A wake-up call: playback attraction data link numbers of Mount Cameroon FrancolinPternistis camerunensisto abundance and debarking of red stinkwoodPrunus africana

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
THEODORE B. MAYAKA ◽  
FRANCIS GUETSE ◽  
ABEL CHEMURA ◽  
RICHARD TAMUNGANG ◽  
DAVID HOŘÁK
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
Mount Cameroon ◽  
Land Clearance

SummaryThe little studied Mount Cameroon FrancolinPternistis camerunensisis endangered and strictly endemic to the undergrowth of Mount Cameroon’s primary forest. We surveyed the species in the Mount Cameroon National Park in July–August 2016 using call playback at 86 plots systematically placed along 17 transects in an attempt to assess the occupancy and conservation threats to the species. The study’s three main results are as follows. Firstly, Mount Cameroon Francolin occurred in the stratified vegetation types across the altitudinal range of 1,023–2,186 m. Secondly, the response rates of francolin were 15% in submontane forest (800–1,600 m altitude range); 80.8% in montane forest (1,600–1,800 m); 3.9% in montane scrub (1,800–2,400 m); and nil in the lowland forest (0–800 m). Thirdly, bird abundance significantly increased with latitude, ground vegetation height, presence ofPrunus africanaand tall grass cover but decreased with the density of small trees and disturbance caused by heavyPrunusexploitation, and also, based on indirect evidence, hunting. We recommend: (1) systematic use of call playback in monitoring the population status of francolins; (2) an increase in patrolling and law enforcement to control illegal hunting, land clearance and burning of the upper slopes; (3) promotion of sustainable harvesting ofPrunusand agroforestry practices aimed at curbing land clearance in the park surroundings. Further research priorities and conservation strategies have been suggested based on this study’s emerging results.

The consequences of selective logging for Bornean lowland forest birds

1992 ◽  
Vol 335 (1275) ◽  
pp. 443-457 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Bird Conservation ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Dipterocarp Forest ◽  
Logged Forest ◽  
Lowland Dipterocarp Forest

In lowland dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia, most primary forest bird species were present in areas selectively logged eight years previously. However, certain taxa, notably flycatchers, woodpeckers, trogons and wren-babblers, became comparatively rare. In contrast, nectarivorous and opportunistic frugivorous species were significantly more abundant. Few species appeared to change foraging height, but netting rates suggest that the activity of some species had increased, or that some birds ranged over larger areas after logging. Although there is still much to be learned about the survival of birds in logged forest, large areas of this habitat are important for bird conservation. However, the susceptibility of logged forest to fire, and our present incomplete understanding of bird behaviour and population dynamics in logged forests mean that they should not be considered by conservationists as alternatives to reserves of primary forest.

Fruit biomass and relative abundance of frugivores in a rain forest of southern Western Ghats, India

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ganesh ◽  
Priya Davidar
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Mountain Forests ◽  
Edaphic Factors ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Fleshy Fruits ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
Avian Frugivores

Fruit biomass and frugivore abundance were quantified over 3 y in a rain forest of the south Western Ghats, India. Fruit biomass was estimated by sampling fruit fall in the primary forest, and frugivore abundance by a 2.5-km transect. A total of 645 kg ha−1 of fruit was produced annually in the forest. Only 49% of this is edible to the frugivores and the remaining 51% is in the form of non-edible husks. Mammalian frugivores outnumbered avian frugivores and the majority of the mammals were seed predators. The total fruit biomass produced at Kakachi is lower than in the lowland forest and mountain forests in the neotropics but higher than in the wet sclerophyll forest of Australia. Lower diversity of trees and edaphic factors at Kakachi could be some of the reasons for these differences. On the other hand, paucity of fleshy fruits, low density of trees producing fleshy fruits and irregular fruiting of these species, account for the low number of obligate avian frugivores at Kakachi.

scholarly journals Sibuyan Island in the Philippines – threatened and in need of conservation

Oryx ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Goodman ◽  
N. R. Ingle
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Mammalian Fauna ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Excellent Candidate ◽  
Faunal Survey

In the spring of 1992 a group of zoologists completed a faunal survey of Sibuyan Island, a small mountainous island in the central Philippines. This island, which is oceanic in origin and during the Pleistocene at least was not connected to any other island mass, has an exceptional amount of intact primary forest, including lowland forest, a habitat that has all but been destroyed in the Philippines. The mammalian fauna of Sibuyan Island is exceptionally high in endemic species and also contains many other species that are threatened throughout the Philippines. Current logging operations severely threaten the remaining areas of lowland forest on the island. With forests of the Philippines under intense pressure, the most realistic hope for conservation lies in the protection of forests on islands where the population and political pressures are less intense. Sibuyan Island is an excellent candidate for such initiative.

scholarly journals Habitat and population estimates of some threatened lowland forest bird species in Tambopata, south-east Peru

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
HUW LLOYD
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Floodplain Forest ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Forest Bird ◽  
Madre De Dios ◽  
Forest Habitats

