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Abstract: Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are one of the most critically endangered great apes in the world. The most common cause of mountain gorilla morbidity and mortality is trauma (e.g., injury from conspecifics or snare entrapment). We conducted a retrospective case-control study of free-ranging, human-habituated mountain gorillas to evaluate factors associated with snare entrapment and the results of clinical intervention. Data were collected from clinical records on all clinical intervention cases (n=132) in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, conducted between 1995–2015. Wildlife veterinarians treated 37 gorillas entrapped in snares and 95 gorillas for other clinical conditions (including trauma and respiratory illness). Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that young gorillas (<8 yr old) were more likely than older gorillas to become snared; that comorbidities delayed times to intervention (?3 d); and that severity of wounds at the time of intervention were associated with increased risk of lasting impairment (including loss of limb or limb function, or death) within 1 mo after intervention. Our results may influence decisions for gorilla health monitoring and treatment to most effectively conserve this critically endangered species. © Wildlife Disease Association 2019.
Source title: Journal of Wildlife Diseases
DOI: 10.7589/2018-01-008
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064722283&doi=10.7589%2f2018-01-008&partnerID=40&md5=55bf1236b94fc76ef253f9794d5d242f
Correspondence Address: Gilardi, K.V.K.; Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, United States; email: kvgilardi@ucdavis.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Health ; Humans
Subtopic: Animal health ; Hunting / Poaching ; Conservation initiatives

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Abstract: There have been widespread reports of elephant poaching by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Garamba National Park (GNP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), presenting a narrative that ivory poaching funds terror and that both can be solved by the same (military) intervention. This narrative distorts the complex dynamics. It identifies clear villains, edits out other poaching actors, and legitimises particular interventions. Poaching is portrayed as a moral, non-political issue and military intervention is portrayed as a logical outcome. The wider history and current context are neglected. The LRA's poaching threat, relative to other actors, is overemphasised. It ignores how the LRA poaching-real as it was-fits into a history of poaching caused by problems with state capacity and territorial control, including incursions by armed actors. The situation demands solutions that are more complex than merely defeating the LRA. More so, military intervention against the LRA has worsened poaching, due to state military implications in poaching. The article shows how the 'LRA ivory-terrorism' narrative is a discursive tool for particular agendas, which primarily allow particular interventions, legitimisation of resources, or wider readership. In this way, the actors involved create their own echo-chamber, which is less concerned with local dynamics and which does not include practical conservation actors in Garamba. The narrative has also begun to shift. © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
Source title: Conservation and Society
DOI: 10.4103/cs.cs_18_145
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068696553&doi=10.4103%2fcs.cs_18_145&partnerID=40&md5=1c6abb6de48b016d9bbf4e0038dac8aa
Correspondence Address: Titeca, K.; IOB, University of AntwerpBelgium; email: kristof.titeca@uantwerpen.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Garamba
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Hunting / Poaching ; Armed conflicts ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Governance / Policy ; Periphery / Management ; Conservation initiatives

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Abstract: In Central Africa, local populations are deeply dependent on tropical forests, which provide numerous ecosystem services (ES). For the first time in Central Africa, we assessed the perceptions of ES provided by tropical forests to local populations, considering three land allocation types: a protected area, a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified logging concession, and three community forests. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 225 forest stakeholders in southeastern Cameroon, combining an open-ended question and 16 directed questions to evaluate the perceptions of ES significance and abundance, respectively. The ES most frequently reported as significant were provisioning (93% of respondents) and cultural & amenity services (68%), whereas regulating services were less mentioned (16%). Bushmeat provision was the only ES perceived as highly significant but not very abundant. There were slight variations of perceptions among forest land allocation types and respondents, suggesting a relative homogeneity in ES abundance. For further integrative ES assessment, we suggest quantifying ES with complementary ecological and economic approaches, such as meat provision, recreation, tourism, timber provision, spiritual experience, firewood provision, water quality regulation, and inspiration for culture. We also give three concrete recommendations for forest management, the most urgent being to provide sources of protein alternative to bushmeat. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Source title: Ecosystem Services
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.100956
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85067310924&doi=10.1016%2fj.ecoser.2019.100956&partnerID=40&md5=fc0789302171ec3bb28bf73219dfd89f
Correspondence Address: Lhoest, S.; University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés 2, Belgium; email: simon.lhoest@uliege.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Humans ; Environment
Subtopic: Perceptions / Behaviors ; Ecosystem services ; Demography ; Income-generating activities ; Anthropology / Ethnoscience ; Hunting / Poaching ; Non-timber forest products ; Tourism ; Periphery / Management ; Governance / Policy ; Conservation initiatives ; Land use / cover ; Forests ; Deforestation

