African Journal of Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Livelihood and Season Determine Human-Carnivore Conflict Around Zakouma National Park, Chad","authors":"Chiara Fraticelli,&nbsp;Antoine Paghera-Messager,&nbsp;Malloum Haltebaye,&nbsp;Herwig Leirs,&nbsp;Claudio Sillero-Zubiri,&nbsp;Hans Bauer","doi":"10.1111/aje.70144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70144","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Transhumant pastoralists and their livestock spend the dry season in the floodplains around Zakouma National Park, Chad, where resident people practice mixed farming. We used interview data from 146 households to investigate the differences between these user groups in terms of vulnerability to depredation, attitudes and impact on conservation. Predation by spotted hyaena and disease were the major causes of livestock loss for both cattle and small ruminants, followed by lion depredation and theft. We found that seasonality and livelihood interact in shaping depredation patterns, with the presence of nomads in the dry season attenuating the pressure of depredation on the livestock of resident people, who become more vulnerable in the wet season, when nomads are not present and more wildlife stays outside the Park. Local mitigation techniques were not effective, and 98% of all households suffered hyaena attacks. Only solid enclosures, which were employed uniquely by some villages, mitigated lion depredation. Attitudes varied between groups, with nomads more likely to turn to retaliation in case of depredation. For coexistence, there is a need to differentiate between different resource users with different needs and different attitudes.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996667","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":"A Food Web Model of the Serengeti: Stability, Dynamics and Indirect Effects","authors":"Dominic Clarke,&nbsp;J. Grant C. Hopcraft,&nbsp;Daniel T. Haydon","doi":"10.1111/aje.70115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70115","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Effective conservation management of a complex ecosystem like the Serengeti can benefit from a systems-wide approach to interactions between functional groups. This study presents a food web model of the Serengeti based on generalised Lotka–Volterra equations parameterised using data from the literature. The internal equilibrium point is shown to be locally stable with a return time of 2.3 years. Global stability of the system is confirmed through permanence analysis, and the results were qualitatively robust to assumptions regarding consumers' functional response. Analysis of indirect effects following ‘press’ perturbations reveals that increasing a consumer's density raises resource density in about 30% of cases, while increasing a resource's density reduces the densities of consumers in a similar proportion of instances. This indicates the risks of assuming that the effect of a change in the density of one species on another is accurately reflected by the sign of any direct effect between them. Indeterminacy analysis shows the signs of these net effects in the Serengeti to be highly determinate; therefore, these conclusions are likely robust despite moderate levels of uncertainty in the quantified direct interactions. Future applications of this model could include exploring the impacts of burning or livestock grazing on the vegetation's ability to sustain the broader ecosystem.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70115","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146002022","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":"Foraging Behaviour and Host Responses of Oxpeckers (Buphagus spp.) Across Domestic and Wild Mammals","authors":"Michael S. Lukubwe,&nbsp;Adrian J. F. K. Craig,&nbsp;Colin K. Munkutike,&nbsp;Ivan Sazima","doi":"10.1111/aje.70148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70148","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated the foraging behaviours, host species utilisation, and spatial attachment preferences of Red-billed Oxpecker (<i>Buphagus erythrorhynchus</i>) and Yellow-billed Oxpecker (<i>Buphagus africanus</i>) in Salambala Conservancy, northeastern Namibia, from May to September 2023. A total of 1252 potential host animals were observed, including African buffalo (<i>Syncerus caffer</i>), cattle (<i>Bos taurus</i>), giraffe (<i>Giraffa camelopardalis</i>), and plains zebra (<i>Equus quagga</i>). Oxpecker-host interactions were recorded for 234 Red-billed Oxpecker and 69 Yellow-billed Oxpecker. Red-billed Oxpecker primarily exhibited perching and tick-feeding behaviours, particularly on buffalo and cattle, while Yellow-billed Oxpecker showed a stronger reliance on tick-feeding, especially on buffalo. Other feeding behaviours, such as the consumption of ear wax, mucus, and saliva, were mainly recorded on