African Journal of Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Danger From the Sky? The Three-Dimensional Landscape of Risk of Habituated Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) From Aerial Predation","authors":"Michaël M. D. Bazelmans,&nbsp;Gregg Jansen van Rensburg,&nbsp;Ignas M. A. Heitkönig","doi":"10.1111/aje.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Predator–prey interactions are pivotal for ecosystem dynamics, with predators influencing prey not only through lethal events, but also through the establishment of a landscape of risk, that is, the spatial representation of how a prey population perceives predation risk. Habitat structure plays a crucial role in shaping this perception. A three-dimensional approach, both considering the horizontal as well as the vertical landscape dimensions has, thus far, been mostly overlooked. We hypothesize that primates in a savannah landscape perceive predation risk in a three-dimensional (3D) landscape, with both terrestrial and aerial predation risk influencing their spatial use of the environment, and that this perception is shaped by habitat structure. We employed giving-up density (GUD) as a proxy for perceived risk when foraging. A landscape of risk is observed in leafed trees, where in the central and bottom parts of the tree the lowest predation risk is perceived. When canopy cover is absent, the lowest perceived risk is on the ground instead of in the tree, indicating an impact of aerial predation risk. These findings underscore the importance of 3D landscapes and habitat structure in shaping prey spatial behaviour, demonstrating that habitat use is adjusted in response to both terrestrial and aerial threats.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70057","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overview of a Game Bird Species Introduced to Reunion Island in the 18th Century, the Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)","authors":"Lucie Gauchet,&nbsp;Ugo Herpin,&nbsp;Damien Chiron,&nbsp;Serge Garnier","doi":"10.1111/aje.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Grey Francolin (<i>Francolinus pondicerianus</i>) was introduced to Reunion Island in the XVIIIth century for hunting purposes. This species is little known locally, as it has rarely been studied as other game birds on the island. The aim of this study was to define the current state of Grey Francolin populations on Reunion Island. We showed Grey Francolin's distribution area covers today 3500 ha and is made up of two isolated and geographically opposed zones on the island. One is located in the north of the island and is mostly made up of sugarcanes fields. The second, in the South, is a secondary dry forest. We estimated a density of 9.3 ± 2.0 singing males per km² and thus an abundance of 324 ± 41 singing males on Reunion Island. Density was higher in the southern secondary dry forest zone (10.5 ± 2.8 singing males per km²) than in the northern sugarcane fields (6.6 ± 2.0 singing males per km²). From the 1950s', the Grey Francolin's distribution has shrunk and become more fragmented. The main factors implicated are changes in farming practices (mechanisation, pesticides), excessive urbanisation and, to finish, excessive hunting and poaching (in the past).</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological Restoration in Semi-Arid Landscapes: Comparing Exclosures and Pasture for Vegetation, Soil Nutrients, and Carbon Stocks","authors":"Gedion Tsegay,&nbsp;George Lartey-Young,&nbsp;Marta Sibhat,&nbsp;Yun-Ze Gao,&nbsp;Xiang-Zhou Meng","doi":"10.1111/aje.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Land degradation in semi-arid regions poses a major threat to Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) by undermining ecosystem services and biodiversity. Although restoration strategies like exclosures are gaining attention, there remains a critical gap in quantifying their long-term ecological and carbon sequestration benefits, particularly in severely degraded landscapes such as Ethiopia's Tigray region. This study addresses that gap by comparing 15-year-old exclosures with adjacent open pasture using a mixed-methods approach. We assessed 62 plots (31 per land use type) for species diversity (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices), biomass (via allometric equations), soil properties (at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths), and carbon stocks, employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation. Results showed that exclosures significantly outperformed pasture, supporting 174 plant species versus 69, higher soil organic carbon (18.71 g/100 g vs. 15.91 g/100 g at 0–15 cm, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and greater above-ground biomass (40.72 t/ha vs. 14.24 t/ha, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). These findings underscore the potential of exclosures as a scalable and cost-effective strategy for restoring degraded semi-arid ecosystems, offering robust empirical evidence to inform national policy integration, advance SDG 15, and support climate change mitigation across similar regions globally.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143919717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Affordable Wildlife Monitoring. A New Approach to Line Transects Sampling From Vehicles","authors":"Stefano Focardi,&nbsp;Valentina La Morgia,&nbsp;Valerio Ventriglia,&nbsp;Edoardo Magherini,&nbsp;Mario Melletti","doi":"10.1111/aje.70049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70049","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Monitoring is essential for evidence-based wildlife conservation and management. Conventional distance sampling (CDS) represents a methodology of election for population assessment of large herbivores. CDS requires that (1) animals' distribution is uniform around the transects and (2) transects must be randomly distributed over the study area. Monitoring costs are usually lower by using cars moving along dirty roads, instead of walking randomly located transects, but this choice may introduce biases in the estimate, as ungulates may avoid roads, which in their turn are not randomly distributed across the landscape. To address both problems, we used bivariate distance sampling (collecting both forward and perpendicular distances) to estimate detection probability, thus correcting for road avoidance. The resulting detection function is used as