African Journal of Ecology最新文献_第9页

Seasonal movement behaviour of large male elephant in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe 津巴布韦万吉国家公园大型公象的季节性移动行为

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-15 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13306

Magdalena G. W. Cygan, Richard Hoare, Nobesuthu Ngwenya, Lochran W. Traill

引用次数: 0

Consumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in a low-nutrient environment 低营养环境中的豹纹陆龟（Stigmochelys pardalis）对鬣狗粪便和人工矿物质舔舐的食用情况

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-15 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13308

Andrew J. Abraham, Mattheus L. H. Louw, Laurene M. van Dijk, Andrea B. Webster

引用次数: 0

Habitat connectivity and plant characteristics affecting a fossorial skink, Typhlacontias brevipes 影响化石石龙子的生境连通性和植物特征

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-15 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13307

Kaera L. Utsumi, Maria A. Eifler, Tanaka E. Muradzikwa, Brendan Luyanda, Michael K. Kanyanga, Elizabeth F. Liu, Colleen A. Buchanan, Douglas A. Eifler

{"title":"Habitat connectivity and plant characteristics affecting a fossorial skink, Typhlacontias brevipes","authors":"Kaera L. Utsumi, Maria A. Eifler, Tanaka E. Muradzikwa, Brendan Luyanda, Michael K. Kanyanga, Elizabeth F. Liu, Colleen A. Buchanan, Douglas A. Eifler","doi":"10.1111/aje.13307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13307","url":null,"abstract":"Plant traits and connectivity influence habitat usage, but fine-scale ecological characteristics that determine fossorial animal movement patterns remain unclear. To understand the influence of landscape connectivity on movement behaviour, we examined vegetation characteristics relative to tracks between vegetation hummocks left by the short blind dart skink, Typhlacontias brevipes, a fossorial lizard inhabiting dunes of the Namib Desert. We measured characteristics of >700 plant hummocks and 293 T. brevipes tracks. Tracks were relatively direct from hummock to hummock (median straightness = 0.94). Vegetation hummocks with tracks were significantly larger than hummocks without tracks, indicating that vegetation size was the most important factor we measured in predicting track occurrence and was more important to skinks than the distances between hummocks, with only 24% of tracks occurring between nearest neighbouring vegetation hummocks. Network clusters consisting of as many as 15 vegetation hummocks were connected by tracks. Skink tracks had a median length of 815 cm and were oriented primarily from 0° to 30°. Our study highlights the importance of vegetation size to fossorial skinks and raises questions regarding other vegetation features that might influence the movement and ecology of fossorial lizards.","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141624230","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

Local extirpation of woody species in Colophospermum mopane woodland under chronic utilisation by elephants 被大象长期利用的 Colophospermum mopane 林地中木本物种的局部灭绝

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-14 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13296

T. G. O'Connor, N. C. M. Pallett, B. W. Clegg, J. Shimbani

{"title":"Local extirpation of woody species in Colophospermum mopane woodland under chronic utilisation by elephants","authors":"T. G. O'Connor, N. C. M. Pallett, B. W. Clegg, J. Shimbani","doi":"10.1111/aje.13296","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13296","url":null,"abstract":"The hypothesis that certain woody species may be prone to local extirpation under chronic elephant utilisation was examined for Colophospermum mopane open woodland, for an area within the foraging range of elephants from permanent water. Elephant density increased from nearly absent in the 1970s to >3 elephants km−2, with 0.62 adult bulls km−2, by 2022. Study components of vegetation impact included a long-term elephant exclosure, a fence-line contrast with an adjacent communal area, comparison with an adjacent wildlife reserve carrying a fifth of the elephant density and the use of historical studies of the vegetation. A history of elephant utilisation resulted in woodland becoming hedged through pollarding of tree stems by elephants. Impacted woodland was characterised by a slightly lower tree density, reduced average height of trees, altered shrub composition and lower species richness. The dominant C. mopane and sub-dominant species had persisted. However, about 14 species were potentially trending towards local extirpation on account of very high levels of adult mortality, but had persisted because of a low level of seedling recruitment. Fleshy fruits were a shared attribute among most extirpation-trending species, which, together with a reduction in woody species richness that affects browsers, has ramifications for trophic flows.","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aje.13296","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141624469","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

Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland condition, plant species richness and wild ungulate population in a semi-arid savannah 放牧对半干旱热带草原牧场状况、植物物种丰富度和野生动物数量的影响

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-14 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13295

Dejene Beyene, Yonas Berhanu, Ayana Angassa

{"title":"Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland condition, plant species richness and wild ungulate population in a semi-arid savannah","authors":"Dejene Beyene, Yonas Berhanu, Ayana Angassa","doi":"10.1111/aje.13295","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13295","url":null,"abstract":"This field study in a semi-arid savannah at Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary, Ethiopia, examined livestock grazing effects on rangeland condition, plant species composition and richness, and population of the endangered Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei). Rangeland condition was analysed using a common protocol for the assessment of semi-arid rangelands. A total count method was used to estimate ungulate numbers. Grazing reduced all measures of range condition and productivity and affected the composition and richness of the herbaceous species. Grazing also induced an increase in the density and number of encroaching woody species Vachellia seyal and Senegalia senegal. The population of the Swayne's hartebeest significantly affected by livestock grazing (mean number of hartebeests observed under moderately and lightly grazed sites were 10.00 ± 2.49 and 6.75 ± 2.06, respectively). No individual hartebeest was observed roaming in the heavily grazed zone, which implies an effective reduction in the extent of habitat available for the hartebeest. The overall condition of the rangeland was poor. Measures to reduce livestock presence in areas from which the hartebeest has been displaced and controlled seasonal livestock grazing within non-sensitive parts of the Sanctuary may benefit the hartebeest. Coupled with these, livestock exclusions for up to a year and interseeding may help improve rangeland condition and hartebeest's habitat.","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141624468","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