giraffe, suggesting resource diversification strategies. Host rejection and tolerance behaviours also differed among species, with buffalo and giraffe demonstrating higher tolerance levels compared to cattle and zebra, which exhibited elevated rejection responses. Oxpecker attachment patterns differed across host species and body regions. Preferred foraging regions included the back, head, and anogenital areas that are typically difficult for hosts to self-groom. These findings provide dry-season baseline data on oxpecker-host interactions in a mixed-use conservancy landscape and highlight behavioural flexibility in response to host species and tolerance. Interpretation of interspecific differences, particularly for Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, should be viewed as preliminary due to uneven sampling across hosts.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70148","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145969871","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":"Burrow Selection by Temminck's Ground Pangolins (Smutsia temminckii) in Northern Botswana","authors":"Mokwaledi Mafa,&nbsp;Michael Murray-Hudson,&nbsp;Derek Keeping,&nbsp;Kelsey Prediger,&nbsp;Emily Bennitt","doi":"10.1111/aje.70141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70141","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In arid and semi-arid environments, many species use underground burrows for thermoregulation, reproduction, and to reduce predation risk. In Botswana, Temminck's ground pangolins (<i>Smutsia temminckii</i>) shelter in burrows during the day, and burrow density is thought to be a key indicator of habitat suitability for these animals. Pangolins are threatened by illegal trade and overexploitation, and individuals confiscated from the trade should be released in areas where they have the greatest chance of survival. To assist with the identification of suitable release sites, we quantified habitat-specific burrow density and determined the effects of body size and sex on burrow selection. Burrow surveys were conducted in three sites, with detailed pangolin burrow selection data collected in two of those sites, in different landscapes in northern Botswana. Ten pangolins were fitted with telemetry transmitters between June 2022 and February 2024. Results indicate that habitat type was a stronger predictor of burrow density than soil type, with burrow density being higher in open than in woody habitats. Adult and female pangolins selected burrows with larger entrance diameters than sub-adult and male individuals, respectively. Burrows in shrubland and tree savanna habitats were preferred, dry floodplains were avoided, and burrows in grassland and riparian woodland habitats were utilised in proportion to their availability; these selection patterns were not affected by body size, sex, or origin. The limited sample size, short study duration, and high rate of transmitter loss limit generalisation of results to the broader pangolin population, but the results indicate that suitable release sites for confiscated pangolins in Botswana may be in shrubland and tree savanna habitats.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70141","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963975","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":"Monitoring the Seasonal Functioning of Tropical Ecosystems With Phenocams","authors":"Adeline Fayolle,&nbsp;Léna Royen,&nbsp;Emma Bush,&nbsp;Nassim Daher,&nbsp;Sébastien Dandrifosse,&nbsp;Anais Gorel,&nbsp;David Lehmann,&nbsp;Loïc Makaga,&nbsp;Benoît Mercatoris,&nbsp;Katharine Abernethy","doi":"10.1111/aje.70143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Phenology is an essential biodiversity variable, but land surface phenology is challenging in cloudy tropical regions while field observations are time-consuming and sparse in time. Phenocams offer opportunities that have been barely explored in Africa. Here, we present the first results of a phenocam network installed in Gabon. The 2 years of images show the seasonal and bimodal functioning of forest canopy, mimicking rainfall seasonality and the unimodal functioning of savanna, associated with the long dry season and fire. This work is encouraging though the challenge is to maintain phenocams over the long-term and automate the signal analysis.