African Journal of Ecology最新文献_第6页

How to Make Your African Ecology Paper Stand Out to a Global Audience 如何让您的非洲生态论文在全球受众面前脱颖而出

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-13 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13338

Luca Luiselli

{"title":"How to Make Your African Ecology Paper Stand Out to a Global Audience","authors":"Luca Luiselli","doi":"10.1111/aje.13338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13338","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The discovery of the South East Africa Montane Archipelago has unveiled a biologically significant ecoregion with a high level of endemism, showcasing at least 127 endemic plants and 45 endemic vertebrates, including unique genera of both plants and reptiles. This remarkable find highlights Africa's ongoing contributions to global ecological knowledge, despite often being underrepresented in the international research sphere due to biases and marginalisation. To address these issues and enhance the visibility and impact of African ecological research, this Editorial outlines several key strategies. First, it emphasises the importance of making hypothesis-driven research in ecological studies, following Popper's philosophy of science. Second, it advocates for generalising research findings to broader contexts rather than focusing narrowly on local specifics. Additionally, it underscores the need use clear, generalised terminology and producing detailed, context-rich maps, so that the authors can enhance the comprehensibility and appeal of their research. Finally, the Editorial highlights the growing influence of African ecology, as evidenced by that the difference in impact factor between AJE and major international general ecology journals has decreased greatly. The Editorial also suggests that by adopting the strategies highlighted herein, African ecologists can further elevate their global presence and contribute more substantially to the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.13338","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142435252","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

Range Extension and Behavioural Observations of the Flat-Headed Cusimanse (Crossarchus platycephalus) in Gabon 加蓬平头库西曼斯（Crossarchus platycephalus）的分布范围扩展和行为观察

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-08 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13332

Johanna McQuade, Fred Loïque Midonga Nguelet, Mangama Koumba Lilian Brice, Katharine A. Abernethy, Jeremy J. Cusack, Emmanuel Do Linh San, David Lehmann, Donald Midoko Iponga, Charles Trouvé, Robin C. Whytock, Etienne-Francois Akomo-Okoue

引用次数: 0

Community Structure and Species Diversity of Birds in Heterogenous Habitats of an East African Growing Agricultural Corridor 东非农业走廊异质生境中鸟类的群落结构和物种多样性

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-04 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13333

Paulo J. Lyimo, David J. Kavana, Deo D. Shirima, Adili Bugingo, Simon Chidodo, George B. Bulenga, Nyemo Chilagane, Japhet J. Kashaigili, Pantaleo K. Munishi

{"title":"Community Structure and Species Diversity of Birds in Heterogenous Habitats of an East African Growing Agricultural Corridor","authors":"Paulo J. Lyimo, David J. Kavana, Deo D. Shirima, Adili Bugingo, Simon Chidodo, George B. Bulenga, Nyemo Chilagane, Japhet J. Kashaigili, Pantaleo K. Munishi","doi":"10.1111/aje.13333","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13333","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species conservation mainly depends on the conservation of their habitats where an understanding of the role that habitats have in supporting species diversity and richness is important. This study aimed to determine how heterogeneous habitats in growing agriculture corridors support the biodiversity of birds in terms of their diversity and abundance. We assessed the diversity, richness and abundance of bird species in six different habitats: miombo woodland, montane forests, lowland forests, agro-ecosystems, wetland and riverine in Tanzania's growing agriculture corridor. We assumed that heterogeneous habitats significantly influence species abundance, richness and diversity. We recorded 299 bird species which were categorised into 10 trophic guilds. Among the guilds, invertebrate-eating (52%) was the species-rich guild and nectarivore (1%), herbivore aquatic (0.67%), herbivore terrestrial (0.67%) and scavenger (0.34%) were the least guilds in terms of species richness, abundance and diversity. The six habitats differed in terms of bird species richness, abundance and diversity; miombo woodlands had the highest levels of diversity. There was an even distribution of birds, despite the fact that wetlands and agro-ecosystems had few species reported there. A number of endangered bird species were recorded in habitats with minimum disturbance. These species include <i>Gyps africanus</i> (CR), <i>Ardeola idea</i>, <i>Polemaetus bellicosus</i> and <i>Terathopius ecaudatus</i> (EN). In order to implement effective conservation measures for corridors and heterogeneous habitats, we advocate proper land use, conservation-friendly agriculture and the implementation of conservation connectivity on small and large scales.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142429091","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

Utilisation of Anthropogenic Landscapes by Bird Communities in West African Drylands 西非旱地鸟类群落对人为景观的利用

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-03 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13330

