. Eurycorypha stylata Stål, 1873 is recorded for the first time from Burkina Faso and Brycoptera lobata Ragge, 1981 from Ivory Coast. The following synonyms are established: Enochletica affinis Bolívar, 1906 is synonymized with Enochletica ostentatrix Karsch, 1896, Poreuomena gladiator Bolívar, 1906 is synonymized with Poreuomena forcipata Sjöstedt, 1902, and Azamia doriae (Griffini, 1906) is synonymized with Azamia biplagiata Bolívar, 1906. In addition, morphological characters of previously unknown females of Phaneroptera maculosa Ragge, 1956 and Eurycorypha canaliculata Karsch, 1890, and males of Myllocentrum stigmosum (Karsch, 1896) and Cestromoecha crassipes (Karsch, 1890) are described. The presence of titillators in four African genera (Gelotopoia, Brycoptera, Phlaurocentrum and Azamia) is recorded for the first time. In the genus Zeuneria, a sub-equally bilobed, dorsally curved, dorso-lateral abdominal appendage is described for the first time. This new structure apparently delimits an abdominal gland of unknown function on the second tergite.
Source title: Journal of Orthoptera Research
DOI: 10.1665/034.022.0201
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84891823603&doi=10.1665%2f034.022.0201&partnerID=40&md5=90621d41f1a144c8a709ec0e047bbb06
Correspondence Address: Massa, B.; Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy; email: bruno.massa@unipa.it
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central African Republic ;
Protected area: Dzanga-Ndoki
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: In order to come up with a sustainable use of forest ecosystems in Cameroon, its vegetal diversity has been inventoried; the plant potentials and the structural parameters were studied in the forest reserve of Bonepoupa. Ten non-continuous plots of 200 m2 were done and the materialization of the lines was done with a topofil put at the centre of the field with ropes at 5 m each of the topofil. In addition, ninety people were interviewed in order to know the potential use of species in this region. Up to 172 individuals with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ? 5 cm divided into 27 species, 25 genera and 18 families were inventoried and the coefficient of abundance-dominance was determined. The diversity index of Shannon (H') was H'1 = 4.17 ± 0.45 with H'1max = 4.75 and the evenness was R1 = 0.88. Taking into account herbaceous species, H' determined by the coefficient of abundance-dominance was H'2 = 4.74 ± 0.56 with H'2max = 5.70 and the evenness was R2 = 0.83. The total basal area was 19.69 m2/ha and the density was 860 individuals/ha. These results indicate that herbaceous significantly modifies the value of the diversity index and that forest reserve of Bonepoupa is experiencing a problem of conservation which is due to a lack of its appropriate management. The knowledge of non-timber forest products and their use as food as well as medicinal resources by local population might be helpful for the sustainable management of resources in this forest reserve.
Source title: Ciencia Florestal
DOI: 10.5902/1980509812363
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84891602822&doi=10.5902%2f1980509812363&partnerID=40&md5=cdf171003888155ba6dca1b76b874369
Correspondence Address: Botânico e Ecologista, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, CEP 97105-900, Santa Maria (RS), Brazil
Language of Original Document: English; Portuguese
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Bonepoupa
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Structure / Biomass ; Non-timber forest products ; Perceptions / Behaviors

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Abstract: Dry-season grazing strategy of an elephant population in zakouma park in chad during the dry season, Acacia seyal stands in the savannah areas of southeastern Chad are one of the main food sources for the elephant population of Zakouma National Park. Forming a more or less dense mosaic, this tree savannah is an essential additional source of nutrition for these huge herbivores. This note does not set out to estimate the aerial grazing potential of the savannah for the elephants in the park, but to identify, through remote sensing, the areas that are either essential or marginal in terms of their food needs. Satellite imagery was used to establish quantitative and spatial values for these vegetation resources, whose use does not appear to be related to food quality or palatability, but to result from several concomitant physical and edaphic factors, i.e. a permanent water network and the fact that tree densities of more than 400 trees per hectare limit access for the elephants to these dry-season food resources.