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Abstract: Natural and anthropogenic pressures are major concerns about the stability of vegetation in protected areas of the Sudano-Sahelian regions. This study aims to describe the woody flora of Mozogo-Gokoro National Park, submitted to these geographical area constraints in the Far North of Cameroon. Global inventory of this flora is carried out, through three collection units representing strata in vegetation that are previously identified by photo-interpretation, with analyses focusing on compositional diversity parameters. Results show a very rich woody flora (110 woody plant species, for 46 genera and 30 families), having a quasi-typical Sudano-Sahelian physiognomy. Vegetation is mainly a shrubby dry forest, dominated by species such as Senegalia ataxacantha, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Tamarindus indica, Psorospermum senegalense, Clerodendrum capitatum, Celtis toka, and the botanical families of Fabaceae and Combretaceae. The diversity indices, the woody density, and the basal area are high (4.32 bits for the Shannon-Weaver index, 2694.16 stems/ha and 43.89 m 2 /ha). Despite the dominance of Sahelian individuals, the importance of Sudanian and Guinean species (more than 22.68% of species) brings vegetation closer to those of much humid areas. In wooded savanna collection unit, several values of the evaluated parameters are lower in comparison with those obtained in the two others. However, these fluctuations related to the degradation of vegetation are insignificant, indicating a preserved resilience. The Mozogo-Gokoro National Park stands as a model of plant conservation in the Sudano-Sahelian zone in Cameroon, hence the major interest to be granted for its conservation and sustainable management. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Source title: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7186-9
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85060181085&doi=10.1007%2fs10661-019-7186-9&partnerID=40&md5=4eec302617ce5677b19b258e4ea99e23
Correspondence Address: Sandjong Sani, R.C.; Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, PO Box 814, Cameroon; email: sanirocos@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Mozogo Gokoro
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Diversity ; Structure / Biomass