input for Density Surface Models to correct for non-random line placement. We demonstrate this methodology by considering a pilot survey of impala (<i>Aepyceros melampus</i>) and common duiker (<i>Sylvicapra grimmia</i>) in the Sandwe GMA (Zambia). Potentially, this approach can mitigate biases and increase the precision of estimates. We discuss the possibility of applying the proposed methodology for routine wildlife monitoring in underfunded areas, in Africa and elsewhere. To assist practitioners, we provide an easy-to-use R script which implements statistical procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70049","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143919716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Amount of Organic Waste Affects the Composition and Interactions of Vertebrate Scavengers at Gambian Slaughterhouses","authors":"Michael Bode Agunbiade,&nbsp;Esteban Menares,&nbsp;Chefor Fotang,&nbsp;Mawdo Jallow,&nbsp;Fagimba Camara,&nbsp;Evidence Chinedu Enoguanbhor,&nbsp;Wakil Adebola Shittu,&nbsp;Darcy Ogada,&nbsp;Klaus Birkhofer","doi":"10.1111/aje.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Slaughterhouses in The Gambia serve as critical feeding sites for diverse vertebrate scavenger communities, including hooded vultures, domestic dogs, pigs and avian species such as pied crows, black kites and cattle egrets. This study investigated how the quantity and type of organic waste influence the composition and competitive interactions of scavengers across five slaughterhouses. Using multivariate statistical models, we found that waste quantity was the strongest predictor of scavenger community composition, explaining 32.7% of the variation, with hooded vultures being most abundant at high-waste sites. Specific waste types influenced feeding behaviour, suggesting niche differentiation among species; for instance, cattle egrets focused on blood and insects, while vultures dominated meat-based resources. Competitive interactions varied by species, with domestic dogs frequently displacing vultures without physical conflict, whereas hooded vultures dominated interactions against other birds. Activity patterns revealed temporal separation, with vultures and dogs active primarily in the morning, and other avian scavengers more active in the afternoon, reducing interspecific competition. The study highlights the essential role of hooded vultures in waste management and disease mitigation but also emphasises how poor fencing facilitates mammalian access, intensifying competition and potentially threatening obligate scavengers. Improving fencing, controlling feeding, and incorporating targeted waste management strategies are recommended to support scavenger conservation and enhance ecosystem services in urbanised environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70045","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143904938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond Description: Unlocking the Predictive Potential of African Ecology","authors":"Luca Luiselli,&nbsp;Nic Pacini","doi":"10.1111/aje.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ecology's strength lies in its ability to explain and predict interactions between organisms and their environment. However, African ecological research has historically been dominated by descriptive studies, focusing on biodiversity patterns, species distributions, and behavioural observations or monitoring of large mammal populations (especially in East African savannahs). This pattern has also traditionally characterised the African studies in community ecology. While valuable, these studies often fall short in providing predictive insights essential for addressing pressing ecological challenges such as climate change, species interactions and ecosystem resilience. We advocate for a paradigm shift in African community ecology—moving beyond description to hypothesis-driven, predictive research. Community ecology studies in Africa can transcend pattern documentation to uncover the mechanisms underlying ecological processes by integrating methodologies such as null models, Monte Carlo simulations and predictive modelling based upon data mining techniques. Predictive studies focusing on species interactions, community assembly and ecosystem functions have the potential to enhance both theoretical and applied ecological science, ensuring its global relevance. Curriculum reforms in ecological statistics and methodological training in African academic institutions will be crucial in fostering this transformation. As the <i>African Journal of Ecology</i> seeks to champion this transition, we urge researchers to embrace predictive frameworks that not only document biodiversity but also provide actionable insights into ecosystem dynamics. This could be achieved also by re-analysing long-term data sets that have been published in several less-distributed journals, often in other languages than English. This shift is critical to positioning African ecology at the forefront of the international ecological discourse, driving impactful conservation and management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70053","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143884132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Edge Influence on Avian Assemblages in an Isolated Tropical Coastal Forest Reserve, Tanzania","authors":"Jasson John,&nbsp;Flora J. Magige","doi":"10.1111/aje.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Anthropogenic pressure on isolated protected areas without buffer zones is more intense at boundaries and results in an increase in edge effects. These edge effects influence the distribution and composition of various organisms. In this study, we investigated changes in bird community composition and habitat variables along an edge-to-interior gradient in an isolated coastal nature forest reserve near Dar es Salaam. Birds and habitat variables were recorded at 147 sampling points across 49 systematically placed parallel transects in three habitat treatments (edge, near-edge and interior) to determine the response of the avian community to edge effects. In total, we detected 3249 individuals representing 136 species belonging to 46 bird families, with notable variation along the edge–interior gradient. Non-forest species and forest visitors dominated the bird community, accounting for 47% and 24% of detections, respectively. Although there was a variation in avian community along the gradient, the 200 and 400 m communities were not detectably different. The edge had less ground cover compared to areas beyond 200 m from the forest edge, but no edge–interior gradient changes were observed for vertical habitat structure. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explained around 63.3% of the total variance across two axes, and the PERMANOVA results indicated a statistically significant difference among the habitats (<i>F</i> = 2.8386, <i>p</i> = 0.022, <i>R</i>² = 0.03793) but the low <i>R</i>² implied that the effect size was small. Although forest bird species were positively associated with vertical habitat structure, low canopy height throughout the study area and the penetration of non-forest bird species into interior habitats served as an indicator of past anthropogenic disturbances. Thus, conservation efforts should be strengthened to allow vegetation recovery, particularly given the reserve's importance for forest species, including those endemic to the coastal forest belt of Eastern Africa.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143889000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effects of Illegal Wildlife Activities on Biodiversity in Few Selected African Countries","authors":"Ezekiel M. Goboro,&nbsp;Franco P. Mbise,&nbsp;Kelvin Ngongolo","doi":"10.1111/aje.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The African continent harbours a rich array of wildlife, crucial to the ecological balance and cultural heritage of the region. However, the detrimental impacts of illegal wildlife activities pose a significant threat to the biodiversity of Africa, endangering numerous species and disrupting fragile ecosystems. Therefore, this systematic review aims to (i) examine the impacts of illegal wildlife activities on biodiversity, ecosystems and local communities; (ii) assess key drivers and trends over the past decade; and (iii) evaluate the effectiveness of conservation strategies while proposing integrated interventions. By analysing peer-reviewed literature (2013–2022), the review showed the significant ecological, social and economic consequences of these activities on conservation. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the review applied rigorous inclusion criteria, ensuring methodological integrity. Relevant studies were sourced from SCOPUS, with article screening and data extraction conducted via CADIMA, underlining the comprehensive approach to assessing biodiversity threats. The review highlights the interconnected impacts of illegal wildlife activities on biodiversity, emphasising the need for stronger law enforcement, community involvement and international cooperation. It identifies knowledge gaps and calls for holistic interventions addressing both ecological and social aspects to protect Africa's biodiversity and promote sustainable coexistence. Despite a decrease in these activities over the past decade, continued efforts in law enforcement, community involvement and international cooperation are crucial. A comprehensive approach, integrating stricter regulations and sustainable economic alternatives, is essential to protect biodiversity and support local communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70055","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143889001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How Does a Common Fruit Bat Respond to Habitat and Environmental Variables Within an Isolated Green Zone of an African Urban Landscape?","authors":"Michael Adjei Ayeh,&nbsp;Kofi Amponsah-Mensah,&nbsp;Lars Haubye Holbech","doi":"10.1111/aje.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Given the high rate at which urban landscapes across Africa expand, continuous monitoring of adaptations and responses to ongoing habitat changes is a prerequisite for effective conservation management of key ecosystem components, hereunder important seed dispersers such as fruit bats. We used the widespread and habitat generalist Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat <i>Epomophorus gambianus</i> as an ecological model species and tested whether environmental variables linked to urbanisation were related to aspects of their roost and foraging behavioural ecology. Within an isolated green zone (the University of Ghana campus), situated in the otherwise heavily urbanised Accra, Ghana, a prime focus was assessing the relationship between habitat and environmental features as against roost and foraging behavioural ecology. We radio-tagged and tracked a total of 11 bats, thereby detecting 22 roosts and 16 foraging trees, in which repeated bat counts, as well as environmental variables, were recorded during 3–4 months in 2022. We show that <i>E. gambianus</i> preferred older, large, shady exotic teak, mango, and the West African legume <i>Millettia thonningii</i> as roost trees, whereas Coastal golden-leaf fruit <i>Bridelia micrantha</i> and mangoes were preferred for foraging. Female roost fidelity was relatively high, with females using fewer trees more evenly than males, indicating sexual dimorphism related to larger roost and foraging ranges, higher territoriality, and more opportunistic male reproductive traits.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143884133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Heavy Metals on Insect Pollinator Diversity in Zambia's Mufulira District Mining Area","authors":"Christopher Mulwanda,&nbsp;Ngawo Namukonde,&nbsp;Vincent R. Nyirenda","doi":"10.1111/aje.70052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Insect pollination relies on flowering plant quality, but pollutants disrupt this balance. We assessed heavy metal effects on insect pollinator diversity along a pollution gradient in Mufulira's district of the Copperbelt province, Zambia. Soil samples showed varying copper, lead, zinc and iron concentrations with distance from sources of mining pollution. Zone B, over 10 km from active mines into agricultural lands, had higher insect pollinator abundance and richness than Zone A, near active mines with heavy metals. Habitat loss from other anthropogenic activities (other than mining) reduced diversity in Zone B. Seasonal insect pollinator diversity variations were greatest in the cool-dry season. Conservation efforts should address mining pollution to protect insect pollinators.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143875575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}