Source title: Bois et Forets des Tropiques
DOI: 10.19182/bft2013.317.a20524
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84891135675&doi=10.19182%2fbft2013.317.a20524&partnerID=40&md5=c5fcc2291645e241f3792d5582d4e87e
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: French
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Chad ;
Protected area: Zakouma
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Biology / Ecology ; Plants ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: Habitat evaluation is considered an essential step for assessing the potential for an area to support a viable reintroduced population. Remote sensing techniques can support such investigations, by greatly enhancing the temporal and spatial coverage of habitat assessments. This study makes use of freely available earth observation data to evaluate the suitability of the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in central Chad for the reintroduction of the Scimitar-horned Oryx. The reserve was the last stronghold of the species within its historical range, prior to extinction in the wild in the 1980s, providing a basis for reintroduction. Results show that since the 1980s, there has been a steady increase in average annual precipitation and satellite-derived estimates of primary production. The spatial downscaling of the average trend in primary production showed that the north of the protected area exhibited a drying trend over the period 1982-2008, while the south was associated with intense greening. As a result, the subdesert transition zone preferred by oryx is currently narrowing. If this is correct, this implies a potential reduction of favourable habitat for the oryx, which could have detrimental effects on the success of establishing a self-sustaining reintroduced population. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12060
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84880328168&doi=10.1111%2faje.12060&partnerID=40&md5=a8c498d4ed608636ba427c7e18d0c3de
Correspondence Address: Pettorelli, N.; Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom; email: Nathalie.Pettorelli@ioz.ac.uk
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Chad ;
Protected area: Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim
Main topic: Environment ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Land use / cover ; Deserts ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Wildlife managers are urgently searching for improved sociodemographic population assessment methods to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented conservation activities. These need to be inexpensive, appropriate for a wide spectrum of species and straightforward to apply by local staff members with minimal training. Furthermore, conservation management would benefit from single approaches which cover many aspects of population assessment beyond only density estimates, to include for instance social and demographic structure, movement patterns, or species interactions. Remote camera traps have traditionally been used to measure species richness. Currently, there is a rapid move toward using remote camera trapping in density estimation, community ecology, and conservation management. Here, we demonstrate such comprehensive population assessment by linking remote video trapping, spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) techniques, and other methods. We apply it to three species: chimpanzees Pan troglodytes troglodytes, gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla, and forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis in Loango National Park, Gabon. All three species exhibited considerable heterogeneity in capture probability at the sex or group level and density was estimated at 1.72, 1.2, and 1.37 individuals per km2 and male to female sex ratios were 1:2.1, 1:3.2, and 1:2 for chimpanzees, gorillas, and elephants, respectively. Association patterns revealed four, eight, and 18 independent social groups of chimpanzees, gorillas, and elephants, respectively: key information for both conservation management and studies on the species' ecology. Additionally, there was evidence of resident and nonresident elephants within the study area and intersexual variation in home range size among elephants but not chimpanzees. Our study highlights the potential of combining camera trapping and SECR methods in conducting detailed population assessments that go far beyond documenting species diversity patterns or estimating single species population size. Our study design is widely applicable to other species and spatial scales, and moderately trained staff members can collect and process the required data. Furthermore, assessments using the same method can be extended to include several other ecological, behavioral, and demographic aspects: fission and fusion dynamics and intergroup transfers, birth and mortality rates, species interactions, and ranging patterns. © 2013 The Authors.
Source title: Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.670
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84886992750&doi=10.1002%2fece3.670&partnerID=40&md5=11c312d12567085aef4d05b7de1844e2
Correspondence Address: Head, J.S.; Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, United Kingdom; email: head@eva.mpg.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Loango
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Abundance ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Data on the ecology of forest elephants are difficult to find. Therefore studies of forest elephant ecology are needed to support the species’ management. With that perspective in mind, data on forest understorey types and key plant species that elephants feed on were collected in Salonga National Park (1996–2002) and Malebo (2006–2010), Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of the study was to document the physical effects of elephants on understorey species and the relationship between elephant trails and elephant-dispersed plant species. About 94% of the openness of the understorey in Salonga National Park positively related with elephant abundance. Elephant trails influenced the distribution of plant species that elephants feed on at Malebo. Plant species whose fruits are eaten (and therefore dispersed) by elephants declined within 20 m of the trail centre while those on whose leaves elephants browsed increased, creating opposed gradients. Three optimum points were described, suggesting that trails move over time within a given width. Projecting the trends given by the gradient equations, a fourth optimum point would be reached at 76 m from the centre at which both types of plant species would be zero. We concluded that 150 ± 2 m distance would define the minimum width of corridors connecting disconnected large elephant habitats. © 2013, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. All rights reserved.