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Abstract: Population numbers of Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) have declined throughout its range by more than 85% in the last three decades, including in the isolated easternmost population found in the Garamba National Park (NP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We provide new data on the conservation status and ecology of Kordofan giraffe in Garamba NP, specifically on the current population dynamics, distribution patterns, and spatial ecology for informed conservation management decisions. Data were gathered between September 26, 2016, and August 17, 2017, through direct observation and from eight GPS satellite collars deployed in early 2016. Movements, distribution patterns, and autocorrelated kernel density home ranges were estimated using the Continuous-Time Movement Modeling (CTMM) framework. We then compared results with home ranges calculated using the kernel density estimation (95% KDE) method. The Garamba NP population was estimated to be 45 giraffe with a female-dominated sex ratio (35% males; 65% females), and adult-dominated age class ratio (11.2% juveniles; 17.7% subadults; 71.1% adults). The giraffe's distribution was limited to the south-central sector of the Park, and giraffe were divided over different areas with some degree of connectivity. The average giraffe home range size was 934.3 km2 using AKDE and 268.8 km2 using KDE. Both methods have shown surprisingly large home ranges despite of the relatively high humidity of Garamba NP. Based on the outcomes of this research, urgent conservation action is needed to protect Garamba's remaining giraffe population. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5640
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073690845&doi=10.1002%2fece3.5640&partnerID=40&md5=87178bfea561702881a08def606ac85a
Correspondence Address: Brandlová, K.; Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences PragueCzech Republic; email: brandlova@ftz.czu.cz
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Garamba
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Abundance ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Two specimens of the endemic land flatworm species Othelosoma impensum Sluys & Neumann, 2017 from the volcanic island São Tomé were observed in the wild in Obo-National Park while they were preying on ants that had descended on a tree trunk after their nuptial flight. A maximum of 41 ants were assembled in a cluster by one of the flatworms, the insects being immobilised by mucus secreted by the worms. A strong cephalic retractor muscle facilitated capture of the mobile prey. Presence or absence of similar cephalic adaptations in other species of Othelosoma and other genera of land flatworms is discussed, as well as the effectiveness of the sticky mucus secreted by the worms during prey capture. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Source title: Journal of Natural History
DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2019.1651416
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071385911&doi=10.1080%2f00222933.2019.1651416&partnerID=40&md5=e12f5cbe03b35808b7bae823291f9d43
Correspondence Address: Sluys, R.; Naturalis Biodiversity CenterNetherlands; email: Ronald.Sluys@naturalis.nl
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; São Tomé and Príncipe ;
Protected area: Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: Protected areas (PAs) are expected to conserve nature and provide ecosystem services in perpetuity, yet widespread protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) may compromise these objectives. Even iconic protected areas are vulnerable to PADDD, although these PADDD events are often unrecognized. We identified 23 enacted and proposed PADDD events within World Natural Heritage Sites and examined the history, context, and consequences of PADDD events in 4 iconic PAs (Yosemite National Park, Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Yasuní National Park, and Virunga National Park). Based on insights from published research and international workshops, these 4 cases revealed the diverse pressures brought on by competing interests to develop or exploit natural landscapes and the variety of mechanisms that enables PADDD. Knowledge gaps exist in understanding of the conditions through which development pressures translate to PADDD events and their impacts, partially due to a lack of comprehensive PADDD records. Future research priorities should include comprehensive regional and country-level profiles and analysis of risks, impacts, and contextual factors related to PADDD. Policy options to better govern PADDD include improving tracking and reporting of PADDD events, establishing transparent PADDD policy processes, coordinating among legal frameworks, and mitigating negative impacts of PADDD. To support PADDD research and policy reforms, enhanced human and financial capacities are needed to train local researchers and to host publicly accessible data. As the conservation community considers the achievements of Aichi Target 11 and moves toward new biodiversity targets beyond 2020, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers need to work together to better track, assess, and govern PADDD globally. © 2019 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.
Source title: Conservation Biology
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13365
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069894121&doi=10.1111%2fcobi.13365&partnerID=40&md5=a82dbf4d901aff13583eb3c2f1869699
Correspondence Address: Qin, S.; Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, United States; email: siyu.qin@geo.hu-berlin.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Virunga ; Salonga
Main topic: Environment
Subtopic: Land use / cover

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Abstract: Deforestation in the tropics is often followed by the creation of anthropogenic savannas used for animal husbandry. By discontinuing burning regimes, forests may recolonize the savanna and carbon stocks may recover. However, little is known about the success and speed of tropical forest recovery, while such information is vital for a better quantification of efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) as well as supporting Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) practices. Therefore, we designed a forest regeneration experiment within a savanna patch in the Mayombe hills (Democratic Republic of Congo), by discontinuing the annual burning regime in an 88 ha exclosure since 2005. 101 permanent inventory plots (40.4 ha) were installed in 2010 and remeasured in 2014. Tree species were classified as savanna or forest specialists. We estimate a forest specialist encroachment rate of 9 stems ha ?1 yr ?1 and a savanna specialist disappearance rate of 16 stems ha ?1 yr ?1 . Average diameter of forest specialists did not change due to an increasing influx of recruits, while average diameter of savanna trees increased due to decreasing recruitment. Carbon stored by forest specialists increased from 3.12 to 5.60 Mg C ha ?1 , suggesting a forest carbon recovery rate of 0.62 Mg C ha ?1 yr ?1 . Using the average carbon stock of 19 nearby mature rainforest plots as a reference, we estimate a total forest carbon recovery time of at least 150 years. The Manzonzi exclosure may potentially become an important reference experiment to quantify REDD+ schemes in Central Africa. Furthermore, this natural regeneration experiment demonstrates how carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation can go hand-in-hand. However, more censuses are needed to better quantify the long-term carbon recovery trajectory within the protected area. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.02.027
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85062262280&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2019.02.027&partnerID=40&md5=0ee19125a0b7987cf6c1d931ae9a1530
Correspondence Address: Deklerck, V.Coupure Links 653, Belgium; email: victor.deklerck@ugent.be
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Luki
Main topic: Environment ; Biodiversity
Subtopic: Land use / cover ; Forests ; Savannas ; Plants

