African Journal of Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Tracking Scales: Community Knowledge and Pangolin Conservation in a Central African Park","authors":"Ngong K. Kaimo,&nbsp;Mvo Denis Chuo,&nbsp;Chefor Fotang,&nbsp;Theodore B. Mayaka","doi":"10.1111/aje.70064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70064","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pangolins are among the most heavily trafficked mammals worldwide, yet their conservation status remains poorly understood. We investigated pangolin presence, population trends, hunting methods, trade, use and cultural importance using local people's knowledge and perceptions in the communities surrounding the Campo Ma'an National Park in Cameroon. We administered semi-structured questionnaires to 250 randomly selected respondents from 15 villages surrounding the park. The most commonly recognised and sighted pangolin species were the White-bellied (<i>Phataginus tricuspis</i>) and Giant (<i>Smutsia gigantea</i>), while the Black-bellied pangolin (<i>Phataginus tetradactyla</i>) was the least frequently noted. Respondent age, occupation, and ethnicity had a significant influence on the recognition and sighting of pangolins and the perceived trend in pangolin populations. Older respondents were more likely to recognise pangolins, while younger respondents were more likely to observe them. Farmers and hunters were significantly more likely to observe pangolins compared to respondents of other occupations. People from the ethnic groups native to Campo Ma'an were more likely to recognise and see a pangolin than those from other ethnic groups. Respondents perceived a decline in all local pangolin species, with the highest perceived decline reported for the Giant pangolin and with older respondents being more likely to state that Giant pangolin populations are declining. We found evidence of pangolin hunting and trade. The White-bellied and Black-bellied pangolins were mostly captured by hand, while Giant pangolins were mostly shot. Respondents reported more frequent pangolin trade in private than public venues, indicating that they are aware of the ban on killing and trading pangolins in Cameroon. The primary reported use of pangolins was local meat consumption, but some respondents mentioned medicinal, spiritual, and decorative uses. There was minimal evidence for the cultural importance and uses of pangolins, and it was mainly noted for the Giant pangolin when it was reported. Our results suggest that local community members around Campo Ma'an are aware of pangolins in their area, including their uses and perceived population trends. This information is crucial for planning future field-based surveys.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264617","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":"Pollination Beyond the Usual Suspects: Endemic Neodrepanis coruscans Birds Visiting Tubular Flowers in Madagascar","authors":"Luis Navarro,&nbsp;Garbiñe Ayensa,&nbsp;Adela González-Megías,&nbsp;Ane Navarro-Ayensa,&nbsp;Agustina Ventre-Lespiaucq,&nbsp;Marcos Méndez,&nbsp;José María Gómez","doi":"10.1111/aje.70065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70065","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bird pollination remains understudied in Madagascar. We document the first recorded observation of common sunbird-asity <i>Neodrepanis coruscans</i> (Philepittidae), a Malagasy endemic which is not a true sunbird, visiting and potentially pollinating <i>Bakerella clavata</i>, a plant with long tubular flowers. This interaction suggests a broader, yet overlooked, role for Philepittidae in avian-mediated pollination. Our findings highlight the need for further research on avian-mediated pollination in Madagascar's unique ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70065","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244825","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":"Trends in Richness and Occupancy of Ugandan Birds and Relation to Local Tree Cover","authors":"Ryan C. Burner,&nbsp;Evan M. Adams,&nbsp;Derek Pomeroy,&nbsp;Herbert Tushabe,&nbsp;Micheal Kibuule,&nbsp;Lars Jørgen Rostad,&nbsp;Zander S. Venter,&nbsp;Douglas Sheil","doi":"10.1111/aje.70058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70058","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Changes in vegetation cover are occurring across sub-Saharan Africa and can have substantial effects on ecological communities, but limited data make understanding status and trends difficult for many taxa. We surveyed birds for several decades across Uganda using point counts. Using time-to-detection analysis in a trait-informed Bayesian multi-species occupancy framework, we model bird species richness as a function of year and local tree cover across 28 sites. We test for trends in richness and occupancy, and for the relationship between these and local and landscape-scale tree cover. Species richness increased at 75% of sites through the study period, and generalist bird species were most likely to be increasing in occupancy. Forest specialist bird species, and to a lesser extent generalists, responded positively to tree cover. Woody cover is changing across Uganda, with declines most pronounced in areas with the highest tree cover. This is likely to be causing declines in forest specialist species while favouring generalists. When tree cover decline is caused by conversion to croplands, rather than transitions to grasslands, grassland specialists are unlikely to benefit. Effects of climate and land use change and population pressure are likely to continue to alter woody plant cover and thus affect East African bird communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.70058","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214076","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":"The Structure of Sunbird Floral Visitation and Pollen Transport Networks From an Afrotropical Agricultural Landscape","authors":"Emmanuel F. Mgimwa,&nbsp;Bruno A. Nyundo,&nbsp;Jasson R. John","doi":"10.1111/aje.