African Journal of Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Unveiling Rainfall's Role in Shaping Woody Plant Functional Traits and Diversity in Northern Namibia","authors":"Albertina M. N. Shikongo,&nbsp;Ezequiel C. Fabiano,&nbsp;Geraldo W. Fernandes","doi":"10.1111/aje.70014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Changes in precipitation patterns affect tree populations by altering their functional traits, yet functional diversity is often underestimated in ecological studies. This study analysed changes in plant species diversity and functional traits along an increasing rainfall gradient, using systematic sampling at 13 points along a 1200-km transect. Plant species diversity fluctuated with no apparent significant effect that could be attributed to increasing rainfall gradient, yet species diversity was significantly highest at sites with high rainfall. While there was no apparent statistical difference in the Simpson Diversity Index among sites, beta diversity was high among all sites. Functional traits varied along the gradient, with functional richness significantly affected by annual average rainfall. The study underscores the importance of both plant species and functional diversity in ecosystems and suggests future research should include more functional traits and sufficient data collection to further elucidate the complex interactions between tree populations, functional traits and precipitation patterns.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117803","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":"Gut Passage in Lemurs Enhances the Germination of Mistletoe Seeds Bakerella gonoclada, in a Madagascar Rainforest","authors":"Zo Samuel Ella Fenosoa,&nbsp;Cara E. Brook,&nbsp;Amy E. Dunham,&nbsp;Hajanirina F. Rakotomanana,&nbsp;Hanta Razafindraibe,&nbsp;Kacie A. Ring","doi":"10.1111/aje.70012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In Madagascar's rainforests, we lack knowledge of the natural history of mistletoe, a hemiparasitic plant that is an essential food source and habitat for many animals. Here, we compared the germination success and survival of <i>Bakerella gonoclada</i> mistletoe seeds that were defecated by lemurs with seeds hand-removed from fruits to assess the effects of lemur gut passage on germination. We found that mistletoe seeds defecated by lemurs had significantly higher germination success, germination speed, hypocotyl growth, and survival probability than hand-removed seeds, demonstrating that lemurs enhance the germination of this species. These results suggest a mutualistic relationship between mistletoe and lemurs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116741","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":"Spatial Distribution Modelling of a Threatened Lion Population in Relation to Prey Populations in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal","authors":"Mallé Gueye,&nbsp;Raoul Pellaton,&nbsp;Assane Diouf,&nbsp;Sawdatou Mané,&nbsp;Daniel Turek,&nbsp;Herwig Leirs,&nbsp;Laura D. Bertola,&nbsp;Hans de Iongh","doi":"10.1111/aje.70007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70007","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The lion has experienced a major decline in its habitat and population size in recent years. This is explained by the transformation of its habitat and the reduction of its potential prey. Our study therefore focused on modelling its habitat and its prey and the analysis of its diet to contribute to its conservation in the Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP). Elevation, annual precipitation, NDVI, land cover type, distance from large water bodies, prey availability, poaching pressure and livestock pressure were used as variables in modelling the lion habitat with MaxEnt software. The model obtained with the modelling of the lion habitat performs well, with an AUC of 0.96, and indicates that the most favourable habitat for the lion is located in the centre of the park. This distribution is influenced by elevation, annual rainfall, prey availability, poaching pressure and livestock pressure.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116128","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":"Community-Led Insights Reveal Hope for Red Colobus Conservation in Cameroon","authors":"Peter Mbile,&nbsp;Lylliane Elomo,&nbsp;George Langsi,&nbsp;Pegreen Namasoh,&nbsp;Wilson Motia","doi":"10.1111/aje.70009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Current knowledge situates the natural range of Preuss's red colobus (<i>Piliocolobus preussi</i>) within south-eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon, with the Korup National Park and its periphery being its stronghold. Nevertheless, some suggest the primate may have become extirpated in parts of the periphery of the Korup National Park. Reports from some nearby communities however suggested otherwise. Meanwhile, because of insecurity caused by a socio-political crisis affecting the two English-speaking regions since 2016, very few formal surveys of the species have been carried out. Yet, confirming the presence or absence of the species was considered important for a survey to be designed and carried out. From April to July 2024, we conducted a targeted, community-based assessment of the presence/absence of Preuss's red colobus in the south-eastern peripheral zone of Korup National Park, an area where red colobus were reported in past surveys to have been extirpated. While taking security precautions, we relied on local ethnoecological knowledge and wildlife experiences of ex-rangers and communities to inform geographic information systems-assisted mental-mapping of red colobus encounters. Our results suggest that red colobus are still present in the south-eastern peripheral zone of the Korup National Park. We offer suggestions for their conservation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116126","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":"Kickboxing Kloof Frogs: Territoriality, Female Parental Care and Other Reproductive Behaviours of Natalobatrachus bonebergi","authors":"Arno van Niekerk,&nbsp;Jeanne Tarrant,&nbsp;Adrian J. Armstrong,&nbsp;Louis H. du Preez","doi":"10.1111/aje.