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Abstract: The African montane bamboo Yushania alpina provides both habitat and food for many species in the Albertine Rift region. In Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, it is especially important as a key food resource for the Endangered mountain gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei and Endangered golden guenon Cercopithecus mitis kandti. We examined temporal and spatial variation in bamboo shoots regeneration and consumption by primates, monitored between 2013 and 2018 in 82 16-m2 plots located along transects in VNP. Our analyses revealed a decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo in recent years, which is mirrored by a decline in bamboo shoot consumption by primates; but an increase in proportional intake. Local declines in regeneration are potentially due to high intensities of herbivory, decreased amounts of rainfall during growing seasons, and natural processes that form part of the life cycle of bamboo. Moreover, spatial variation in bamboo regeneration can be explained by elevation, as well as by stand-level variation in soil acidity, vegetation density, and the density of dead bamboo culms. We discuss the potential mechanisms underlying observed temporal and spatial variations and outline possible effects of a decline in bamboo regeneration for primates and other aspects of biodiversity in VNP. © 2019, The Author(s).
Source title: Scientific Reports
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49519-w
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072010792&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-019-49519-w&partnerID=40&md5=6d4c340008718fe0853c4786e99dce72
Correspondence Address: van der Hoek, Y.; The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund InternationalRwanda; email: yvanderhoek@gorillafund.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Plants ; Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: Critics of participation often examine the undesirable consequences of state-led systems without much analysis of institutional knowledge at the local level. In this paper, we investigate whether smaller institutions could offer useful knowledge for meeting the development needs of local people. Using participation theory and related literature on development and power, we investigate a co-management system in communities around Mount Cameroon National Park (MCNP), in sub-SaharanWest Africa. Our study adopts a multimethod approach to survey officials in 16 agencies and locals in 17 village groups. The findings indicate factors that hinder the effectiveness of local participation and avenues by which institutional knowledge can be customized to meet local development priorities. This system of participation, we conclude, could work better through open dialogue that is explicitly accountable and transparent. © 2019 by the authors.
Source title: Sustainability (Switzerland)
DOI: 10.3390/su11205788
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073727670&doi=10.3390%2fsu11205788&partnerID=40&md5=25b85e3ef90ea75225fa5676a282e916
Correspondence Address: Nebasifu, A.A.; Anthropology Research Group, Arctic Centre-Rovaniemi, Communities and Changing Work Thematic Program-Graduate School, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, Finland; email: aayonghe@ulapland.fi
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Mont Cameroun
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Governance / Policy ; Periphery / Management ; Perceptions / Behaviors

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Abstract: Socio-economic changes in Africa have increased pressure on the continent’s ecosystems. Most research investigating environmental change has focused on the changing status of specific species or communities and protected areas, but has largely neglected the broad-scale socio-economic conditions underlying environmental degradation. We tested national-scale hypotheses regarding the socio-economic predictors of ecosystem change and degradation across Africa, hypothesizing that human density and economic development increase the likelihood of cumulative environmental damage. Our combined environmental performance rank includes national ecological footprint, proportional species threat, recent deforestation, freshwater removal, livestock density, cropland coverage, and per capita emissions. Countries like Central African Republic, Botswana, Namibia, and Congo have the best relative environmental performance overall. Structural equation models indicate that increasing population density and overall economic activity (per capita gross domestic product corrected for purchasing-power parity) are the most strongly correlated with greater environmental degradation, while greater wealth inequality (Gini index) correlates with better environmental performance. This represents the first Africa-scale assessment of the socio-economic correlates of environmental degradation, and suggests that dedicated family planning to reduce population growth, and economic development that limits agricultural expansion (cf. intensification) are needed to support environmental sustainability. © 2019, The Author(s).
Source title: Scientific Reports
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45762-3
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85067916743&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-019-45762-3&partnerID=40&md5=b09d6792bb2aab0a3ab6a4d5f9c868eb
Correspondence Address: Bradshaw, C.J.A.; Global Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Australia; email: corey.bradshaw@flinders.edu.au
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Central Africa ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Humans ; Environment
Subtopic: Demography ; Income-generating activities ; Agriculture ; Land use / cover ; Deforestation ; Crops