Aisha Sani Magaji, Safianu Rabiu

{"title":"Utilisation of Anthropogenic Landscapes by Bird Communities in West African Drylands","authors":"Aisha Sani Magaji, Safianu Rabiu","doi":"10.1111/aje.13330","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13330","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The increasing demand for food and settlement in response to human population explosion is an issue of major concern recently. Conservation planning for biodiversity in anthropogenic landscapes is crucial given the dramatic changes within landscapes with human population growth; and understanding how avian species utilise such landscapes is especially important. This study investigated the impacts of vegetation structure and human activities on avian diversity; it also explored the stability of bird communities in northern Nigeria. We collected bird count, vegetation and anthropogenic data from four study sites over a period of 1 year. A total of 168 species were recorded. Vegetation variables were significant predictors of species abundance and richness, while human activities exerted little effect on them. Community stability varied considerably among the study sites, and a positive covariance and asynchronous relationship were observed among species. Since the drylands of northern Nigeria provide a refuge for many bird species, the protection and monitoring of this landscape are critical in order to cope with the management needs of avian communities.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142429041","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

Trophic Structure and Dietary Overlap in the Sympatric Skinks Trachylepis punctatissima and Trachylepis varia From Central South Africa 南非中部同域石龙子Trachylepis punctatissima和Trachylepis varia的营养结构和膳食重叠情况

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-10-03 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13331

Neil Heideman, Michael Bates, Zhongning Zhao

{"title":"Trophic Structure and Dietary Overlap in the Sympatric Skinks Trachylepis punctatissima and Trachylepis varia From Central South Africa","authors":"Neil Heideman, Michael Bates, Zhongning Zhao","doi":"10.1111/aje.13331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13331","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Diet diversity and overlap was investigated in the sympatric skinks <i>Trachylepis punctatissima</i> and <i>Trachylepis varia</i> from central South Africa using stomach and intestinal contents of museum specimens. Simpson's Index and the Shannon–Wiener Index were used to determine their food niche breadths and Pianka's Index to determine the extent to which they shared the food resource. Food items were identified from head capsules, mouthparts and appendages to order level. The two species contained similar prey types with <i>T. varia</i> having the wider niche breadth. Females also had wider niche breadths than males and isopterans were present in significantly higher quantities than the rest of the food items in both species. Larvae were found in both, but arachnids only in <i>T. varia</i>. Trophic niche overlap between the two was fairly high (Pianka's Index, 0.6915) and therefore did not support the hypothesis that similar species sharing a food resource should have well differentiated diets to reduce competition. This finding however requires further verification as the two species may consume different species of the corresponding orders identified. Intraspecifically trophic niche overlap between the sexes was low (<i>T. punctatissima</i>, 0.3889; <i>T. varia</i>, 0.4633) suggesting strong competition for the food resource. Notably lower niche breadth in males compared to females may be due to morphological and behavioural differences and should be further investigated.</p>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.13331","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142429042","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

Modelled Vegetation Structure and Abundance Confirms African Savannah Elephant-Induced Damage Across Space in a Dry Protected Area With Diverse Vegetation 植被结构和丰度模型证实了非洲草原象在植被多样的干旱保护区造成的跨空间破坏

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-09-30 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13322

Nobert Tafadzwa Mukomberanwa, Phillip Taru, Beaven Utete, Patmore Ngorima

{"title":"Modelled Vegetation Structure and Abundance Confirms African Savannah Elephant-Induced Damage Across Space in a Dry Protected Area With Diverse Vegetation","authors":"Nobert Tafadzwa Mukomberanwa, Phillip Taru, Beaven Utete, Patmore Ngorima","doi":"10.1111/aje.13322","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13322","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The African savannah elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>) is an ecosystem engineer essential in determining the structure and vegetation abundance in mesic dry protected areas such as the Mana Pools National Park (MNP) in Zimbabwe. Understanding the interactions between elephants and vegetation structure is essential for effective conservation and management of savannah ecosystems. Conservation efforts often aim to balance elephant populations with the carrying capacity of their habitats to ensure the sustainability of both flora and fauna within protected areas. Therefore understanding how African savannah elephants influence vegetation structure, abundance and damage is critical for adaptive ecosystem management and wildlife conservation in mesic savannah ecosystems. This study assessed: (i) vegetation structure, (ii) abundance and (iii) evidence of elephant-induced vegetation damage near a distance gradient to water points in MNP. A generalised linear model (GLM) was used to investigate the relationship between vegetation aspects that is structure, abundance and evidence of damage with distance from water sources. In the mesic protected MNP where African savannah elephants predominate, the modelled vegetation shape, abundance and damage exhibit spatial differences on a distant gradient towards water sources (χ<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> < 0.05). There is need for implementation of comparably, less costly, homogenous conservation measures for African savannah elephants across the artificial water pans in the MNP.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142360039","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

