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Mfossa DM, Gazagne E, Gray RJ, Ketchen ME, Abwe EA, Beudels-Jamar RC, Tchouamo RI, Brotcorne F. Montane grassland resources drive gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) nesting behaviors in the Ebo forest, Littoral Region, Cameroon. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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Fotang C, Bröring U, Roos C, Enoguanbhor EC, Dutton P, Tédonzong LRD, Willie J, Yuh YG, Birkhofer K. Environmental and anthropogenic effects on the nesting patterns of Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees in North-West Cameroon. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23312. [PMID: 34343361 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Environmental conditions and human activity influence the selection of nest sites by chimpanzees and may have serious conservation implications. We examined the characteristics of nesting trees preferred by chimpanzees, investigated the effect of vegetation composition and topography on nest site locations and seasonality on nesting heights of chimpanzees, and verified the effect of predator occurrence and human activity on the nesting behavior of the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve (KWFR) and surrounding unprotected forest in Cameroon. We recorded 923 nests, 502 signs of human activity, and 646 nesting trees along line transects and recces (reconnaissance) for two seasons. We found that chimpanzees constructed more arboreal nests on tall primary trees with high lowest branch height and large diameter at breast height. Moreover, they oriented their nests within trees in the slope direction when the nesting trees were located on slopes. Additionally, the occurrence of chimpanzee nests was positively related to increasing elevation and slope and decreased with distance to primary forest. In contrast, the number of nests increased with distance to secondary forest, open land, and villages, and nesting height was not influenced by seasons. While we recorded no signs of large nocturnal chimpanzee predators at nesting trees, we found signs of hunting activity at nesting locations. Nesting high in trees is likely a way of avoiding hunting, while nest orientation within trees in slope direction shortens escape routes from human hunters. Our findings suggest that chimpanzees select safe trees (tall trees with high lowest branch height) located in nesting areas (primary forest, high elevation, and steep slopes) that are not easily accessible by humans. Therefore, conservation efforts should focus on protecting primary forests at high elevation and steep slopes and reducing human impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chefor Fotang
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
| | - Udo Bröring
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
| | - Christian Roos
- German Primate Centre Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Gene Bank of Primates and Primate Genetics, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Evidence C Enoguanbhor
- Department of Geography, Humboldt University of Berlin, Applied Geoinformation Science Laboratory Berlin, Brandenburg, Germany
| | - Paul Dutton
- Independent Researcher, Waikato, New Zealand
| | - Luc R D Tédonzong
- Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jacob Willie
- Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yisa G Yuh
- Hochschule fur nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde, Forestry and Environment, Eberswalde, Germany.,Szkola Glowna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Warszawa, Poland.,Concordia University Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
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Laudisoit A, Huyghe P, Willie J, Ndjoku B, Scholier T, Dz'na J, Tagg N, Maher S, Mande C, Hoda T, Hicks TC, Baelo P, Kpanyogo O, Ndjango Ngbathe G, Crispin Gembu G, Omatoko J, Asimonyio Anio J, Leirs H, Verheyen E. Chimpanzees surviving in a fragmented high‐altitude forest landscape of the Congolese Albertine Rift. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Laudisoit
- EcoHealth Alliance New York New York USA
- Department Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Pierre Huyghe
- Department Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Jacob Willie
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit Ghent University Ghent Belgium
- The Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium
| | - Bienvenu Ndjoku
- Faculty of Sciences, Biodiversity Monitoring Centre (CSB) University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Tiffany Scholier
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Finland
| | - Jérôme Dz'na
- Higher Technical and Pedagogical Institute of Rethy Ituri Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Nikki Tagg
- The Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium
| | | | - Claude Mande
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Ecology and Wildlife Management University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Bogor (Barat) Indonesia
| | - Tara Hoda
- EcoHealth Alliance New York New York USA
| | | | - Pascal Baelo
- Faculty of Sciences, Biodiversity Monitoring Centre (CSB) University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Oti Kpanyogo
- Civil Society of the Ituri Province Rethy Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Guy Crispin Gembu
- Faculty of Sciences, Biodiversity Monitoring Centre (CSB) University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Ecology and Wildlife Management University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Joseph Omatoko
- Faculty of Sciences, Biodiversity Monitoring Centre (CSB) University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Justin Asimonyio Anio
- Faculty of Sciences, Biodiversity Monitoring Centre (CSB) University of Kisangani Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Department Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Erik Verheyen
- Department Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Brussels Belgium