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Abstract: Protected areas (PAs) are currently the cornerstones for biodiversity conservation in many regions of the world. Within Africa's moist forest areas, however, numerous PAs are under significant threats from anthropogenic activities. Adequate technical and human resources are required to manage the wildlife within PAs satisfactorily. SMART (Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Tool) software has been developed to aid in fluidly displaying, managing, and reporting on ranger patrol data. These data can be analysed using spatial modelling to inform decision-making. Here we use Favourability Function modelling to generate risk maps from the data gathered on threats (fire, poaching and deforestation) and the presence of Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) in the Dja Forest Reserve (DFR), southern Cameroon. We show that the more favourable areas for the three study species are found within the core of the DFR, particularly for elephant. Favourable areas for fires and deforestation are mostly along the periphery of the reserve, but highly favourable areas for poaching are concentrated in the middle of the reserve, tracking the favourable areas for wildlife. Models such as the ones we use here can provide valuable insights to managers to highlight vulnerable areas within protected areas and guide actions on the ground. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Biological Conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.12.015
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85058823024&doi=10.1016%2fj.biocon.2018.12.015&partnerID=40&md5=c724109321886e3812ab4af8d5f05e74
Correspondence Address: Fa, J.E.; Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityUnited Kingdom; email: jfa949@gmail.com
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Dja
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Conservation initiatives ; Periphery / Management ; Hunting / Poaching ; Agriculture

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Abstract: The spatial distribution of species has long sparked interest among ecologists and biogeographers, increasingly so in studies of species responses to climate change. However, field studies on spatial patterns of distribution, useful to inform conservation actions at local scales, are still lacking for many regions, especially the tropics. We studied elevational trends and species-area relationships among anurans in wetland habitats within Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Rwanda, part of the biodiverse Albertine Rift region. In VNP, wetlands are key sites for anuran reproduction, and anurans are likely threatened by wetland desiccation which has occurred for the last few decades. Between 2012 and 2017, we sampled anuran communities in ten VNP wetlands located along an elevational gradient of c. 600 m (from 2,546 to 3,188 m a.s.l.) and found at least eight species, including at least two Albertine Rift Endemics. We show that species richness, diversity, and abundance likely decline with a decrease in wetland size and with an increase in elevation, though additional sampling (e.g., at night) might be needed to derive definite conclusions. Larger wetlands at lower elevations contained most species and individuals, which indicates the potential threat of wetland size reduction (through desiccation) for anuran conservation. However, we also found that wetlands differed in species composition and that some species (e.g., Sclerophrys kisoloensis) were likely restricted in distribution to only a few of the smaller wetlands—suggesting that the conservation of each individual wetland should be prioritized, regardless of size. We propose that all wetlands in VNP require additional conservation measures, which should be based on knowledge gathered through long-term monitoring of anuran communities and research on drivers of wetland decline. Only such extended research will allow us to understand the response of anurans in VNP to threats such as climate change and wetland desiccation. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source title: Ecology and Evolution
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5054
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85063012602&doi=10.1002%2fece3.5054&partnerID=40&md5=2905d173a65cd941777547701d50a6c2
Correspondence Address: van der Hoek, Y.; The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund InternationalRwanda; email: yvanderhoek@gorillafund.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Volcans
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Amphibians ; Diversity ; Abundance ; Biology / Ecology ; Survey / Monitoring