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145983518","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":"Influence of Tree Species and Specific Distances on Earthworm Population and Soil Properties in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Agroforestry","authors":"Jacob Danso,&nbsp;Jacob Ulzen,&nbsp;Joseph Sarkodie-Addo,&nbsp;Michael O. Opoku-Agyeman,&nbsp;Alfred Arthur","doi":"10.1111/aje.70125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70125","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Tree species are important in cocoa agroforestry because they provide shade to cocoa plants and improve soil nutrients. However, the ideal planting distance between cocoa and shade trees for enhanced nutrient access and biological activity remains unclear. A factorial experiment, arranged in a randomised complete block design with four replications, was conducted to evaluate interactions between 11 trees and three distances from tree trunks on earthworm populations and soil properties in cocoa farms at Akim-Tafo. In 2021, <i>Terminalia ivorensis</i> increased available phosphorus and electrical conductivity at 6 m and 12 m. Soil pH varied with distance. <i>Triplochiton scleroxylon</i> resulted in the lowest pH at all distances. <i>Terminalia superba</i>, <i>Terminalia ivorensis</i> and <i>Gliricidia sepium</i> increased soil organic carbon at all distances, while <i>Cedrela odorata</i> and <i>Albizia ferruginea</i> had the lowest. <i>Albizia ferruginea</i> and <i>Terminalia ivorensis</i> increased total nitrogen at 6 and 12 m. In 2022, earthworm populations varied with distance. <i>Milicia excelsa</i>, <i>Albizia ferruginea</i> and <i>Triplochiton scleroxylon</i> increased electrical conductivity. <i>Terminalia superba</i> increased total nitrogen at 6 and 18 m. <i>Antiaris toxicaria</i>, <i>Terminalia ivorensis</i> and <i>Spathodea campanulata</i> recorded the highest pH. The findings highlight that ecological benefits vary by species and distance, requiring precise selection and spacing to optimise soil health and earthworm activity in agroforestry.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145904906","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 Phylogeny, Stratum and Season on the Diel Activity Patterns of Mammals in a Lowland Rainforest of the Republic of Congo","authors":"Laura Versavaud,&nbsp;Paul Aczel,&nbsp;Ulrich Nkounkou,&nbsp;Clémence Portal,&nbsp;Jean-François Gerard,&nbsp;Nina Giotto","doi":"10.1111/aje.70142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70142","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We studied the diel activity patterns of 35 species and three genera of terrestrial, arboreal and semi-arboreal mammals in the lowland rainforest of the Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo, deploying 38 camera traps on the ground and 21 in the canopy during more than a year. Activity patterns varied highly between species. However, as expected, patterns appeared to be fairly similar within several taxonomic groups, for example, strictly nocturnal in Anomaluridae (scaly-tailed ‘squirrels’) and Lorisoidea (galagos and relatives), or mainly diurnal in Sciuridae (true squirrels) and Simiiformes (simians). As predicted on the basis of microclimatic considerations, activity tended to occur at more variable times in terrestrial species than in arboreal species. Despite the heavy rainfalls occurring during the rainy season, observed species did not show a general trend to be active at more variable times during the rainy season than the dry season. Finally, as a probable consequence of their habit of resting in trees at night, most semi-arboreal Simiiformes were found to exhibit an enhanced activity after sunrise and before sunset in the canopy. The possible effects of other (and possibly confounding) factors such as body mass and seasonal fluctuations in food availability are discussed.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145909160","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":"Home Range Dynamics and Habitat Preferences of Sable Antelope in a Recovering Post-War Population","authors":"Agostinho de Nazaré Mangueze,&nbsp;Faruk Pires Semedo Mamugy,&nbsp;Willem Briers-Louw,&nbsp;Valério António Macandza","doi":"10.1111/aje.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Large herbivore spatial ecology is shaped by the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of biotic and abiotic factors. This study investigated space use and habitat selection of sable antelope (<i>Hippotragus niger</i>) in the Marromeu Complex of central Mozambique, which supports one of the largest populations in Africa. Telemetry-based data were collected from three adult females over 3 years (2018–2020) to estimate annual and seasonal variations in home range size and habitat use. Annual home ranges were small (11–20 km²), representing some of the smallest recorded sizes across Africa to date, which is likely explained by the high population density and resource availability. While no distinct seasonal differences were recorded in home range sizes, home range overlap was smaller during the dry season, suggesting a more patchy distribution of resource availability. Habitat use varied across years and seasons, with sable antelope generally showing a preference for grassland, flooded grassland and shrubland vegetation. These patterns demonstrate the value of incorporating spatio-temporal variability into better understanding species movement ecology, which may contribute toward species-specific conservation strategies. This study also provides important insights into the spatial dynamics of a recovering, post-war sable antelope population, which is of both national and international importance.