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Elenga G, Bonenfant C, Péron G. Distance sampling of duikers in the rainforest: Dealing with transect avoidance. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240049. [PMID: 33031377 PMCID: PMC7544111 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bushmeat is a major source of protein and income in tropical regions but is often over-harvested. A better monitoring of bushmeat stocks could help achieve sustainability. We used a combination of simulations and transect survey data collected from blue duikers (Philantomba monticola) in the Lomako wildlife reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to investigate the use of transect-based distance sampling to monitor bushmeat stocks. The comparison of dung piles and direct observations of duikers evidenced that animals avoided both the transects in the absence of observers, and the observers themselves. This type of behavioural response appeared common in a literature survey. It causes a negative bias in the estimates of population densities from the standard distance sampling methodology. This negative bias would lead to over-pessimistic predictions of population viability, especially if the behavioural response is more intense in the locations where the animals are hunted. In turn, this would lead to excessively conservative management recommendations. To correct for the effect of the behavioural response of the animals to either the transects or the observers, we recommend recording both the forward and perpendicular distances to the observers (2D distance sampling), not just the perpendicular distance. We also recommend multiple-observer protocols. As a cautionary note, we also demonstrate a scenario where the intensity of the behavioural response is too high to reliably estimate the abundance of the population. As a perspective, we outline the general principles of a local stakeholder-based program combining distance sampling with less intensive types of ecological indicators to monitor wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaïus Elenga
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
- Department of the Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Christophe Bonenfant
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Guillaume Péron
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
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Tédonzong LRD, Willie J, Tagg N, Tchamba MN, Angwafo TE, Keuko AMP, Kuenbou JK, Petre C, Lens L. The distribution of plant consumption traits across habitat types and the patterns of fruit availability suggest a mechanism of coexistence of two sympatric frugivorous mammals. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4473-4494. [PMID: 31031921 PMCID: PMC6476771 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms governing the coexistence of organisms is an important question in ecology, and providing potential solutions contributes to conservation science. In this study, we evaluated the contribution of several mechanisms to the coexistence of two sympatric frugivores, using western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in a tropical rainforest of southeast Cameroon as a model system. We collected great ape fecal samples to determine and classify fruit species consumed; we conducted great ape nest surveys to evaluate seasonal patterns of habitat use; and we collected botanical data to investigate the distribution of plant species across habitat types in relation to their "consumption traits" (which indicate whether plants are preferred or fallback for either gorilla, chimpanzee, or both). We found that patterns of habitat use varied seasonally for both gorillas and chimpanzees and that gorilla and chimpanzee preferred and fallback fruits differed. Also, the distribution of plant consumption traits was influenced by habitat type and matched accordingly with the patterns of habitat use by gorillas and chimpanzees. We show that neither habitat selection nor fruit preference alone can explain the coexistence of gorillas and chimpanzees, but that considering together the distribution of plant consumption traits of fruiting woody plants across habitats as well as the pattern of fruit availability may contribute to explaining coexistence. This supports the assumptions of niche theory with dominant and subordinate species in heterogeneous landscapes, whereby a species may prefer nesting in habitats where it is less subject to competitive exclusion and where food availability is higher. To our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the contribution of plant consumption traits, seasonality, and habitat heterogeneity to enabling the coexistence of two sympatric frugivores. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.ms65f29.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Roscelin Dongmo Tédonzong
- Projet Grands Singes (PGS), Cameroun, Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC)Royal Zoological Society of Antwerpen (RZSA)AntwerpenBelgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of BiologyGhent University (UGent)GhentBelgium
- Department of ForestryUniversity of DschangDschangCameroon
| | - Jacob Willie
- Projet Grands Singes (PGS), Cameroun, Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC)Royal Zoological Society of Antwerpen (RZSA)AntwerpenBelgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of BiologyGhent University (UGent)GhentBelgium
| | - Nikki Tagg
- Projet Grands Singes (PGS), Cameroun, Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC)Royal Zoological Society of Antwerpen (RZSA)AntwerpenBelgium
| | | | - Tsi Evaristus Angwafo
- Department of ForestryUniversity of DschangDschangCameroon
- Department of Fundamental SciencesThe University of Bamenda, HTTTCBambiliCameroon
| | - Ada Myriane Patipe Keuko
- Projet Grands Singes (PGS), Cameroun, Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC)Royal Zoological Society of Antwerpen (RZSA)AntwerpenBelgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of BiologyGhent University (UGent)GhentBelgium
- Department of ForestryUniversity of DschangDschangCameroon
| | - Jacques Keumo Kuenbou