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Abstract: We investigated how local and landscape variables influence the structure and richness of land-snail communities in a savanna ecosystem. The land-snail species richness in the Akagera savanna in Rwanda is smaller than in nearby rainforests. Generalized linear models indicated that the diversity of land-snail communities in the savanna is most strongly affected by a landscape variable, the distance from the escarpment where remnants of the former rainforests persist. The number and abundance of rare species decline more strongly with increasing distance from the escarpment than that of the frequent species that are supposedly better adapted to the drier habitats in the savanna. Actually, the number and abundance of rare species are also more strongly dependent on precipitation and the distance from the next stream than that of the frequent species. This indicates that the snail fauna of the Akagera savanna represents a metacommunity that depends on the spillover of immigrants from the richer fauna of the adjacent rainforests. Streams are probably the most important pathways for dispersal of land-snails. Given the low dispersal abilities of land-snails the spatial scale of the influence of the rainforests on the savanna is surprising. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Source title: Journal of Arid Environments
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.09.002
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053136448&doi=10.1016%2fj.jaridenv.2018.09.002&partnerID=40&md5=b421918a5a3d15080fe6d401a8446da7
Correspondence Address: Hausdorf, B.; Zoological Museum, Center of Natural History, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, Germany; email: hausdorf@zoologie.uni-hamburg.de
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Rwanda ;
Protected area: Akagera
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Biology / Ecology ; Diversity ; Abundance

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Abstract: [No abstract available]
Source title: African Journal of Ecology
DOI: 10.1111/aje.12616
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064636406&doi=10.1111%2faje.12616&partnerID=40&md5=2a73172a9a881377c162e2381f4f90e2
Correspondence Address: Loudon, J.E.; Department of Anthropology, East Carolina UniversityUnited States; email: loudonj@ecu.edu
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Lomako-Yokokala
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Primates ; Biology / Ecology

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Abstract: The Guinean forests of West Africa (GFWA) region is of highest conservation value in Africa and worldwide. The aims of this review are to systematically identify and collate studies focusing on the environment in the region. We found that, after Google Scholar search, in over 112,000 results for 17 disciplines, three countries (Nigeria, Cameroon and Togo) were subjected to much more investigations than the other countries. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were the least studied countries, and overall there was a significant West to East increasing trend for all seven considered disciplines (Ecology, Zoology, Botany, Conservation biology, Pollution, Climate change and Ecological economy) in terms of number of results. Within ‘Ecology’ ‘macroecology and biodiversity’ was the most studied subdiscipline. Baseline taxonomic studies in ‘Zoology’ and ‘Botany’ received little interest, particularly in 2006–2016. For ‘Conservation biology’, studies focusing on ‘protected areas’ were more numerous than for any other subsector, followed by ‘biodiversity surveys’. Our analysis revealed that there were significantly more studies focusing on forests than on mangrove areas. Our results pointed out that, there is an urgent need for more rigorous taxonomical and fine-scale distribution studies of organisms across the whole region, not only for the traditionally overlooked groups (e.g. invertebrates). It is also stressed that studies of macropatterns in conservation biology research for the region should be performed by more reliable data at the more local scale, given the misuse that has been done by general studies of these limited/biased data for inferring patterns. Long-term longitudinal studies on biodiversity patterns of important forest sites and population biology of selected populations are urgently needed, as these have been almost entirely neglected to date. Crucial issues are still to be solved: for instance, it remains fully unresolved whether wildlife can best be protected through the promotion of human economic development or through integral conservation of important biodiversity areas. © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS
Source title: Acta Oecologica
DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2017.08.006
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85028364626&doi=10.1016%2fj.actao.2017.08.006&partnerID=40&md5=280bd2be4cea3007f261e8ed528c00b1
Correspondence Address: Luiselli, L.; IDECC - Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, Italy; email: l.luiselli@ideccngo.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Cameroon ; São Tomé and Príncipe ;
Protected area: Many
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans ; Environment
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Plants ; Biology / Ecology ; Taxonomy ; Invertebrates ; Survey / Monitoring ; Conservation initiatives ; Income-generating activities ; Pollution ; Climate