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Kloof Frog (<i>Natalobatrachus bonebergi</i>) is an Endangered South African endemic, demonstrating complex reproductive behaviours. This study, conducted in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, South Africa between April 2023 and April 2024, recorded acoustic and visual communication, male–male aggression, parental care and predation. In situ observations underscore the species' strategies of multimodal communication in male territoriality, mate attraction and female parental care of eggs in a structured habitat. This study provides perspective on the reproductive ecology of <i>N. bonebergi</i>. This species could serve as an important ecological model through which conservation management and actions could be improved upon.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116127","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":"Effects of the Trophic Ecology of Exotic Game Birds on Mascarenes Biodiversity: The Case of Francolinus pondicerianus in Mauritius","authors":"Ugo Herpin,&nbsp;Lucie Gauchet,&nbsp;Dominique Strasberg,&nbsp;Nicolas Zuel","doi":"10.1111/aje.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Game bird species were introduced to several insular systems during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Mascarenes are a relevant example of such introductions, including the grey francolin (<i>Francolinus pondicerianus</i>). In the case of Mauritius and Réunion Island, although this bird has been present for more than 300 years, limited information is available concerning its behavioural adaptations in insular systems, especially regarding its feeding behaviour. The first aim of this study was to describe the diet of the grey francolin, a well-established game-bird species in the Mascarenes. From this novel information, we also wish to discuss how the grey francolin can be positioned in insular food chains, and thus, its potential impact on the biodiversity of Mauritius and Réunion Island. We provide an analysis of 9115 food items, including both insects and seeds harvested from stomach contents of 13 grey francolin. The birds were harvested in Mauritius, from two distinct zones, and their stomach contents were sorted and identified using binocular magnifiers. The results revealed a total diversity of 20 seed species and 23 insect species, with a majority of exotic species. <i>Solanum</i> sp., <i>Amaranthus</i> sp. and <i>Chamaesyce hirta</i> were the dominant seeds, whereas insect food items were widely dominated by ant species (<i>Pheidole megacephala</i>, <i>Solenopsis geminata</i>). Important variability was observed in the composition of stomach contents, resulting in relevant amplitudes of species-diversity indicators and the animal-versus-plant ratio, throughout the 13 birds. Furthermore, the amount of certain food items was particularly high for one stomach content, whereas their global occurrence among the 13 birds was rather low, suggesting that the grey francolin has a versatile and opportunistic diet. Despite the lack of monitoring of food availability or diversity, the variation in stomach contents suggests that the diets of these generalist birds are dependent on the availability of resources in the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116125","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":"Rainfall Variability Shapes Lion Movement and Home Range Dynamics in Three Kenyan Parks","authors":"Mumbi Chege,&nbsp;Miquel Torrents-Ticó,&nbsp;Laura D. Bertola,&nbsp;Geert R. de Snoo,&nbsp;Maarten van ’t Zelfde,&nbsp;C. J. M. Musters,&nbsp;Hans H. de Iongh","doi":"10.1111/aje.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Variation in climatic conditions is expected to impact the distribution and abundance of herbivore species, which may, in turn, influence African lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>) ranging behaviour. This necessitates proactive management of lion populations, as ecosystems may exhibit site-specific responses to these variations. Using satellite and GPS-GSM data from 10 lions collared in three different national parks in Kenya—Meru, Nairobi, and Lake Nakuru—we calculated monthly home ranges and distance moved and studied how these were influenced by rainfall. Across all parks, lions increased their distance moved with an increase in rainfall, and male lions covered larger distances than females. Model comparisons revealed that lions in Lake Nakuru significantly expanded their home ranges with higher rainfall compared to those in Nairobi; however, lions in Nairobi covered larger distances than those in Lake Nakuru. Lions in Meru had larger home ranges compared to the other two parks, but the effect of rainfall on their home range size and movement was not significantly different from the other two parks. Our results give insight into the site-specific influence of rainfall on lion home range and movement across the parks. We call for prioritisation of conservation efforts and a site-specific, tailored approach to lion conservation and management.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143115764","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":"Remote Sensing That Makes Sense in Ecological Research—From Pixels to Conservation","authors":"Luca Luiselli,&nbsp;Nic Pacini","doi":"10.1111/aje.