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145909346","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":"Time as the Missing Variable: Why Africa (And the Tropics) Need Long-Term Ecological Studies Now More Than Ever","authors":"Luca Luiselli,&nbsp;Thomas Madsen","doi":"10.1111/aje.70139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The ongoing biodiversity crisis is driven primarily by habitat degradation and accelerating climate change, with extreme climatic events increasingly shaping population dynamics across taxa. Detecting and interpreting these effects requires long-term ecological studies, yet such datasets remain rare, including Africa where biodiversity is high and ecological systems are strongly influenced by climatic variability and human land use. Here we synthesise evidence demonstrating why short- and even medium-term studies often fail to capture the demographic consequences of climate change, especially those driven by rare but severe events such as droughts and floods. Drawing on case studies from temperate and tropical systems—including predator–prey collapses, reptile population crashes and iconic long-term projects such as Gombe and Amboseli—we show how sustained monitoring has transformed ecological understanding and conservation priorities. We emphasise that Africa's ecological complexity and prevalence of long-lived species make long-term, population-focused research particularly critical. However, funding structures and institutional constraints frequently undermine continuity. To address this gap, we propose an integrative framework combining targeted long-term ecological research funding, institutional support for data continuity, community-based monitoring and local ecological knowledge, and the integration of diverse data sources. We argue that long-term monitoring is not a luxury but a scientific and ethical necessity for effective conservation under rapid environmental change.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70139","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145909266","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":"Variability in Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. Traits Along an Aridity Gradient Provides Insights Into Its Adaptation to Dry Environmental Conditions","authors":"Séverin Biaou,&nbsp;Kolawolé Valère Salako,&nbsp;Florent Noulèkoun,&nbsp;Gbètondji Basile Hounwanou,&nbsp;Kpedetin Ariel Frejus Sodedji,&nbsp;Thierry Dehouegnon Houehanou,&nbsp;Christine Ouinsavi,&nbsp;Gerard Nounagnon Gouwakinnou","doi":"10.1111/aje.70138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding species adaptation to environmental changes is crucial to guide conservation and habitat restoration. This study examined variability in <i>Pterocarpus erinaceus</i> Poir. traits along an environmental gradient in Benin, ranging from humid (Guinean), subhumid (Sudano-Guinean) to semi-arid (Sudanian) zones. Data on fourteen morphological and functional traits were collected from 120 trees along this gradient. Canonical discriminant analysis was used to identify traits that differentiate each climate zone, while redundancy analysis was employed to explore relationships between discriminative traits and environmental variables. Both univariate and multivariate (MVPi) plasticity indices were further computed to assess trait variability. Petiolule length (PeL), petiole length (PEL), diameter at breast height (DBH), number of branches (NB), and leaf mass per area (LMA) were the most discriminative traits. PeL, PEL, and LMA significantly decreased from arid (0.7 ± 0.15 cm, 4.5 ± 0.67 cm, 69.44 ± 15.17 g/m², respectively) to humid zones (0.4 ± 0.08 cm, 3.8 ± 0.48 cm, 40.9 ± 10.90 g/m², respectively), whereas NB declined from humid (11.7 ± 4.68) to arid zones (6.68 ± 1.64). Temperature, rainfall, and aridity positively influenced PEL and PeL but negatively influenced NB. DBH, NB, and LMA were negatively related to soil type. Substantial plasticity (0.45–0.50) was observed at individual trait level. When aggregated over all traits (MVPi), trait plasticity was slightly higher for SGZ vs. SZ and SZ vs. GZ compared to that for SGZ vs. GZ. Our findings highlight the function trade-offs underlying the growth and local adaptation of the species across the climatic zones. These insights underscore the importance of conserving the species' subpopulation within their respective ecological zones. Future research should explore the species' genetic diversity and adaptation mechanisms to enhance its conservation strategies.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887830","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}