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Abstract: There is a lot of interest in the contribution that agroforestry can make to reverse land degradation and create resilient multifunctional landscapes that provide a range of socio-economic benefits. The agroforestry research agenda has been characterized by approaches that promote a few priority tree species, within a restricted set of technological packages. These have often not spread widely beyond project sites, because they fail to take account of fine scale variation in farmer circumstances. New methods are needed to generate diverse sets of agroforestry options that can reconcile production and conservation objectives and embrace varying local conditions across large scaling domains. Here, we document a novel approach that couples local knowledge acquisition with structured stakeholder engagement to build an inclusive way of designing agroforestry options. We applied this approach in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where armed conflict, erratic governance and poverty have resulted in severe pressure on forests in the Virunga National Park, a global biodiversity hotspot. Around the park, natural resources and land are severely degraded, whereas most reforestation interventions have consisted of exotic monocultures dominated by Eucalyptus species grown as energy or timber woodlots mainly by male farmers with sufficient land to allocate some exclusively to trees. We found that structured stakeholder engagement led to a quick identification of a much greater diversity of trees (more than 70 species) to be recommended for use within varied field, farm and landscape niches, serving the interests of a much greater diversity of people, including women and marginalized groups. The process also identified key interventions to improve the enabling environment required to scale up the adoption of agroforestry. These included improving access to quality tree planting material, capacity strengthening within the largely non-governmental extension system, and collective action to support value capture from agroforestry products, through processing and market interventions. Integrating local and global scientific knowledge, coupled with facilitating broad-based stakeholder participation, resulted in shifting from reliance on a few priority tree species to promoting tree diversity across the Virunga landscape that could underpin more productive and resilient livelihoods. The approach is relevant for scaling up agroforestry more generally. © 2016 Cambridge University Press.
Source title: Experimental Agriculture
DOI: 10.1017/S0014479716000788
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85010972981&doi=10.1017%2fS0014479716000788&partnerID=40&md5=e8b515be0606c628fa8bc4644b5de735
Correspondence Address: Dumont, E.S.; World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), United Nations Avenue, Kenya; email: e.smith@cgiar.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Protected area: Virunga
Main topic: Humans
Subtopic: Governance / Policy ; Periphery / Management ; Agriculture ; Conservation initiatives ; Perceptions / Behaviors ; Armed conflicts

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Abstract: The taxonomy of the freshwater crab genus Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, is reviewed based on type material and newly obtained specimens from three different localities in southwestern Cameroon. The genus is endemic to Cameroon and previously included two species: L. edeaensis (Bott, 1969) (type species) from Lake Ossa wetland complex (altitudes below 400 m asl) and L. balssi (Bott, 1959) from Kumba and Mt. Manengouba (altitudes above 1300 m asl). Here two new species of Louisea are described based on morphological and/or genetic data: L. nkongsamba sp. nov. from the Nlonako Ecological Reserve (1000–1400 m asl) in the sub-montane zone and L. yabassi sp. nov. from Yabassi in the lowlands. A redescription and amended diagnostic features of L. edeaensis and L. balssi are provided, and the genus diagnosis is updated to accommodate all four species. An identification key is also provided for the species of Louisea. A tree of phylogenetic relationships based on three mtDNA loci (COI, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA) supports the taxonomic revision, and indicates speciation of Louisea species along an altitudinal gradient, but further phylogenetic analyses are needed to understand whether this can lend support to the hypothesis that there is a montane centre of speciation along the Cameroon Volcanic Line. The phylogenetic tree also shows that Buea Cumberlidge, Mvogo Ndongo, Clark & Daniels, 2019 and Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992 are sister genera that may be derived from the Louisea lineage. © Pierre A. Mvogo Ndongo et al.
Source title: ZooKeys
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.881.36744
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074164192&doi=10.3897%2fzookeys.881.36744&partnerID=40&md5=d7de814d2382dad46c28457e6fc54de6
Correspondence Address: Ndongo, P.A.M.; Department of Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Douala at Yabassi, PO. BOX. 7236, Cameroon; email: mpierrearmand@yahoo.fr
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Article
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Lac Ossa ; Korup ; Bakossi
Main topic: Biodiversity
Subtopic: Animals ; Invertebrates ; Taxonomy ; Biology / Ecology ; Genetics

