African Journal of Ecology最新文献

Assessment of the Spatial Pattern of Small Termite Mounds and Trees in Altered Lands in Benin (West Africa) 评估贝宁（西非）贫瘠土地上小白蚁丘和树木的空间格局

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-11-22 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13346

Babatokpè Calèb Babatunde, Elie Antoine Padonou, Franck Sinsin, Akomian Fortuné Azihou, Bokon Alexis Akakpo, Tiago de Zoeten

{"title":"Assessment of the Spatial Pattern of Small Termite Mounds and Trees in Altered Lands in Benin (West Africa)","authors":"Babatokpè Calèb Babatunde, Elie Antoine Padonou, Franck Sinsin, Akomian Fortuné Azihou, Bokon Alexis Akakpo, Tiago de Zoeten","doi":"10.1111/aje.13346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13346","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 Termite restore plant diversity and soil on altered lands in West Africa with particular abundance of small mound made by Trinervitermes trinervitus, Trinervitermes geminatus, Cubitermes spp. or Microcerotermes spp. The particular abundance of small mounds on altered lands suggests the existence of underlying abiotic and biotic factors. This study investigated the spatial patterns of termite mounds on the altered lands and its relationship with tree distribution in order to sustain the ecological restoration of the altered lands. Thus, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to collect images on three different altered land sites of 18 ha characterised with termite mounds. The images were ortho-mosaicked with Pix4D Mapper software. Termite mounds and trees were digitalised on these images in ArcGIS software. The Ripley's pair correlation function using spatstat package was applied to assess the spatial pattern and association of mounds and trees. An aggregative pattern (g(r) > 1) was revealed in the spatial distribution of both termite mounds and trees across all sites. Furthermore, a positive clustered association between termite mounds and trees was noted at two study sites, likely due to the absence of human disturbance. Therefore, this interaction should be vital for assisted ecological restoration and can be factored into efforts to accelerate the restoration of soils and plants on degraded lands. The authors then recommend future research to explore the specific role this attractive relationship plays in ecosystem restoration.\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142708318","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}

引用次数: 0

Density and Ecological Distribution of Geckos in the Sahelian Metropolitan Area of Burkina Faso, West Africa 西非布基纳法索萨赫勒大都市区壁虎的密度和生态分布情况

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-11-22 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13347

Wendata Francis Dayama, Napoko M. Kangoyé, Emmanuel M. Hema

{"title":"Density and Ecological Distribution of Geckos in the Sahelian Metropolitan Area of Burkina Faso, West Africa","authors":"Wendata Francis Dayama, Napoko M. Kangoyé, Emmanuel M. Hema","doi":"10.1111/aje.13347","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13347","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 Tropical dry areas are often characterised by a lack of reptile abundance data. For example, in Burkina Faso, the population and ecological distribution of the gecko are poorly understood. Contributing to fill this gap, this study assessed the diversity, density and ecological distribution of geckos in the metropolitan area of Ouagadougou. The study was conducted between 2020 and 2022 using the direct count of individuals in 72 quadrats (each 25 × 25 m2) evenly distributed throughout the entire study area, from a random start. Two distinct species, Hemidactylus angulatus and Ptyodactylus sp. have been encountered. H. angulatus density was estimated as 0.000352 individuals/m2 (95% CI: ±0.000336) with a population estimate of 987,360 individuals (95% CI: ±942,480) in 2020; 0.000256 individuals/m2 (95% CI: ±0.000432) with a population estimate of 718,080 individuals (95% CI: ±1,211,760) in 2021; and 0.000368 individuals/m2 (95% CI: ±0.00048) with a population estimate of 1,032,240 individuals (95% CI: ±1,346,400) in 2022. Ptyodactylus sp. density was estimated as 0.010016 individuals/m2 (95% CI: ±0.004608) with a population estimate of 28,094,880 individuals (95% CI: ±12,925,440) in 2020; 0.012352 individuals/m2 (95% CI: ±0.005696) with a population estimate of 34,647,360 individuals (95% CI: ±15,977,280) in 2021; and 0.0144 individuals/m2 (95% CI: ±0.007136) with a population estimate of 40,392,000 individuals (95% CI: ±20,016,480) in 2022. The spatial distributions of both species were aggregative (dispersion index I = 3.81 for H. angulatus and I = 24.82 for Ptyodactylus sp.). Our study revealed that microhabitat is the resource axis typically partitioned by Ouagadougou geckos. The geckos of Ouagadougou follow the same pattern of available resource partitioning as African reptile communities.\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142708317","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}

引用次数: 0

The Influence of Bush Encroachment on the Abundance and Species Richness of Rodents in a Mesic Savanna 灌木丛侵蚀对中生稀树草原啮齿动物数量和物种丰富度的影响

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-11-19 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13344

Thabile J. Zwane, Zivanai Tsvuura, Manqhai Kraai, Tlou J. Tjelele, Ntuthuko R. Mkhize

引用次数: 0

Population Expansion but Limited Gene Flow in Kuhl's Blue-Spotted Maskray Along the Tanzanian Coast 坦桑尼亚沿岸库尔蓝斑马斯格雷的种群扩张但基因流动有限