- Projet Grands Singes (PGS), Cameroun, Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC)Royal Zoological Society of Antwerpen (RZSA)AntwerpenBelgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of BiologyGhent University (UGent)GhentBelgium
- Department of ForestryUniversity of DschangDschangCameroon
| | - Charles‐Albert Petre
- Projet Grands Singes (PGS), Cameroun, Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC)Royal Zoological Society of Antwerpen (RZSA)AntwerpenBelgium
- Laboratory of Tropical ForestryUniversity of LiègeGembloux Agro‐Bio TechLiègeBelgium
- Conservation Biology Unit, Directorate Natural EnvironmentRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of BiologyGhent University (UGent)GhentBelgium
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Tagg N, McCarthy M, Dieguez P, Bocksberger G, Willie J, Mundry R, Stewart F, Arandjelovic M, Widness J, Landsmann A, Agbor A, Angedakin S, Ayimisin AE, Bessone M, Brazzola G, Corogenes K, Deschner T, Dilambaka E, Eno-Nku M, Eshuis H, Goedmakers A, Granjon AC, Head J, Hermans V, Jones S, Kadam P, Kambi M, Langergraber KE, Lapeyre V, Lapuente J, Lee K, Leinert V, Maretti G, Marrocoli S, Meier A, Nicholl S, Normand E, Ormsby LJ, Piel A, Robinson O, Sommer V, Ter Heegde M, Tickle A, Ton E, van Schijndel J, Vanleeuwe H, Vergnes V, Wessling E, Wittig RM, Zuberbuehler K, Kuehl H, Boesch C. Nocturnal activity in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Evidence for flexible sleeping patterns and insights into human evolution. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 166:510-529. [PMID: 29989158 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated occurrences and patterns of terrestrial nocturnal activity in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and modelled the influence of various ecological predictors on nocturnal activity. METHODS Data were extracted from terrestrial camera-trap footage and ecological surveys from 22 chimpanzee study sites participating in the Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee. We described videos demonstrating nocturnal activity, and we tested the effects of the percentage of forest, abundance of predators (lions, leopards and hyenas), abundance of large mammals (buffalos and elephants), average daily temperature, rainfall, human activity, and percent illumination on the probability of nocturnal activity. RESULTS We found terrestrial nocturnal activity to occur at 18 of the 22 study sites, at an overall average proportion of 1.80% of total chimpanzee activity, and to occur during all hours of the night, but more frequently during twilight hours. We found a higher probability of nocturnal activity with lower levels of human activity, higher average daily temperature, and at sites with a larger percentage of forest. We found no effect of the abundance of predators and large mammals, rainfall, or moon illumination. DISCUSSION Chimpanzee terrestrial nocturnal activity appears widespread yet infrequent, which suggests a consolidated sleeping pattern. Nocturnal activity may be driven by the stress of high daily temperatures and may be enabled at low levels of human activity. Human activity may exert a relatively greater influence on chimpanzee nocturnal behavior than predator presence. We suggest that chimpanzee nocturnal activity is flexible, enabling them to respond to changing environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki Tagg
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maureen McCarthy
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Dieguez
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Jacob Willie
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Department, University of Gent, Belgium
| | - Roger Mundry
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fiona Stewart
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mimi Arandjelovic
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jane Widness
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Anja Landsmann
- University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anthony Agbor
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Samuel Angedakin
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Mattia Bessone
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gregory Brazzola
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Henk Eshuis
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Josephine Head
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Veerle Hermans
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sorrel Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
| | - Parag Kadam
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mohamed Kambi
- Pennsylvania State University (USA), Tanzania Program, c/o Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Kilombero, Tanzania
| | - Kevin E Langergraber
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Vincent Lapeyre
- Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
| | - Juan Lapuente
- Comoé Chimpanzee Conservation Project, Comoé Research Station, Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biozentrum, Universität Würzburg Tierökologie und Tropenbiologie (Zoologie III), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kevin Lee
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Vera Leinert
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Giovanna Maretti
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sergio Marrocoli
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Amelia Meier
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham
| | - Sonia Nicholl
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Lucy Jayne Ormsby
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alex Piel
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Orume Robinson
- Korup Rainforest Conservation Society, Mundemba, Cameroon, Africa
| | - Volker Sommer
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martijn Ter Heegde
- KfW Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Forest Management Program for GFA Consulting Group, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
| | - Alexander Tickle
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Els Ton
- Chimbo Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Virginie Vergnes
- Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