Surveys of threatened lowland forest bird species and forest habitats were conducted during a 21-month census of lowland bird communities in Tambopata, Department of Madre de Dios, south-east Peru. A combination of distance sampling census methods and direct counts was used for the census in five sites located along the Rio Madre de Dios and Rio Tambopata. All five sites consisted of different forest types with significantly different habitat components. Three of these sites were classified as primary forest habitats whilst the remaining two were classified as disturbed forests. Population densities were calculated for eight of the threatened species recorded during the census. Density estimates of non-bamboo specialists were higher in primary forest habitats than in disturbed forest habitats. Density estimates of most bamboo specialists were higher in primary Old Floodplain forest with extensive bamboo understorey than in primary Middle/Upper Floodplain forest with smaller, patchy areas of bamboo understorey. Calculation of regional population estimates based on the amount of forest cover from satellite photographs shows that only two of the threatened bird species have substantial populations currently protected by the Parque Nacional Bahuaja-Sonene and Reservada Nacional de Tambopata. Selective logging operations that reduce overall tree biomass and remove a large proportion of palm tree species from primary forest habitats will have an adverse affect on local populations of four of the threatened bird species in the region.

Nest position and type affect predation rates of artificial avian nests in the tropical lowland forest on Mount Cameroon

Ostrich ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Djomo Nana ◽  
Ondřej Sedláček ◽  
Jana Vokurková ◽  
David Hořák
Keyword(s):  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Tropical Lowland ◽  
Mount Cameroon ◽  
Tropical Lowland Forest ◽  
Predation Rates

scholarly journals Waldbauliche Massnahmen für das Auerhuhn im Sonderwaldreservat Amden: ein erstes Fazit

2014 ◽  
Vol 165 (4) ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
Nicolas Bircher ◽  
Harald Bugmann ◽  
Kurt Bollmann
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Species Response ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Restoration Measures

Silvicultural habitat restoration measures for the capercaillie in the special forest reserve of Amden: a first review As a threatened forest grouse species, the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) depends on conservation actions in core areas of its Alpine distribution. In this study, we looked at the species' response to silvicultural measures in the special forest reserve of Amden in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Here, silvicultural measures were taken between 2006 and 2009 in stands that had previously been classified as less or not suitable for capercaillie. In summer 2010, we investigated how stands used by the species differed from unused ones by relating indirect evidence of species presence with forest structural and compositional variables. Evidence of species' habitat use was found in 12 out of 33 surveyed stands. Used stands showed a significantly higher share of bilberry in the ground vegetation layer, a higher proportion of coniferous trees and a lower canopy cover. Furthermore, the proportion of suitable habitat in immediate vicinity of the treated forest stand was higher in used stands. Our results support that habitat restoration by logging is a promising method to improve capercaillie habitat, in particular in fir-spruce forests, where the effectivity of restoration measures was higher compared to fir-beech forests. Hence, managing guidance for the future selection of stands for restoration should be based on habitat suitability of the stand itself and on an appropriate habitat quality of adjacent forest stands.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Soil Physicochemical Properties, Soil Seed Bank and Species Density of Five Plant Communities in Awka Anambra State

2021 ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
Archy O. Nora ◽  
U. K. Ekwealor ◽  
I. E. Mbaekwe ◽  
Izundu, I. Alex ◽  
C. F. Iroka
Keyword(s):  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Species Density ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Abandoned Farmland ◽  
Tropical Lowland ◽  
Tropical Lowland Forest ◽  
Experimental Plots

The research study investigated the physicochemical properties of the soil in five different locations around Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka campus for their above ground and seed bank status with regards to their germination rate and species density. The study areas were located at Cattle grazed field at gariki Amansea, abandoned farmland near Chisco Transportation and Engineering workshop, frequently mowed lawn at Unizik e-library, a Savanna woodland behind the banking plaza Unizik  and tropical lowland forest at Botanical garden Unizik. The seed bank investigation was conducted from September 2016 to March, 2017. Analysis of variance was used to test significant differences between seed bank densities among experimental plots at different soil horizons. The soil physiochemical parameters among the experimental plots were also analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Significant differences were tested at P= 0.05 at 95% confidence intervals. Results revealed the highest value for above ground species was found in tropical lowland forest (53.67±6.11) while the lowest was in cattle grazed field (8.00±0.82). Meanwhile the highest value for seed bank was in the frequently mowed lawn Unizik e-library (93.00±18.00) and the lowest was in the forest (6.50±4.95). The comparison of the two groups using T-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the above ground and seed bank values of the tropical lowland forest P=0.003 and also between the above ground and seed bank values of the frequently moved lawn, Unzik e-library P=0.001. More so, the Savanna above ground values and seed bank species value were not significant at P=0.006, as well as cattle grazed field (8.00 ± 0.82) and (50.00± 19.31) at P=0.006. Also, the Savanna plot comparison of above ground (44.50±3.54) and the seed bank (14.00±5.20) revealed significant differences between the two groups at P=0.006. Electrical conductivity was highest in the cattle grazed field (40.00+1.08) and the highest pH value was found in the Unizik e-library (6.19+0.22). Sorensen’s coefficient index revealed the highest similarity between above ground and seed bank species occurred in the cattle-grazed field followed by the frequently mowed lawn Unizik e-library (0.196), then the abandoned farmland (0.074), the Savanna (0.060) and the forest (0.025) respectively. Since the similarity is measured between 0 and 1, it means therefore that there is a weak similarity (0.276) between above ground vegetation and the seed bank in the cattle grazed field while the frequently mowed lawn (0.196) above ground similarity with seed bank was very weak. There is no similarity (0.025) between the above ground vegetation and the seed bank in the tropical forest. This seed bank investigation showed that the number of plant species in the seed bank does not reflect the total number of species in the above ground and the soil properties have an impact on the species density of the areas.

