Charles-Albert Petre - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Charles-Albert Petre
Folia Primatologica, 2013
Access to full text and tables of contents, including tentative ones for forthcoming issues: www.... more Access to full text and tables of contents, including tentative ones for forthcoming issues: www.karger.com/fpr_issues 64,
Data collected by recording individual fresh nests from April 2009 to April 2010 on 20 – 6 km tra... more Data collected by recording individual fresh nests from April 2009 to April 2010 on 20 – 6 km transects located at 300 m from each other. 4-a) Nest ID: the unique identifier of the nest 4-b) Species: the animal species (Gorilla, Chimpanzee) 4-c) Scientific name: the scientific name of the animal species (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes troglodytes) 4-d) Season: the season when the observation was made (Long dry season, long rainy season, short dry season, short rainy season) 4-e) Habitat type: Old secondary forest, Near primary forest, Young secondary forest, Swamp, Riparian forest, Light gap 4-f) Month: the month of observation 4-g) Year: the year of observatio
Aux termes de la loi belge du 30 juin 1994 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins, seul l'au... more Aux termes de la loi belge du 30 juin 1994 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins, seul l'auteur a le droit de reproduire partiellement ou complètement cet ouvrage de quelque façon et forme que ce soit ou d'en autoriser la reproduction partielle ou complète de quelque manière et sous quelque forme que ce soit. Toute photocopie ou reproduction sous autre forme est donc faite en violation de ladite loi et des modifications ultérieures. Copyright. According to the Belgian law of the 30th of June 1994, on the author right and associated rights, only the author has the right to partially or fully reproduce this manuscript in any way and any form possible and to authorisze the partial or full reproduction in any way and any form possible. Any copy or reproduction in a different way and form than above is therefore against the law and any modifications of this law. i Petre, Charles-Albert (2016). Efficacité de la dispersion des graines par le gorille des plaines de l'ouest (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) et relations plante-gorille mutualistes au sud-est Cameroun. Thèse de doctorat.
Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement, 2013
Impacts de l’exploitation forestiere et de la chasse sur les populations de gorille des plaines d... more Impacts de l’exploitation forestiere et de la chasse sur les populations de gorille des plaines de l’Ouest (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) et consequences pour la regeneration forestiere (synthese bibliographique). L’exploitation du bois d’œuvre se developpe rapidement a travers les forets du Bassin du Congo. Les surfaces devolues a l’exploitation forestiere ont rapidement augmente au cours des decennies et couvrent aujourd’hui une part importante de l’aire de distribution du gorille des plaines de l’Ouest (Gorilla gorilla gorilla Savage & Wyman, 1847). Or, cette espece en danger critique d’extinction (IUCN), pourrait jouer un role fondamental dans le maintien de la structure et de la composition des forets tropicales humides. Cela serait lie a une dispersion efficace des graines due au caractere frugivore marque de son regime alimentaire, aux temps de retention eleves des aliments ingeres, aux longues distances quotidiennes parcourues, a une capacite volumique stomacale importante et a s...
Animal Conservation, 2015
Research programmes have been shown to exert a positive impact on faunal communities, but few stu... more Research programmes have been shown to exert a positive impact on faunal communities, but few studies provide empirical evidence. In this study, we surveyed three neighbouring sites, differing in terms of official protection status and level of active management, in the Dja Conservation Complex, southeast Cameroon. We recorded signs of human activity and anthropogenic pressures and found that they significantly differed by site. We assessed chimpanzee and gorilla relative abundance using nest count surveys. We found that chimpanzee nest abundance was related to the presence of active management, but both active management and availability of suitable habitat affected gorilla nest abundance. Our results suggest that gorillas are more tolerant of human activity. We also provide evidence that the presence and activities of the conservation research project Projet Grands Singes served to actively deter poachers and limit hunting of great apes as a result of researcher presence, community sensitization and of valuing living apes and intact forests by local people. Such empirical evidence for the positive effect of research activity on biodiversity preservation should encourage continued investment in such programmes as part of a landscape-wide, multistakeholder conservation management of great ape habitats.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2015
Understanding the ecological function of large frugivores in tropical forests is important consid... more Understanding the ecological function of large frugivores in tropical forests is important considering their central position in seed-dispersal networks. This study illustrates the seed-dispersal effectiveness of a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) population in Cameroon by looking at the interaction of seed quantity, species regeneration traits and the environmental characteristics of the deposition sites (sleeping sites vs. feeding trails) in order to discuss the role of gorillas within the ecosystem. The analysis of 1030 faecal samples collected over a 3-y period (September 2009-August 2012) showed that gorillas dispersed a diverse array of species (58 spp. identified), with an average of 289 intact seeds (>5 mm) d −1 per individual. Seed damage during mouth and gut processing occurred for 12 spp., generally accounting for <5% of specific seed load. Germination trials suggested that germination success of passed seeds remained unchanged (N = 6 spp.) or improved (N = 5 spp.) after gut passage compared with hand-cleaned seeds, with one exception. Indicator species identification (IndVal method) and General Discriminant Analysis suggested that sleeping sites (N = 36), as a main type of seed deposition site, correspond to regenerating microhabitats and correspondingly degree of canopy openness is one variable discriminating significantly this type of deposition site with random locations in the forest (N = 36) used as a proxy for non-directed seed deposition on feeding trails. With a mean canopy openness of 19-27%, sleeping sites offer optimal light conditions for the seedling recruitment of non-pioneer light-demanding species, the seeds of which encompass 47.4% of the total seed load dispersed over the 3-y period. From this study, it is hypothesized that the gorilla performed directed-dispersal of some light-demanding plant species at sleeping sites, and hence, by being actively implicated in gap-phase dynamics, fulfils a valuable ecological function within its ecosystem.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2015
For endozoochorous seed dispersal systems, the extant dung beetle assemblage at seed deposition s... more 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 southeast 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.