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Abstract: The North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro, NC, USA) has been actively involved with field-based conservation initiatives targeting wild elephants in Africa for over 20 years. To overcome resource and logistical constraints faced by our African collaborators working in rural areas, the Zoo has helped to develop several emerging techniques and technologies. The Zoo's oldest field programme, which is still ongoing, uses novel anaesthesia techniques to fit satellite-tracking collars on elephants in the field to gain a better understanding of their movement patterns in West and Central Africa. In addition, rangers use the real-time tracking data generated from these collars as an early-warning system to redirect roaming elephants back to protected areas before they come into conflict with human activities. The Zoo is also strengthening capacity for anti-poaching activities by digitizing and standardizing patrol data collection. To this end, the Zoo has supported the development and implementation of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) conservation software, a freely available and fully customizable package that allows patrol data to be collected on handheld devices such as smartphones, from where it can be imported into computers for automated analysis and report generation. To date, the Zoo has helped implement SMART at 14 protected areas in five African countries, several of which contain substantial elephant populations. To ensure the effectiveness and sustainable use of these technologies, ongoing training and technical support are provided, and are considered vital components of all our field programmes. © 2019 The Zoological Society of London
Source title: International Zoo Yearbook
DOI: 10.1111/izy.12216
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064008179&doi=10.1111%2fizy.12216&partnerID=40&md5=658bfb802ca3b2e0b32baeb6bf04c16c
Correspondence Address: Kendall, C.J.; North Carolina Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, United States; email: corinne.kendall@nczoo.org
Language of Original Document: English
Access Type: Review
Country: ; Cameroon ;
Protected area: Mont Cameroun ; Waza ; Many
Main topic: Biodiversity ; Humans
Subtopic: Animals ; Vertebrates ; Mammals ; Ungulates ; Elephants ; Survey / Monitoring ; Biology / Ecology ; Conservation initiatives ; Human-wildlife conflicts ; Hunting / Poaching

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Abstract: Elevation gradients in tropical forests have been studied but the analysis of patterns displayed by species richness and elevation have received little attention. We examined whether the effect of elevation on species richness varies according to forest lifeforms and the main plant families in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, within the Albertine Rift. We established 20 1-ha plots from 810 to 2760 m asl. Inside each plot, species inventories were carried out within three nested sub-plots: the tree lifeform (i.e. species with a dbh ? 10 cm), the shrub lifeform (dbh < 10 cm) and the herbaceous lifeform. For trees and shrubs (woody lifeforms) abundance data (i.e. number of individuals per species) were taken into account whereas the herbaceous lifeform was surveyed using presence–absence data. We plotted species counts vs elevation for each of the ten richest families per forest lifeform and resorted to Poisson regression models to assess the statistical meanings of the displayed results. Hurdle models (truncated Poisson regression) were used to account for overdispersion in the data. For woody lifeforms, we observed a monotonic decrease of species richness, while species richness appeared to be increasing with elevation for the herbaceous lifeform. Woody lifeforms displayed various vegetation patterns according to the considered families, therefore, contrasting with the general pattern observed in the herbaceous lifeform. These findings suggest the existence of specific eco-physiological properties pertaining to each forest lifeform and the existence of family-specific elevation patterns of species richness. © 2019, International Society for Tropical Ecology.
Source title: Tropical Ecology
DOI: 10.1007/s42965-019-00050-z
Link: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075893654&doi=10.1007%2fs42965-019-00050-z&partnerID=40&md5=46259c9b1f01426e0d26acf070750c6a
Correspondence Address: Cirimwami, L.; Faculté des Sciences, Université du CinquantenaireDemocratic Republic Congo; email: legrand.cirimwami@unikis.ac.cd
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 ; Abundance