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-11-06 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13340

Alex Nehemia, Maulidi Shabani, Allen Lewis Malisa

{"title":"Population Expansion but Limited Gene Flow in Kuhl's Blue-Spotted Maskray Along the Tanzanian Coast","authors":"Alex Nehemia, Maulidi Shabani, Allen Lewis Malisa","doi":"10.1111/aje.13340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13340","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 The blue-spotted maskray Neotrygon kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) is a member of the Dasyatidae family of stingrays which grows slowly. Members of this group mature late and have a low fecundity rate. The ICUN Red List of Threatened Species lists N. kuhlii species as data deficient (DD) because information on its ecology and life history is not readily available. The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic diversity, demographic history and population structure of N. kuhlii, all of which are critical information for efforts aimed at conserving the species. The investigation was carried out along Tanzania's coastline using 595 base pairs of partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence. The haplotype diversity ranged between 0.37 and 0.70 and nucleotide diversity between 0.11% and 0.50%. The findings show that samples from Unguja had higher mean molecular diversity indices than those from other sampling sites. Nonetheless, samples from Mafia and Unguja were found to have the largest effective population size. Genetic variations were found between the subpopulations under study, suggesting limited genetic connectivity among the studied subpopulations. The COI sequences of N. kuhlii from most subpopulations studied showed signs of past population expansion, which are typical for most Western Indian Ocean (WIO) fauna. The findings highlight the need for enhanced management and conservation strategies for N. kuhlii and other coastal stingray species in Tanzania, particularly in areas where sampling sites showed low levels of genetic diversity and effective population size.\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142641309","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}

引用次数: 0

Long-Term Impacts of Selective Logging in a Tropical Rainforest in the East Region of Cameroon 喀麦隆东部地区热带雨林选择性采伐的长期影响

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-29 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13341

S. E. Mokake, G. B. Chuyong, E. A. Egbe

{"title":"Long-Term Impacts of Selective Logging in a Tropical Rainforest in the East Region of Cameroon","authors":"S. E. Mokake, G. B. Chuyong, E. A. Egbe","doi":"10.1111/aje.13341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13341","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 Although selective logging has become the primary cause of degradation in many African countries, little is known about its long-term effects. This study investigated the long-term effects of selective logging on forest tree species diversity and dynamics in the East Region of Cameroon. Six permanent monitoring plots of 1 ha each in unlogged and logged forests were established in 2005 and a recensus in 2011. Each 1 ha plot was divided into 25, 20 × 20 m quadrats. Each 20 × 20 m quadrat was further divided into 16, 5 × 5 m subquadrats, where the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all trees ≥ 2 cm was measured. There was a decrease in plant species density and richness in all forest types. Sloetiopsis usambarensis was the most important species in the unlogged forests and forests logged 21 years ago. The most important family was Putrangivaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Violaceae in the unlogged forests and forests logged 11 and 21 years ago, respectively. The frequency distribution of stem size classes indicated a reversed J-shape of tropical forests. The above ground biomass (AGB) recovered more than 50% in all forests, and the unlogged forest had the highest AGB (961.8 Mg/ha). Larger stems indicated a forest at a stage of recovery from disturbance. Silvicultural management should be considered.\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142541000","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}

引用次数: 0

Killer Whale Predation on a Giant Manta Ray (Mobula birostris), a Sicklefin Devil Ray (Mobula tarapacana) and a Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in the Southwest Indian Ocean 虎鲸在西南印度洋捕食巨蝠鳐（Mobula birostris）、镰鳍魔鬼鱼（Mobula tarapacana）和虎鲨（Galeocerdo cuvier）

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-29 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13342

Maeva Terrapon, Stephanie K. Venables, Anthony Lokker, Nils Bertrand, Sascha K. Hooker, Andrea D. Marshall

引用次数: 0

First Photographic Evidence of the Central African Oyan in Uganda 乌干达首次发现中非奥岩的摄影证据

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-29 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13343

Emmanuel Akampurira, Eustrate Uzabaho, Robert Bitariho, Jennifer F. Moore

引用次数: 0

Diurnal Activity Budgets and Feeding Habits of Grivet Monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops aethiops) in Fragmented Moist Afromontane Forest 成片非洲湿润森林中的疣猴（Chlorocebus aethiops aethiops）的昼夜活动预算和进食习惯

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-23 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13339