Primates, 2013
We examined 834 nests built by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon between July 2008 and July 20... more We examined 834 nests built by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon between July 2008 and July 2011 to identify the plant species used in their construction. Preference for each plant species for nesting was assessed using a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;preference index&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; calculated by combining information on the occurrence of each species in the forest and in the nests. Forty-six plant species representing about 15 % of the total number of species in the forest and 26 % of species used for nest building were frequently used by gorillas. Preference levels significantly varied among these species. Nests were mostly built with herbs of the families Marantaceae and Zingiberaceae and woody species such as Manniophyton fulvum (liana) and Alchornea floribunda (shrub). As observed in other gorilla populations, suitability for nest building and availability of gorilla food in stems were the likely determinants of plant selection. The total number of species used per nest ranged from 1 to 11, with an average of 4.9. This is high compared to other sites, emphasizing variability in the availability of nest building materials and habitat differences across the range of the western gorilla. Seasonal changes in the use of different habitat types for nesting did not appear to influence plant use for nest building as there was little variation in plant selection across seasons or the composition of nests. Our findings suggest that gorillas non-randomly select plant species to build nests, and use a particular set of species combined at varying proportions, with no clear seasonal or spatial patterns.
Folia Primatologica, 2013
Some chimpanzee populations exhibit ground night nesting, which occurs in different habitat types... more Some chimpanzee populations exhibit ground night nesting, which occurs in different habitat types, is driven by a variety of interconnected factors, and may reflect cultural or social differences. This has important implications for ape conservation management, given that accurate nest builder identification is required to estimate density, crucial in monitoring, and allows inferences about environmental and social factors that may have contributed to the transition from tree to ground sleeping in early hominins. We conducted a 24-month marked nest count survey in La Belgique, Cameroon, and recorded the occurrence of chimpanzee tree and ground night nests, temperature and rainfall, predator and large mammal abundance, human activities, nesting tree species, and Uapaca spp. consumption. Ground night nesting occurred at a rate of 3.47% (n = 1,008), with more in swamps, in the dry season and with increasing human activities. We found no influence of leopard/elephant presence, but a pos...
Acta Oecologica, 2012
Data from forest herbaceous plants in a site of known species richness in Cameroon were used to t... more Data from forest herbaceous plants in a site of known species richness in Cameroon were used to test the performance of rarefaction and eight species richness estimators (ACE, ICE, Chao1, Chao2, Jack1, Jack2, Bootstrap and MM). Bias, accuracy, precision and sensitivity to patchiness and sample grain size were the evaluation criteria. An evaluation of the effects of sampling effort and patchiness on diversity estimation is also provided. Stems were identified and counted in linear series of 1-m 2 contiguous square plots distributed in six habitat types. Initially, 500 plots were sampled in each habitat type. The sampling process was monitored using rarefaction and a set of richness estimator curves. Curves from the first dataset suggested adequate sampling in riparian forest only. Additional plots ranging from 523 to 2143 were subsequently added in the undersampled habitats until most of the curves stabilized. Jack1 and ICE, the non-parametric richness estimators, performed better, being more accurate and less sensitive to patchiness and sample grain size, and significantly reducing biases that could not be detected by rarefaction and other estimators. This study confirms the usefulness of non-parametric incidence-based estimators, and recommends Jack1 or ICE alongside rarefaction while describing taxon richness and comparing results across areas sampled using similar or different grain sizes. As patchiness varied across habitat types, accurate estimations of diversity did not require the same number of plots. The number of samples needed to fully capture diversity is not necessarily the same across habitats, and can only be known when taxon sampling curves have indicated adequate sampling. Differences in observed species richness between habitats were generally due to differences in patchiness, except between two habitats where they resulted from differences in abundance. We suggest that communities should first be sampled thoroughly using appropriate taxon sampling curves before explaining differences in diversity.