Tree size partially mediates the influence of climate on fruit and seed production in Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel 树木大小在一定程度上介导了气候对 Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel 果实和种子产量的影响

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-10 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13302

Guillaume Hounsou-Dindin, Kolawolé Valère Salako, Kisito Gandji, Aristide Cossi Adomou, Achille Assogbadjo, Romain Glèlè Kakaï

{"title":"Tree size partially mediates the influence of climate on fruit and seed production in Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel","authors":"Guillaume Hounsou-Dindin, Kolawolé Valère Salako, Kisito Gandji, Aristide Cossi Adomou, Achille Assogbadjo, Romain Glèlè Kakaï","doi":"10.1111/aje.13302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13302","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding environmental drivers of fruit and seed production in wild edible fruit species is essential for their valorisation. Ricinodendron heudelotii is an oilseed plant whose kernels are particularly treasured in cosmetic and medical industries. This study assessed fruits and seeds production patterns of R. heudelotii. Data were collected for three consecutive years on 30 trees in the phytodistricts of Plateau, Pobè and South Borgou where it naturally occurs. Tree dbh, total height, crown diameter, number of fruits and seed mass were measured. Climatic data were obtained from NASA Power Database. Data were analysed using linear (seed mass) and generalised linear (number of fruits) mixed models and structural equation modelling. Fruit and seed production were significantly higher in the South-Borgou phytodistrict (1433 ± 1144 fruits, 4.26 ± 3.39 kg of Dry matter per tree) and Plateau phytodistrict (1.66 ± 0.35 g DM/seed). Tree dbh further significantly mediated the effect of minimum temperature, and relative humidity on seed mass. Tree dbh, irradiance and dry season rainfall were identified as the best-predictors of seed mass production (kg DM). These results improved current knowledge of the fruit and seed production of R. heudelotii and are of significant importance for the exploitation of the species.","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141584102","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

Alpha and beta-diversity and community structure of dung beetle assemblages in an East African protected savannah 东非受保护热带草原蜣螂群落的α和β多样性及群落结构

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-10 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13299

Thomas Francis Lado, Abusala Albano Stephen, Wani Felix Jibi, Pasquale T. Moilinga

{"title":"Alpha and beta-diversity and community structure of dung beetle assemblages in an East African protected savannah","authors":"Thomas Francis Lado, Abusala Albano Stephen, Wani Felix Jibi, Pasquale T. Moilinga","doi":"10.1111/aje.13299","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13299","url":null,"abstract":"Few studies have examined how dung beetle species composition changes across several mammalian dung types. Species composition and abundance of dung beetles were studied in dung samples of seven African mammals along animal trails and using 14 baited-pitfall traps in both the park and the buffer zone resulting in a combined data set of 113 samples. Both the number of species (18) and the number of individual dung beetles (600) encountered were low for an area close to the Equator. Few species (2) and herbivores (13) tunnellers (9) dominated the dung beetles community, feeding and guild structure respectively. Alpha diversity was moderate 2.06 (1 < H′ ≤ 3). Beta diversity ranged from low 0.8 (high similarity) to high (zero, no similarity). Dung beetle species composition varied with dung type with the degree of pairwise similarity between two dung types in 19 of the total (21) dung beetle communities comparisons showing low similarity (0.4) to no similarity (zero). The observed discrepancies may be attributed to dung size, composition and consistency as well as to the low number of dung of the different animal species sampled. Furthermore, further research is needed as rarefaction curves suggest that sampling was incomplete.","PeriodicalId":7844,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Ecology","volume":"62 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141584101","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

Midden contents as indicators of possible predator–prey relations from a sink hole on Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania 从坦桑尼亚桑给巴尔岛翁古贾的一个水坑中发现的作为捕食者与被捕食者之间可能关系指标的淤泥内容物

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-07 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13304

Thomas T. Struhsaker

引用次数: 0

Anthropogenic linear features exhibit greater mammal activity relative to surrounding game trails in a woody savannah 在树木繁茂的热带稀树草原上，与周围的野味小径相比，人为的线性特征显示出更大的哺乳动物活动范围

IF 1.1 4区环境科学与生态学

African Journal of Ecology Pub Date : 2024-07-03 DOI: 10.1111/aje.13305

Ryan S. Fitzpatrick, Miranda C. Kissel, Matthew A. Wuensch, Taylor C. Michael, David Ward

引用次数: 0

Reframing African ecology: Challenging bias and celebrating contribution 重塑非洲生态学：挑战偏见，赞美贡献