Chalachew Alemneh, Zerihun Girma

{"title":"Diurnal Activity Budgets and Feeding Habits of Grivet Monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops aethiops) in Fragmented Moist Afromontane Forest","authors":"Chalachew Alemneh, Zerihun Girma","doi":"10.1111/aje.13339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13339","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 Grivet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops aethiops) are opportunistic omnivores and extremely adaptable in both rural and urban environments. A study was conducted out in human-dominated fragmented moist Afromontane forest of wondo genet to investigate the diurnal activity budgets and feeding habits of grivet monkey. Data collection was carried out from February to September 2022 covering both wet and dry seasons. During each scan, individuals were recorded as performing one of the following activities: feeding, moving (searching for food), resting, grooming, playing and others such as drinking, vocalisation and defecation, or aggression and sexual activity. Dietary composition and preferences were assessed using scan sampling method. Proximate analysis was conducted to examine the nutritional makeup of feeding food items. The greatest proportion of the activity time budget of the grivet monkey was devoted to feeding, resting and moving, with relatively higher time devoted to feeding and moving and less time devoted to resting when compared with grivet monkeys inhabiting natural habitats. Grivet monkey utilised 42 food items grouped into 41 plant species and 1 insect. Psidium guava and Desmodium intortum, relatively with higher crude protein and less fibre, were the most preferred plants consumed. The study has pointed out that grivet monkeys in the human-dominated landscape of Wondo Genet remnant moist afromontane forest tend to prefer to consume on fruit tress such as Persea americana, Mangifera indica and Psidium guava, which contain high nutritional content that are planted and managed around homesteads. It is recommended to plant and sustainably manage grivet monkeys' natural foods in human-dominated landscape of Wondo Genet remnant moist afromontane forest to sustainably conserve the species and avoid/reduce human-grivet monkey conflict.\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142524957","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}

引用次数: 0

Diversity, Composition and Distribution Patterns of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in Sand Forest, South Africa 南非沙林蜘蛛（蛛形纲：Araneae）的多样性、组成和分布模式

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-18 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13334

Zabentungwa Thakasile Hlongwane, Thinandavha Caswell Munyai, Olwethu Majola, Anna Sophia Dippenaar-Schoeman, D. D. Georgette Lagendijk

{"title":"Diversity, Composition and Distribution Patterns of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in Sand Forest, South Africa","authors":"Zabentungwa Thakasile Hlongwane, Thinandavha Caswell Munyai, Olwethu Majola, Anna Sophia Dippenaar-Schoeman, D. D. Georgette Lagendijk","doi":"10.1111/aje.13334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13334","url":null,"abstract":"Spiders are the dominant representative of the top predator guild in many terrestrial ecosystems, but their diversity and distribution in forests in South Africa are still understudied. This study aimed to determine ground-dwelling spider diversity, composition and distribution patterns in both sand forest and savanna (and their ecotone) using pitfall traps and to provide a spider species checklist for these three habitats in Phinda Private Game Reserve. A total of 410 individuals from 64 species and 21 families were recorded from the three habitat types. The Lycosidae family and Pardosa crassipalpis were the most dominant family and species. Spider abundances were similar between sand forest and the ecotone, but lower in savanna. However, species richness was similar across habitats. Spider species assemblages were similar between sand forest and the ecotone, but differed from the species assemblages in savanna. Spiders play an important role in food webs both below- and aboveground. Therefore, determining their diversity and distribution contributes to the overall understanding of the ecosystem in addition to promoting conservation efforts of key habitats such as the critically endangered sand forest.","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.13334","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449062","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}

引用次数: 0

Effect of Aspect and Elevation on the Degree of Aggregation and the Functional Traits in Phlomis floccosa D. Don (Lamiacae) Populations 地势和海拔对绒毛藻种群聚集程度和功能性状的影响

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-18 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13328

Abd El-Nasser S. Al Borki, Abdulhamid K. Alzerbi, Hanan F. Kabiel, Ahmad K. Hegazy

{"title":"Effect of Aspect and Elevation on the Degree of Aggregation and the Functional Traits in Phlomis floccosa D. Don (Lamiacae) Populations","authors":"Abd El-Nasser S. Al Borki, Abdulhamid K. Alzerbi, Hanan F. Kabiel, Ahmad K. Hegazy","doi":"10.1111/aje.13328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13328","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 Phlomis floccosa D. Don populations are distributed in different microhabitats within Al-Akhdar mountainous landscape, in Libya. Five populations were selected for the study. Spatial relationships among individuals were investigated using the spatial point pattern analysis. Functional traits were recorded at the vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages. Seeds were collected at the dispersal stage to estimate the regeneration potential. Greater degree of aggregation was found at higher elevations on both northern and southern sides of the mountain but with different demography and traits. On the northern side, greater degree of aggregation was accompanied by absence of large adults and greater percentage of seedlings, and it was positively associated with the reproductive output, while negatively associated with the size and regeneration indices. On the southern side, greater degree of aggregation was accompanied by greater contribution of large adults and greater percentage of seedlings, and it was positively associated with the size and regeneration indices, while negatively associated with the reproductive output. On the other hand, the population in the wadi (valley) microhabitat showed coarse-scale clumped pattern, higher values for most of the functional traits and higher contribution of seedlings but with lower facilitation offered by adults. The variations in the degree of aggregation and the functional traits trade-offs in P. floccosa populations ensured successful survival and regeneration in the heterogeneous microhabitats. Meanwhile, stressed conditions greatly affect the survival and regeneration of the species suggesting the need for conservation measures to overcome the adverse effects of climate change.\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449061","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}

引用次数: 0