African Journal of Ecology, 2012
ABSTRACT The study of forest herb availability improves knowledge of ecology and conservation of ... more ABSTRACT The study of forest herb availability improves knowledge of ecology and conservation of gorillas that depend on such herbs. Density patterns of herbs and location of western gorilla nest sites were studied in different habitat types at a site in south-east Cameroon to assess their relationship. Herb stems of the families Marantaceae and Zingiberaceae were identified and counted in 10,713 1-m2 plots distributed within six habitat types. Stem density correlated with light availability and ranged from 2.38stemsm2 in near primary forest to 4.66stemsm2 in light gaps. Gorillas showed marked preferences for habitats with high herb densities such as light gaps, swamps and young secondary forest. However, no clear relationship exists between terrestrial herbaceous vegetation and gorilla densities across Central Africa. It is suggested that differences in ecological factors and land use history within and between sites may explain differences in herb density and diversity which partly account for variations in the historical and present population distribution and density of western gorillas. Formerly logged and swamp forests, which are characterized by an abundance of herbs, may prove to be of great value in the conservation of western gorillas given appropriate forest management practices, adequate protection from poaching and limited human encroachment.
Folia Primatologica, 2013
DOI: 10.1159/000354129 328 5th Congress of the European Federation for Primatology Improving the ... more DOI: 10.1159/000354129 328 5th Congress of the European Federation for Primatology Improving the Accuracy of Monitoring Great Apes in the Wild: A Case Study from Southeast Cameroon Nikki Tagg a , Jacob Willie a, b , Charles-Albert Petre a, c a Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, b Ghent University, Ghent, and c Laboratoire de Foresterie des Régions Tropicales et Subtropicales, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium E-Mail: Nikki.tagg @ kmda.org
Folia Primatologica, 2013
Access to full text and tables of contents, including tentative ones for forthcoming issues: www.... more Access to full text and tables of contents, including tentative ones for forthcoming issues: www.karger.com/fpr_issues 64,
Data collected by recording individual fresh nests from April 2009 to April 2010 on 20 – 6 km tra... more Data collected by recording individual fresh nests from April 2009 to April 2010 on 20 – 6 km transects located at 300 m from each other. 4-a) Nest ID: the unique identifier of the nest 4-b) Species: the animal species (Gorilla, Chimpanzee) 4-c) Scientific name: the scientific name of the animal species (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes troglodytes) 4-d) Season: the season when the observation was made (Long dry season, long rainy season, short dry season, short rainy season) 4-e) Habitat type: Old secondary forest, Near primary forest, Young secondary forest, Swamp, Riparian forest, Light gap 4-f) Month: the month of observation 4-g) Year: the year of observatio
Aux termes de la loi belge du 30 juin 1994 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins, seul l'au... more Aux termes de la loi belge du 30 juin 1994 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins, seul l'auteur a le droit de reproduire partiellement ou complètement cet ouvrage de quelque façon et forme que ce soit ou d'en autoriser la reproduction partielle ou complète de quelque manière et sous quelque forme que ce soit. Toute photocopie ou reproduction sous autre forme est donc faite en violation de ladite loi et des modifications ultérieures. Copyright. According to the Belgian law of the 30th of June 1994, on the author right and associated rights, only the author has the right to partially or fully reproduce this manuscript in any way and any form possible and to authorisze the partial or full reproduction in any way and any form possible. Any copy or reproduction in a different way and form than above is therefore against the law and any modifications of this law. i Petre, Charles-Albert (2016). Efficacité de la dispersion des graines par le gorille des plaines de l'ouest (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) et relations plante-gorille mutualistes au sud-est Cameroun. Thèse de doctorat.
Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement, 2013
Impacts de l’exploitation forestiere et de la chasse sur les populations de gorille des plaines d... more Impacts de l’exploitation forestiere et de la chasse sur les populations de gorille des plaines de l’Ouest (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) et consequences pour la regeneration forestiere (synthese bibliographique). L’exploitation du bois d’œuvre se developpe rapidement a travers les forets du Bassin du Congo. Les surfaces devolues a l’exploitation forestiere ont rapidement augmente au cours des decennies et couvrent aujourd’hui une part importante de l’aire de distribution du gorille des plaines de l’Ouest (Gorilla gorilla gorilla Savage & Wyman, 1847). Or, cette espece en danger critique d’extinction (IUCN), pourrait jouer un role fondamental dans le maintien de la structure et de la composition des forets tropicales humides. Cela serait lie a une dispersion efficace des graines due au caractere frugivore marque de son regime alimentaire, aux temps de retention eleves des aliments ingeres, aux longues distances quotidiennes parcourues, a une capacite volumique stomacale importante et a s...
Animal Conservation, 2015
Research programmes have been shown to exert a positive impact on faunal communities, but few stu... more Research programmes have been shown to exert a positive impact on faunal communities, but few studies provide empirical evidence. In this study, we surveyed three neighbouring sites, differing in terms of official protection status and level of active management, in the Dja Conservation Complex, southeast Cameroon. We recorded signs of human activity and anthropogenic pressures and found that they significantly differed by site. We assessed chimpanzee and gorilla relative abundance using nest count surveys. We found that chimpanzee nest abundance was related to the presence of active management, but both active management and availability of suitable habitat affected gorilla nest abundance. Our results suggest that gorillas are more tolerant of human activity. We also provide evidence that the presence and activities of the conservation research project Projet Grands Singes served to actively deter poachers and limit hunting of great apes as a result of researcher presence, community sensitization and of valuing living apes and intact forests by local people. Such empirical evidence for the positive effect of research activity on biodiversity preservation should encourage continued investment in such programmes as part of a landscape-wide, multistakeholder conservation management of great ape habitats.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2015
Understanding the ecological function of large frugivores in tropical forests is important consid... more Understanding the ecological function of large frugivores in tropical forests is important considering their central position in seed-dispersal networks. This study illustrates the seed-dispersal effectiveness of a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) population in Cameroon by looking at the interaction of seed quantity, species regeneration traits and the environmental characteristics of the deposition sites (sleeping sites vs. feeding trails) in order to discuss the role of gorillas within the ecosystem. The analysis of 1030 faecal samples collected over a 3-y period (September 2009-August 2012) showed that gorillas dispersed a diverse array of species (58 spp. identified), with an average of 289 intact seeds (>5 mm) d −1 per individual. Seed damage during mouth and gut processing occurred for 12 spp., generally accounting for <5% of specific seed load. Germination trials suggested that germination success of passed seeds remained unchanged (N = 6 spp.) or improved (N = 5 spp.) after gut passage compared with hand-cleaned seeds, with one exception. Indicator species identification (IndVal method) and General Discriminant Analysis suggested that sleeping sites (N = 36), as a main type of seed deposition site, correspond to regenerating microhabitats and correspondingly degree of canopy openness is one variable discriminating significantly this type of deposition site with random locations in the forest (N = 36) used as a proxy for non-directed seed deposition on feeding trails. With a mean canopy openness of 19-27%, sleeping sites offer optimal light conditions for the seedling recruitment of non-pioneer light-demanding species, the seeds of which encompass 47.4% of the total seed load dispersed over the 3-y period. From this study, it is hypothesized that the gorilla performed directed-dispersal of some light-demanding plant species at sleeping sites, and hence, by being actively implicated in gap-phase dynamics, fulfils a valuable ecological function within its ecosystem.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2015
For endozoochorous seed dispersal systems, the extant dung beetle assemblage at seed deposition s... more 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 southeast 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.
Primates, 2013
We examined 834 nests built by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon between July 2008 and July 20... more We examined 834 nests built by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon between July 2008 and July 2011 to identify the plant species used in their construction. Preference for each plant species for nesting was assessed using a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;preference index&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; calculated by combining information on the occurrence of each species in the forest and in the nests. Forty-six plant species representing about 15 % of the total number of species in the forest and 26 % of species used for nest building were frequently used by gorillas. Preference levels significantly varied among these species. Nests were mostly built with herbs of the families Marantaceae and Zingiberaceae and woody species such as Manniophyton fulvum (liana) and Alchornea floribunda (shrub). As observed in other gorilla populations, suitability for nest building and availability of gorilla food in stems were the likely determinants of plant selection. The total number of species used per nest ranged from 1 to 11, with an average of 4.9. This is high compared to other sites, emphasizing variability in the availability of nest building materials and habitat differences across the range of the western gorilla. Seasonal changes in the use of different habitat types for nesting did not appear to influence plant use for nest building as there was little variation in plant selection across seasons or the composition of nests. Our findings suggest that gorillas non-randomly select plant species to build nests, and use a particular set of species combined at varying proportions, with no clear seasonal or spatial patterns.