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plant-pollinator interactions are among the most studied mutualistic interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about them from the agricultural landscapes within tropical forests of Africa, including the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. This study provides the first description of sunbird-plant pollination networks from the East Usambara Mountains. We compared the sunbird floral visitation network and pollen transport network in the agroforestry of Amani Plateau near Amani Nature Forest Reserve. For the floral visitation network, we included a network with nectar robbers and one without. Our results show that the floral visitation and pollen transport networks are structurally similar, and sunbirds visit flowering plants with a wide range of pollination syndromes. Both networks are nested, connected, and modular, so they are relatively robust and less prone to secondary extinctions. Nectar robbers affected the modularity of the network structure and confirmed the reliability of the pollen transport network in defining the most robust plant-pollinator networks. We found that sunbirds with longer beaks transport more pollen, and sunbirds can transport pollen from robbed plants. The findings of this study underscore the vital role of agricultural landscapes in conserving avian pollinators. Therefore, sustainable agricultural practices should be prioritised to mitigate agriculture's negative impact on avian pollinators.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144197314","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":"Dietary Composition and Overlap Among Large Carnivores in Liwonde National Park, Malawi","authors":"Benford Kayuni,&nbsp;Olivia Sievert,&nbsp;Robert S. Davis,&nbsp;Tiwonge I. Mzumara","doi":"10.1111/aje.70061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70061","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The aim of this study was to describe and compare the dietary composition of lion (<i>Panthera leo</i>), cheetah (<i>Acinonyx jubatus</i>) and spotted hyaena (<i>Crocuta crocuta</i>) populations in Liwonde National Park, Malawi. Using scat analyses and direct observations, our results indicate a high degree of dietary overlap (<i>O</i>_ab &gt; 0.70), indicative of intraguild competition, and all carnivores exhibited a dietary preference for kudu (<i>Tragelaphus strepsiceros</i>). At present, coexistence is potentially facilitated by low carnivore densities and spatiotemporal responses. We recommend that carnivore diets and niche partitioning strategies continue to be investigated as carnivore populations increase.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171231","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 Invasive Tithonia rotundifolia Leachate and Litter on the Germination and Growth of Corchorus olitorius and Amaranthus hybridus","authors":"Yetunde I. Bulu,&nbsp;Omotayo R. Akinbobola,&nbsp;Adedoyin R. Adeniyi,&nbsp;Rilwan O. Ahmed","doi":"10.1111/aje.70059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Tithonia rotundifolia</i> (Miller) S. F. Blake is an invasive weed in southwestern Nigeria that displaces native flora and creates a monoculture stand. Its impact on plant species richness has led to investigations into its invasive strategies, including its allelopathic potential. The study investigated the effects of <i>T. rotundifolia</i> leachates and litters on the germination and growth of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> L. and <i>Amaranthus hybridus</i> L. and the influence on the soil physicochemical properties. The germination of the vegetables in aqueous leachates of <i>T. rotundifolia</i> tissues, at concentrations (%) of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100, was compared with the control (in distilled water). Different dosages (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g) of <i>T. rotundifolia</i> litter were incorporated into a 3 kg of soil and used to monitor the growth of the test plants in a completely randomised design. Differences in treatment were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test to determine significant effects. The dried leaf leachates completely inhibited germination at 60%–100%. They inhibited seedling growth more than stem, root and flower leachates (leaves &gt; flower &gt; root &gt; stem). Leaf litter, at low concentrations, enhanced the growth of the vegetables; highest growth parameters obtained for <i>A. hybridus</i> and <i>C. olitorius</i> were height (65.25 ± 11.29 and 40.77 ± 2.72 cm), girth (8.64 ± 0.47 and 3.09 ± 0.13 cm) and number of leaves (24.10 ± 6.24 and 21.90 ± 5.93) at 30 g and control, respectively. The organic carbon and nitrogen composition of <i>A. hybridus</i> biomass were also highest at 30 g (99.54 ± 0.64 and 3.95 ± 0.02) mg kg⁻¹. <i>T. rotundifolia</i> litter has no significant effect on the K⁺ and Na⁺ content of the soil. The OC and TN content in <i>A. hybridus</i> grown soil were significantly higher (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) above the 20 g litter dosage than the control, while OC in the control soil (3.36 ± 0.05 g kg⁻¹) was significantly higher (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) than <i>C. olitorius</i> soil treated with 40 (2.60 ± 0.04 g kg⁻¹) and 50 g (2.52 ± 0.03 g kg⁻¹) litter. These results suggest that <i>T. rotundifolia</i> has allelopathic effects at high concentrations but may improve soil fertility and plant growth at low dosages. Although at low magnitude of the biomass it serves as soil amendment, but regular removal from the field is essential to prevent biomass accumulation that will hinder seed germination and crop growth.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135854","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":"Status Update on the Critically Endangered Upemba Lechwe (Kobus anselli)","authors":"Manuel Weber,&nbsp;Ruffin Mpanga,&nbsp;Julien Mbulanga,&nbsp;Cameron Dobbie","doi":"10.1111/aje.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Upemba Lechwe (<i>Kobus anselli</i>) persists in the Kamalondo Depression in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We report sightings of 10 individuals across their historical stronghold and present the first published photograph of a live specimen. This study provides the first documented records since the species was described in 2005, and the first survey attempt in over 50 years. With an estimated population likely numbering fewer than 100 in an area with little protection, this species faces imminent extinction due to poaching. Urgent conservation measures are essential to prevent its disappearance.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135855","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":"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}