Source title: Pachyderm
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84903965317&partnerID=40&md5=aa7ba508bf9c4aa5ec537e44d5153529
Correspondence Address: Inogwabini, B.-I.; WWF DRC, BP 15.872 Kinshasa 1, Congo
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Salonga
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Biology / Ecology ; Abundance ; Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: [No abstract available]
Source title: Nature
DOI: 10.1038/503322a
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84888036702&doi=10.1038%2f503322a&partnerID=40&md5=134c59b55a443b9b086ab3a6dbcbadc0
Correspondence Address: Watson, T.
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Short Survey
Country: ; Central African Republic ; Democratic Republic of Congo ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Conservation initiatives ; Perceptions / Behaviors

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Abstract: The presence of the arboreal colubrid Thrasops jacksonii in Gabon is confirmed based on a juvenile specimen collected in Ivindo National Park. Morphological and biological data are provided for the Gabonese specimen. This new record brings to 71 the number of snake species currently inventoried from Gabon. © NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2013.
Source title: North-Western Journal of Zoology
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84879444625&partnerID=40&md5=3cf1ea35d057f950dc852dca021934ed
Correspondence Address: Pauwels, O.S.G.; Département des Vertébrés Récents, Institut Royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; email: osgpauwels@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Ivindo
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Reptiles ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: A list of fishes collected in and around the periphery of the Salonga National Park in Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is provided. While noteworthy for a wide array of rare and endangered terrestrial vertebrates, the fish fauna of the Salonga National Park, the largest protected area in Africa, is very poorly known. One hundred and fifty two species distributed in 24 families are reported on here; of which 9 represent putatively undescribed taxa currently under investigation. Lack of up-to-date taxonomic and distributional knowledge of African fishes is particularly acute in the central Congo basin and the present report, while undoubtedly incomplete, provides a foundation for much needed further work in the region. © 2013 Check List and Authors.
Source title: Check List
DOI: 10.15560/9.2.246
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84876964213&doi=10.15560%2f9.2.246&partnerID=40&md5=558451d8315f15ead70f2ffe5fc61395
Correspondence Address: Stiassny, M. L. J.email: mljs@amnh.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Salonga
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Fish ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity

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Abstract: Fission-fusion systems provide models for studying grouping decisions and social complexity in a range of taxa, as individuals act to manage risks and enhance reproductive success. African savannah elephants, Loxodonta africana africana, live in a fluid society where individual relationships persist over decades and affect reproductive success. Social structures have yet to be fully characterized for forest elephants, Loxodonta africana cyclotis. Aggregations at natural forest clearings, which are frequent in this subspecies, may offer social benefits in addition to nutritional resources. We examined the social functions of aggregations in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo. We tested whether clearings function as 'social arenas' by examining how social opportunities affected the timing and duration of visits, and how short-term grouping decisions were affected by age, sex, group size and number of elephants present. Aggregations reflected a fission-fusion society similar to that observed in savannah elephants. Grouping patterns were largely unaffected by the number of elephants present, from which we infer that elephants were not acting to minimize competition. Social opportunities affected visit patterns such that visits were longer when others were present. Social opportunities were maximized by joining large groups, often including older elephants, or, for males, parties with females. Large and dynamically changing social groups in clearings offer potential for information exchange and the maintenance of social relationships. Demonstrating that fission-fusion operates in forest elephant society allows future research to focus on cost-benefit modelling, to understand the fitness consequences of these groupings. © 2012 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Source title: Animal Behaviour
DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.11.004
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84873091530&doi=10.1016%2fj.anbehav.2012.11.004&partnerID=40&md5=45da5bddd9c20f9cb4f7d485e4c489f1
Correspondence Address: Fishlock, V.; Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom; email: vfishlock@elephanttrust.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Odzala Kokoua
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: During recent decades, most endangered species have suffered serious population declines. Little has been documented on leopards in West-Central Africa and as a result the efficiency of protection measures and wildlife managing practices can be questioned. Using 416 occurrences of leopards, we investigated the relationship between different environmental factors and leopard distribution to establish a baseline distribution of this feline. Leopards are mainly present in two large populations: one in a forest habitat, the other in a savanna habitat. Leopard populations were found to be associated with lions and hyaenas but they avoided human disturbances. Regarding potential breeding dispersal, the Gaussian representation showed a clear fragmentation among populations, suggesting that long-term survival of the species could be threatened. We found no area to be exempt from threats. The leopard has, however, declined less than other carnivore species and still shows viable populations. Furthermore, occurrences were found to be significantly more numerous than expected in protected areas, suggesting the relative efficiency of conservation.