Vachellia xanthophloea, a New Native–Alien Tree Species Along the Orange River in Southern Namibia Vachellia xanthophloea，纳米比亚南部奥兰治河沿岸一种新的本地-外来树种

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-09-29 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13327

Peter Low Cunningham Sr, Peter Low Cunningham Jr

引用次数: 0

Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity and Demographic History of Critically Endangered Oreochromis karongae (Trewavas, 1941) Along Lake Nyasa, Tanzania 坦桑尼亚尼亚萨湖沿岸极度濒危的 Oreochromis karongae（Trewavas，1941 年）的线粒体遗传多样性和种群历史

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-09-26 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13329

Alex Nehemia, Alinanuswe J. Mwakalesi

{"title":"Mitochondrial Genetic Diversity and Demographic History of Critically Endangered Oreochromis karongae (Trewavas, 1941) Along Lake Nyasa, Tanzania","authors":"Alex Nehemia, Alinanuswe J. Mwakalesi","doi":"10.1111/aje.13329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13329","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fish provide food and income opportunities for millions of people in Lake Nyasa, also known as Lake Malawi in Malawi and Lake Niassa in Mozambique. <i>Oreochromis karongae</i> (Trewavas, 1941), which is native to Lake Nyasa, Lake Malombe and the Shire River, is at the verge of extinction and has been listed as critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), primarily due to overfishing. Using 632 bp of partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from 115 samples, this work aims to assess the population genetic status and demographic history of this species to better manage and advance its conservation. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a low and non-significant genetic differentiation index across the populations under study (ΦST = 0.003, <i>p</i> = 0.278), indicating a lack of population genetic structure. Phylogenetic analysis, grouped together all COI haplotypes of <i>O. karongae</i> from the six sampled sites. Nonetheless, the results showed signs of population expansion from a historic bottleneck, consistent with most data from the Western Indian Ocean Fauna. The findings from this study could be used to improve management and conservation strategies for critically endangered <i>O. karongae</i> in Lake Nyasa.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142328529","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

Importance of Heritage Structures as Bat Roosts in the Sahara Desert 遗产建筑作为撒哈拉沙漠蝙蝠栖息地的重要性

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-09-24 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13319

Andrzej Węgiel, Tomomi Fushiya, Artur Obłuski, Piotr Tryjanowski

引用次数: 0

The New Fishing Technique With Lighted Gillnets in Lake Kivu: Panacea or Pandora's Box? 基伍湖灯光刺网捕鱼新技术：灵丹妙药还是潘多拉魔盒？

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-09-24 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13326

Mulungula Pascal Masilya, Amani Joseph Lubala, Hilda Belinda Hounsounou, Jacques Walumona Riziki, Tchalondawa Kisekelwa

{"title":"The New Fishing Technique With Lighted Gillnets in Lake Kivu: Panacea or Pandora's Box?","authors":"Mulungula Pascal Masilya, Amani Joseph Lubala, Hilda Belinda Hounsounou, Jacques Walumona Riziki, Tchalondawa Kisekelwa","doi":"10.1111/aje.13326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13326","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A new fishing technique has been introduced in Lake Kivu, across the Congo side. It consists of gillnets on which light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are attached. Traditional fishermen have introduced the fishing technique without any studies related to the positive and drawback effects of this fishing technique. We sought to understand whether the gillnets with LED lamps fishing technique improve fishing catches and can be regarded as sustainable for the Lake Kivu ecosystem, or is it just only a marketing strategy for gillnets and LED lamp sellers. Two complementary approaches have been used in this study. Experimental fishing campaigns were conducted from June 2021 to June 2022 and monitoring of fishing team in the field coupled with surveys of fishermen about the effectiveness use of this new fishing technique. We observed that (i) 88% of fishermen using gillnet in the Bukavu sub-basin have already adopted the recently introduced fishing technique; (ii) the average catch per unit effort of gillnets with LED lamps is higher than those without LED lamps (3.84 ± 1.95 kg/net vs. 2.69 ± 2.04 kg/net); (iii) these gillnets retrieve larger specimens (79.88 mm vs. 76.69 mm) and generate monthly a higher average profit to fishermen ($916.35) than the fishing technique lacking the LED ($807). However, (iv) the gillnets with LED lamps generates a lot of plastic trash: around 2130 kg of plastic bags/month under fishing conditions in the Bukavu sub-basin. So, this new fishing technique is a real panacea for its practitioners, but a veritable Pandora's box generating plastic pollutants in Lake Kivu. Instead of banning this new fishing technique, we need to adapt it by using submersible LED lamps.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142320592","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