| | - Erin Wessling
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse des Recherche Scientifique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
| | | | - Hjalmar Kuehl
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christophe Boesch
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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Estimating Encounter Rates and Densities of Three Lemur Species in Northeastern Madagascar. INT J PRIMATOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-016-9906-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Tagg N, Willie J, Duarte J, Petre CA, Fa JE. Conservation research presence protects: a case study of great ape abundance in the Dja region, Cameroon. Anim Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Tagg
- Centre for Research and Conservation; Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
| | - J. Willie
- Centre for Research and Conservation; Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - J. Duarte
- Grupo de Biogeografía; Diversidad y Conservación; Departamento de Biología Animal; Facultad de Ciencias; University of Málaga; Málaga Spain
- Ofitecma; Málaga Spain
| | - C.-A. Petre
- Centre for Research and Conservation; Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
- Forest Resources Management; BIOSE Department; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Gembloux Belgium
- Conservation Biology Unit; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; Brussels Belgium
| | - J. E. Fa
- ICCS; Imperial College London; Ascot UK
- School of Science and the Environment; Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester UK
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research; CIFOR Headquarters; Bogor Indonesia
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Differences in dung beetle activity at western gorilla defecation sites in south-east Cameroon: implications for establishment of Uapaca spp. seedlings. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467414000753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:For endozoochorous seed dispersal systems, the extant dung beetle assemblage at seed deposition sites may influence site suitability as burial activity may change the probability that seeds germinate and seedlings establish. This study tested if the different conditions of the two main seed-deposition habitats of a western lowland gorilla population of south-east Cameroon (sleeping sites and old secondary forest) influenced dung beetle assemblages and consequently the seed relocation patterns. In March 2012, in both habitats, burial patterns (proportion and depth) were described in eight stations based on two 300-g experimental faeces with known number of Uapaca spp. seeds (N = 75) left for 48 h, and beetle assemblages were described based on one 48h-dung-baited pitfall trapping session in five of these stations. To assess the impact of burial pattern on seedling emergence, Uapaca seedling emergence trials were performed in a nursery (75 seeds per depth treatment). Assemblage at sleeping sites had a higher species richness (non-significant) and was significantly more abundant than in old secondary forests. Conversely, significantly more seeds were buried in old secondary forests than sleeping sites and at significantly greater depths (mean: 14.9 cm vs. 8.7 cm). As trials suggested that burial depth ≥7 cm prevented Uapaca seedling emergence, dung beetles are assumed to induce seed loss more strongly in old secondary forests than sleeping sites (20.5% vs. 6.7% of initial seed crop). The demonstration that dung beetles may exert a negative influence on seed fate overall, and that the degree to which this occurs may vary depending on habitat, highlights the complexity in determining the suitability of deposition sites for recruitment.
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Piel AK, Lenoel A, Johnson C, Stewart F. Deterring poaching in western Tanzania: The presence of wildlife researchers. Glob Ecol Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2014.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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Moore DL, Vigilant L. A population estimate of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Ugalla region using standard and spatially explicit genetic capture-recapture methods. Am J Primatol 2013; 76:335-46. [PMID: 24357255 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Population parameters such as size, density, and distribution of a species across a landscape are important metrics that inform conservation science and are key to management strategies. In this study, we used genetic capture-recapture methods to estimate the population size and density of the little-studied chimpanzees in the Ugalla region of western Tanzania. From 237 fecal samples collected non-invasively over a 10-month period, we identified a minimum of 113 individuals. Based on the two-innate rate method (TIRM) modeled in the software capwire, we obtained a maximum-likelihood estimate of 322 (CI 227-373) individuals over the 624 km(2) area surveyed. Using a spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) method, we estimated a population density of 0.25 (CI 0.16-0.38) individuals/km(2) . Observations of nests and search effort data revealed areas of more intense usage. The findings of this study are an important step in the characterization of the Ugalla chimpanzees, and substantially improve our understanding of the number of chimpanzees that occupy this savanna-woodland region at the easternmost extent of the geographic range of this endangered subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah L Moore
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas; Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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Tagg N, Willie J, Petre CA, Haggis O. Ground Night Nesting in Chimpanzees: New Insights from Central Chimpanzees(Pan troglodytes troglodytes)in South-East Cameroon. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2013; 84:362-83. [DOI: 10.1159/000353172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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