Source title: African Zoology
DOI: 10.3377/004.048.0221
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84890483939&doi=10.3377%2f004.048.0221&partnerID=40&md5=c6abe0b11e0218faefcce211fb536299
Correspondence Address: Lodé, T.; UMR CNRS 6552, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France; email: thierry.lode@univ-rennes1.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Determining the impact of insect herbivores on forest tree seedlings and saplings is difficult without experimentation in the field. Moreover, this impact may be heterogeneous in time and space because of seasonal rainfall and canopy disturbances, or 'gaps', which can influence both insect abundance and plant performance. In this study we used fine netting to individually protect seedlings of Microberlinia bisulcata, Tetraberlinia bifoliolata and Tetraberlinia korupensis trees (Fabaceae. = Leguminosae) from insects in 41 paired gap-understorey locations across 80. ha of primary rain forest (Korup, Cameroon).For all species, growth in height and leaf numbers was negligible in the understorey, where M. bisulcata had the lowest survival after c. 2. years. In gaps, however, all species responded positively with pronounced above-ground growth across seasons. When exposed to herbivores their seedling height growth was similar, but in the absence of herbivores, M. bisulcata significantly outgrew both Tetraberlinia species and matched their leaf numbers. This result suggests that insect herbivores might play an important role in maintaining species coexistence by mitigating sapling abundance of the more palatable M. bisulcata, which in gaps was eaten the most severely. The higher ratio in static leaf damage of control-to-caged M. bisulcata seedlings in gaps than understorey locations was consistent with the Plant Vigour Hypothesis. This result, however, did not apply to either Tetraberlinia species. For M. bisulcata and T. korupensis, but not T. bifoliolata (the most shade-tolerant species), caging improved relative seedling survival in the understory locations compared to gaps, providing restricted support for the Limiting Resource Model. Approximately 2.25. years after treatments were removed, the caged seedlings were taller and had more leaves than controls in all three species, and the effect remained strongest for M. bisulcata.We conclude that in this community the impact of leaf herbivory on seedling growth in gaps is strong for the dominant M. bisulcata, which coupled to a very low shade-tolerance contributes to limiting its regeneration. However, because gaps are common to most forests, insect herbivores may be having impacts upon functionally similar tree species that are also characterized by low sapling recruitment much more widely than currently appreciated. An implication for the restoration and management of M. bisulcata populations in forests outside of Korup is that physical protection from herbivores of new seedlings where the canopy is opened by gaps, or by harvesting, should substantially increase its subcanopy regeneration, and thus, too, its opportunities for adult recruitment. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Source title: Forest Ecology and Management
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.08.029
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84884715438&doi=10.1016%2fj.foreco.2013.08.029&partnerID=40&md5=ecafcdfb1db237bda7d72ecd729b0a76
Correspondence Address: Norghauer, J.M.; Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 21 Altenbergrain, 3013 Bern, Switzerland; email: julian.norghauer@ips.unibe.ch
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Animals ; Invertebrates

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Abstract: The African country of Gabon has seen decadal increases in commercial logging. An unforeseen consequence of this has been that many coastal areas, including several National Parks and Reserves, have suffered severe pollution from beached timber. This has the potential to adversely affect nesting sea turtles, particularly the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) for which Gabon constitutes the world's largest rookery. In this study, we analyse aerial survey data (2003, 2007 and 2011) to determine the temporal persistence and spatial extent of beached timber, and by integrating spatial data on nesting, ascertain regions where beached timber poses the greatest threat to nesting leatherback turtles. There was no marked difference in the number of beached logs recorded across the study area during the period, with 15,160, 13,528 and 17,262 logs recorded in the three years, respectively. There was, however, a significant difference in abundance of beached logs among geographical areas. Analysis