scholarly journals Diet of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps) in the Ecuadorian Chocó: Conflict between primates and loggers over fruiting tree species

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Citlalli Morelos-Juárez ◽  
Andrea Tapia ◽  
Galo Conde ◽  
Mika Peck
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Spider Monkey ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Forest Remnant ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Effective Conservation

Identifying key food resources for critically endangered species is vital in the design of effective conservation strategies, particularly if these resources are also targeted by anthropogenic activities such as logging. The province of Esmeraldas in NW Ecuador is heavily dependent on commercial logging. It also maintains the only healthy population of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps). The unprotected forest remnant of Tesoro Escondido, in the buffer zone of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, is home to an estimated 130 individuals of a global population of approximately 250. There is an urgent need for information to develop effective conservation action plans for the species, in particular the impact of logging activity on key feeding resources. We characterised the floristic composition of the habitat of A. f. fusciceps and estimated the availability of fruit resources for the annual cycle of 2012-2013 in sixteen 0.1 hectare vegetation plots. We determined feeding preferences for A. f. fusciceps using behavioural observations applying the Chesson ε index to identify key feeding tree species. We reviewed regional logging permits to identify species targeted for extraction by the timber industry and calculated extraction volumes in primary forest for key feeding tree species to identify potential conflict between logging and primate diet. We identified 65 fruiting tree species from 34 families that formed the diet of A. f. fusciceps. The Chesson ε index identified twelve species as preferred species with further phenological observations identifying seven species as staple foods and two palms as potential fall back fruits. Additionally, high densities of the lipid rich fruits of Brosimum utile make this an important resource for this primate throughout the year. Of 65 feeding tree species identified for A. f. fusciceps, 35 species are also targeted as sources of timber. Five key feeding species would be depleted under current sustainable management extraction protocols while two other species would be significantly impacted in terms of local abundance.Given the critically endangered status of A. f. fusciceps, remaining primary forest in NW Ecuador requires urgent protection, including thorough revision of current logging protocols to ensure long term survival of the species.

scholarly journals Diet of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps) in the Ecuadorian Chocó: Conflict between primates and loggers over fruiting tree species

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Citlalli Morelos-Juárez ◽  
Andrea Tapia ◽  
Galo Conde ◽  
Mika Peck
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Spider Monkey ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Forest Remnant ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Effective Conservation

Identifying key food resources for critically endangered species is vital in the design of effective conservation strategies, particularly if these resources are also targeted by anthropogenic activities such as logging. The province of Esmeraldas in NW Ecuador is heavily dependent on commercial logging. It also maintains the only healthy population of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps). The unprotected forest remnant of Tesoro Escondido, in the buffer zone of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, is home to an estimated 130 individuals of a global population of approximately 250. There is an urgent need for information to develop effective conservation action plans for the species, in particular the impact of logging activity on key feeding resources. We characterised the floristic composition of the habitat of A. f. fusciceps and estimated the availability of fruit resources for the annual cycle of 2012-2013 in sixteen 0.1 hectare vegetation plots. We determined feeding preferences for A. f. fusciceps using behavioural observations applying the Chesson ε index to identify key feeding tree species. We reviewed regional logging permits to identify species targeted for extraction by the timber industry and calculated extraction volumes in primary forest for key feeding tree species to identify potential conflict between logging and primate diet. We identified 65 fruiting tree species from 34 families that formed the diet of A. f. fusciceps. The Chesson ε index identified twelve species as preferred species with further phenological observations identifying seven species as staple foods and two palms as potential fall back fruits. Additionally, high densities of the lipid rich fruits of Brosimum utile make this an important resource for this primate throughout the year. Of 65 feeding tree species identified for A. f. fusciceps, 35 species are also targeted as sources of timber. Five key feeding species would be depleted under current sustainable management extraction protocols while two other species would be significantly impacted in terms of local abundance.Given the critically endangered status of A. f. fusciceps, remaining primary forest in NW Ecuador requires urgent protection, including thorough revision of current logging protocols to ensure long term survival of the species.

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