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Advances in analytical techniques and the development of innovative remote sensing tools have greatly broadened the scope of ecological research. These advancements have led to notable progress in understanding the geography of study areas, with ground-truthing capabilities enabled by GPS technologies revolutionising the generation of precise spatial data, such as organism locations. By linking spatial data with modelling, researchers can now gain insights into species-environment relationships. This informs conservation strategies and resource management. Recent technological innovations, including as high-resolution satellites provide detailed spatial and temporal information. The rapid growth of these technologies presents transformative opportunities for ecological research and biodiversity conservation anywhere in the world. Moreover, calibration via field-based spectral data, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and handheld global positioning systems (GPS) ensures signal accuracy and integrative platforms, like Google Earth Engine, streamline data interpretation. However, integrating evidence from these diverse systems presents ongoing challenges, requiring methodological precision and a clear focus on their ecological relevance. The <i>African Journal of Ecology</i> (AJE) has increasingly featured studies using remote sensing, with applications spanning studies focusing on land-use change detection, habitat surveys, vegetation biomass assessment, water resource monitoring, and species distribution. Combining remote sensing with field methods and ecological objectives fosters robust analysis, enabling researchers to move beyond simple land cover assessments to tackle functional ecological questions. Integrative platforms like Google Earth Engine simplify multi-source data interpretation, streamlining workflows and increasing accessibility. The Latin phrase ‘<i>Memento mori</i>’ should serve as a reminder that technology, while a powerful aid in ecological research, is not everything—it should serve to support and enhance ecological inquiry, not define or overshadow it. The AJE aspires to promote such reflective thinking, fostering a balance between innovation and ecological relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143115766","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":"Camera Trapping to Assess Diversity, Habitat Use and Activity Patterns of Mammals in a Tropical Hotspot Area","authors":"Ernest D. B. Fotsing,&nbsp;Meigang M. F. Kamkeng,&nbsp;M. Salah Senge","doi":"10.1111/aje.70004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70004","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Tropical forest mammal communities, especially those in ecological transition zones, are under constant threat from human activities, but in most cases there is a lack of knowledge about their status, and baseline information on their diversity is lacking in many parts of the world. The Mpem and Djim National Park in central Cameroon is a degraded forest savannah mosaic known to host several globally threatened species. As little is known about the diversity and ecology of the species there, we undertook a rapid assessment using line transects, opportunistic surveys (recce), and camera trapping from September 2021 to December 2021. Our aim was to collect information on species diversity, population status, relative abundance, activity patterns and potential threats to inform conservation priorities for park managers. After 1700 trapping days, we obtained 915 camera events (mean per location = 29.5). The species richness was 32 large, medium-sized and small mammals. The mammal species monitored belonged to 18 families and 10 orders. The family Antilopinae obtained the highest relative abundance index (RAI, 26.24) and relative frequency (RF, 0.49), and the members of this family were the most active (6392 individuals). The Blue Duiker (<i>Philantomba monticola</i>, Thunberg, 1789) had the highest relative abundance index (RAI, 16.47) and relative frequency (RF, 0.31). No significant difference was found between RAI, RF, and the number of events between habitat classes. Human tracks and snares were the most abundant human activity recorded (ER, 0.42 and 0.22 signs per km). The alpha diversity suggests a high diversity within the community with an almost even distribution of species and no dominance of one species over another. We estimated a lower richness but a very low probability of recording new taxa (<i>Q</i> = 0.99). Our results also suggest a spatio-temporal niche partitioning and niche overlap between some duikers, with the highest overlap coefficient obtained between <i>Cephalophus callipygus,</i> Peters, 1876, and <i>Cephalophus dorsalis,</i> Grey, 1846 (Δ = 0.81) and <i>Genetta maculata</i>, Grey, 930 vs. <i>Genetta servalina</i>, Pucheran, 1855 (Δ = 0.82). Our observations provide a baseline for long-term monitoring of terrestrial vertebrates in MDNP.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143115114","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":"An Overlooked Early Report of Chimpanzees Using Tools to Forage for Oysters","authors":"Alan Tye,&nbsp;Adam Jones","doi":"10.1111/aje.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We report a record made in 1682, in Sierra Leone, West Africa, of local people showing a European visitor evidence of ‘apes’ using sticks to obtain oysters as food. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the observation can only refer to the western chimpanzee <i>Pan troglodytes verus</i> and the West African mangrove oyster <i>Crassostrea tulipa</i>. This appears to be the only known record of wild chimpanzees eating marine bivalves, and of using tools to obtain any aquatic animal prey.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143115115","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}