highlighted two coastal areas where nesting leatherback turtles were likely to be at greatest risk from beached timber. At one such site, Kingere, within Pongara National Park, where both logs and turtle densities are high, monitoring in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 suggested that between 1.6% and 4.4% of leatherback turtles could be entrapped at this site. Given the dynamic nature of Gabon's coastal environment, and the potential limitations of aerial surveys, densities of beached timber could be greater than this analysis reveals. We also propose, that despite recent export restrictions of whole logs, their environmental persistence potentially represents a long-term problem. © 2012
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.11.002
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84876873615&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2012.11.002&partnerID=40&md5=f0dea9a59039c29064c6085979254a63
Correspondence Address: Formia, A.; Address: Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, 2300 Southern Blvd., United States; email: aformia@wcs.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Gabon ;
Protected area: Pongara ; Wonga-Wongué ; Loango ; Sette-Cama ; Ouanga Plain ; Mayumba
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Environment
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Reptiles ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology ; Land use / cover ; Forests

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Abstract: Background and aims - Sericostachys scandens (Amaranthaceae), an indigenous liana in Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP, D.R.Congo), has been spreading strongly in montane forests for about ten years. We have tried to assess the consequences of this expansion on forest regeneration. Methods - We carried out an inventory of tree individuals (? 1 m in height) growing in 33 gaps in the montane forests located between 2083 and 2424 m altitude. Based on three age classes of gaps (1996, 2000 and 2004), the inventory was carried out in the plot of 10 m × 10 m, in sites invaded and non invaded by Sericostachys scandens. The Estimates software was used to calculate the expected number of plant species in order to plot cumulative species richness curves. The relative frequency of species and the Simpson index of diversity were calculated for the two types of vegetation (invaded vs. not-invaded). Results - Irrespective of gap age, cumulative curves obtained from the expected number of plant species show that plots without Sericostachys scandens are richer in species than those with the liana. The values of relative frequency of species, and Simpson index obtained are highest in forest gaps without the liana. The impact of the liana is larger in more recent gaps. Conclusions - The results of this research show that Sericostachys scandens has a negative impact on tree species richness in forest gaps of KBNP.© 2013 National Botanic Garden of Belgium.
Source title: Scripta Botanica Belgica
DOI:
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906669870&partnerID=40&md5=36b09bbc976a8ebf1f21cdd68044da34
Correspondence Address: Ndabaga, C.M.; Université Officielle de Bukavu, B.P. 570, Bukavu, Congo; email: masundab2002@yahoo.tr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Kahuzi-Biega
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: In order to analyze the influence of the spatial structure of the ecological functioning of forest ecosystems, a study on the spatial distribution of natural regeneration and coexistence of the main tree species was conducted in Bururi Forest Nature Reserve in Burundi. This protected area is the southernmost part of the Congo-Nile ridge forest system. The study tests the hypothesis that the aggregated spatial structure of a tree species would have an impact on natural regeneration and the coexistence of other tree species in the same habitat. Two methods were used to determine the type of spatial distribution of tree species: one based on the distance to the nearest neighbor and the second on change in the number of individuals of the species in the sample plots. Natural regeneration was evaluated on the basis of the distribution of their diameters. Analysis of the spatial distribution showed that Strombosia scheffleri and Xymalos monospora are characterized by a spatial distribution of aggregate. Then, the study was highlighted the negative impact of the aggregate distribution of S. scheffleri and X. monospora on natural regeneration of Entandrophragma excelsum and Prunus africana, two endangered species in Burundi. Thus, the local dominance of a tree species can reduce the diversity as stipulated in the escape hypothesis.