Folia Primatologica, 2013
Some chimpanzee populations exhibit ground night nesting, which occurs in different habitat types... more Some chimpanzee populations exhibit ground night nesting, which occurs in different habitat types, is driven by a variety of interconnected factors, and may reflect cultural or social differences. This has important implications for ape conservation management, given that accurate nest builder identification is required to estimate density, crucial in monitoring, and allows inferences about environmental and social factors that may have contributed to the transition from tree to ground sleeping in early hominins. We conducted a 24-month marked nest count survey in La Belgique, Cameroon, and recorded the occurrence of chimpanzee tree and ground night nests, temperature and rainfall, predator and large mammal abundance, human activities, nesting tree species, and Uapaca spp. consumption. Ground night nesting occurred at a rate of 3.47% (n = 1,008), with more in swamps, in the dry season and with increasing human activities. We found no influence of leopard/elephant presence, but a pos...
Acta Oecologica, 2012
Data from forest herbaceous plants in a site of known species richness in Cameroon were used to t... more Data from forest herbaceous plants in a site of known species richness in Cameroon were used to test the performance of rarefaction and eight species richness estimators (ACE, ICE, Chao1, Chao2, Jack1, Jack2, Bootstrap and MM). Bias, accuracy, precision and sensitivity to patchiness and sample grain size were the evaluation criteria. An evaluation of the effects of sampling effort and patchiness on diversity estimation is also provided. Stems were identified and counted in linear series of 1-m 2 contiguous square plots distributed in six habitat types. Initially, 500 plots were sampled in each habitat type. The sampling process was monitored using rarefaction and a set of richness estimator curves. Curves from the first dataset suggested adequate sampling in riparian forest only. Additional plots ranging from 523 to 2143 were subsequently added in the undersampled habitats until most of the curves stabilized. Jack1 and ICE, the non-parametric richness estimators, performed better, being more accurate and less sensitive to patchiness and sample grain size, and significantly reducing biases that could not be detected by rarefaction and other estimators. This study confirms the usefulness of non-parametric incidence-based estimators, and recommends Jack1 or ICE alongside rarefaction while describing taxon richness and comparing results across areas sampled using similar or different grain sizes. As patchiness varied across habitat types, accurate estimations of diversity did not require the same number of plots. The number of samples needed to fully capture diversity is not necessarily the same across habitats, and can only be known when taxon sampling curves have indicated adequate sampling. Differences in observed species richness between habitats were generally due to differences in patchiness, except between two habitats where they resulted from differences in abundance. We suggest that communities should first be sampled thoroughly using appropriate taxon sampling curves before explaining differences in diversity.
African Journal of Ecology, 2012
ABSTRACT The study of forest herb availability improves knowledge of ecology and conservation of ... more ABSTRACT The study of forest herb availability improves knowledge of ecology and conservation of gorillas that depend on such herbs. Density patterns of herbs and location of western gorilla nest sites were studied in different habitat types at a site in south-east Cameroon to assess their relationship. Herb stems of the families Marantaceae and Zingiberaceae were identified and counted in 10,713 1-m2 plots distributed within six habitat types. Stem density correlated with light availability and ranged from 2.38stemsm2 in near primary forest to 4.66stemsm2 in light gaps. Gorillas showed marked preferences for habitats with high herb densities such as light gaps, swamps and young secondary forest. However, no clear relationship exists between terrestrial herbaceous vegetation and gorilla densities across Central Africa. It is suggested that differences in ecological factors and land use history within and between sites may explain differences in herb density and diversity which partly account for variations in the historical and present population distribution and density of western gorillas. Formerly logged and swamp forests, which are characterized by an abundance of herbs, may prove to be of great value in the conservation of western gorillas given appropriate forest management practices, adequate protection from poaching and limited human encroachment.
Folia Primatologica, 2013
DOI: 10.1159/000354129 328 5th Congress of the European Federation for Primatology Improving the ... more DOI: 10.1159/000354129 328 5th Congress of the European Federation for Primatology Improving the Accuracy of Monitoring Great Apes in the Wild: A Case Study from Southeast Cameroon Nikki Tagg a , Jacob Willie a, b , Charles-Albert Petre a, c a Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, b Ghent University, Ghent, and c Laboratoire de Foresterie des Régions Tropicales et Subtropicales, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium E-Mail: Nikki.tagg @ kmda.org