Source title: Bois et Forets des Tropiques
DOI: 10.19182/bft2013.316.a20530
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84891318972&doi=10.19182%2fbft2013.316.a20530&partnerID=40&md5=afd87659ce2fef797c38ec09ea6baad4
Correspondence Address:
Language of Original Document: French
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Burundi ;
Protected area: Bururi forest
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Structure / Biomass ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Background and aims - Lentinus species are a major component of the agaricoid fora of tropical Africa where fifteen species have been documented with few studies in Cameroon. This work aims to contribute to the taxonomy of the genus Lentinus by describing a putative new species collected in south-western Cameroon. Methods - A unique lentinoid fungi specimen collected in Korup National Park in the South-West region of Cameroon and preserved in the Edinburgh herbarium (E) was examined macro- and microscopically following classical mycological description methods.Key results - The specimen examined possesses squamules on the pileus and stipe surface, no annulus, furcated branching dichotomous lamellae, oblong-cylindrical basidispores, basidia generally bearing four sterigmata (sometimes two or one) reaching 5 ?m long, skeleto-ligative hyphae and pleurocystidia. The simultaneous presence of both pleurocystidia and skeleto-ligative hyphae has never been encountered in the genus Lentinus. Due to this unusual combination and other specific features of this specimen, it is considered as a representative of a new species within the genus Lentinus. Discussion - Lentinus cystidiatus exhibits some similar characteristics with Lentinus squarrosulus that possesses squamules on the pileus and stipe surface and mostly with species of the sub-genus Lentinus section Dicholamellatae that are characterized by furcated lamellae. As skeleto-ligative hyphae is characteristic of the sub-genus Lentinus and pleurocystidia characteristic of sub-genus Panus, the simultaneous presence of elements brings into question the taxonomic position of this new species and the systematics of the genus Lentinus in general. Conclusions - The existence of this new species in Cameroon opens a door on the necessity of a taxonomic revision of the genus Lentinus and allied genera. © 2013 National Botanic Garden of Belgium and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium.
Source title: Plant Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.2013.792
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84880688206&doi=10.5091%2fplecevo.2013.792&partnerID=40&md5=e4a3755a7dadc4748544507303e4c997
Correspondence Address: Njouonkou, A. L.; Department of Biological Science, University of Bamenda, P. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon; email: alnjouonkou@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Korup
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Fungi ; Taxonomy

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Abstract: The feeding ecology of lions (Panthera leo, Linnaeus 1758) was investigated in and around Waza National Park, northern Cameroon. Diet was determined using global positioning system (GPS) data of lion kill sites (clusters of GPS location points) collected using radio collars. Lions consumed 14 different prey species, with five species that were either medium (50 - 200 kg) or large (> 200 kg) in size forming the bulk of kills. The western kob (Kobus kob kob) was the most common (23.5 %) wild prey of lions, but worryingly livestock (predominantly cattle) constituted as much as 21.6 % of the diet. This creates a conservation problem resulting in lions being killed in retaliation. However, this conflict is strongly exacerbated by herders driving their cattle into the park for forage and water. Wild prey was also consumed outside the park (6.7 %), suggesting excursions beyond the park boundary. Lions showed a preference for wild prey over livestock when relative abundances were considered. Management efforts to reduce livestock intrusion into the park and to reverse the declining trends of wild prey populations would significantly reduce predation of livestock and prevent persecution of lions in this park, but conflict mitigation measures outside the park are also urgently needed.
Source title: Mammalia
DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2012-0063
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84886802231&doi=10.1515%2fmammalia-2012-0063&partnerID=40&md5=dcede4dda358ab0321f749a94b8454b8
Correspondence Address: Tumenta, P.N.; Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, PO Box 9518, 2300RA Leiden, Netherlands; email: tumentap@yahoo.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Waza
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Carnivores ; Ungulates ; Biology / Ecology ; Human-wildlife conflicts