scholarly journals Diet of Grauer’s Gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) in a Low-Elevation Forest

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yntze van der Hoek ◽  
Wadika Dumbo Pazo ◽  
Escobar Binyinyi ◽  
Urbain Ngobobo ◽  
Tara S. Stoinski ◽  
...  

Although the vast majority of critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas (<i>Gorilla beringei graueri</i>) inhabit low-elevation rain forests, current insights into this ape’s life history and ecology stem predominantly from 2 small populations ranging in highland habitats. Here, we provide an initial and non-exhaustive overview of food items of Grauer’s gorillas in the Nkuba Conservation Area (NCA), a lower-elevation (500–1,500 m) forest located between Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Maiko National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Community-based conservation efforts at the NCA aim to protect a population of unhabituated Grauer’s gorillas, which we have studied since 2014. Between 2014 and 2020, we simultaneously tracked 1–3 gorilla groups and recorded a total of 10,514 feeding signs on at least 100 plant species, ants, termites, and fungi. Vegetative plant parts (plant stems, leaves, pith, bark, and roots), especially of Marantaceae and Fabaceae, made up close to 90% of recorded feeding signs, with fruit accounting for most of the remainder and a small (&#x3c;1%) number of feeding signs on invertebrates and fungi. We found that the most frequently recorded food items were consumed year-round, though fruit intake seems to peak in the September-December wet season, possibly reflecting patterns in fruit phenology. The diet of Grauer’s gorillas in the NCA differed from that of Grauer’s gorillas in highland habitat and instead showed similarities with Grauer’s gorillas at the lowland forest of Itebero and with western lowland gorillas (<i>G. gorilla</i>), which live under ecologically comparable conditions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-125
Author(s):  
Yntze van der Hoek ◽  
Escobar Binyinyi ◽  
Urbain Ngobobo ◽  
Tara S. Stoinski ◽  
Damien Caillaud

To accurately determine the space use of animals, we need to follow animal movements over prolonged periods, which is especially challenging for the critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas (<i>Gorilla beringei graueri</i>) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As a consequence, we know little about Grauer’s gorillas, particularly from the lower elevational parts of their range. Between 2016 and 2018, we tracked unhabituated Grauer’s gorillas in lowland forests (500–1,000 m a.s.l.), at the community-managed Nkuba Conservation Area in Nord Kivu (DRC) to provide estimates of daily travel distances (DTD), daily displacement distances (DDD), and the linearity of recorded paths expressed as the Linearity Index (LI): DDD/DTD. We found an average DTD of ∼1.3 km (range 0.05–5.0 km), with temporal variation among monthly averages; specifically, an increase in travel distance over the June–August dry season resulting in peak travel distances at the beginning of the September–December wet season. Daily displacements showed similar temporal variation, which resulted in a lack of obvious temporal patterns in LI. We conclude that the movement patterns of Grauer’s gorillas in lowland forests, which are characterized by larger DTD than those of Grauer’s gorillas that inhabit highland habitats, show similarity to travel distances of other predominantly frugivorous gorillas. Moreover, the observed temporal patterns in space use may be tentatively linked to temporal changes in fruit availability or consumption. These observations have consequences for our understanding of the ecological role that Grauer’s gorillas play and provide baseline data to estimate current and future distributions, abundances, and carrying capacities of this highly threatened animal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Gatriay Tut Deng ◽  
Birtukan Tsegaye Demisse

This study investigated feeding preference and habitat association of waterbucks in Nechisar National Park from November 2016 to August 2017 by total count and direct observation methods. From this survey, 20 plant species were observed to be the food items consumed by waterbucks. Waterbucks were mostly grazers than browser. The plant species consumed by waterbucks was highly significant between seasons (χ2 = 121.34, df = 1, p < 0.05 ). Out of 20 total plant species consumed, annual grass (11.5%), Leersia virginica (8.4%), and Cynodon dactylon (8.4%) were the most frequently consumed food items, but Tamarindus indica (2.9%), Balanites aegyptica (3.3%), and Acacia polycantha (2.36%) were the least consumed food items. There was significant difference between plant species consumed during both seasons (χ2 = 177.67, df = 19, p < 0.05 ). The Shannon–Wiener diversity index result revealed that there were different varieties of food items for waterbucks in dry season (H’ = 2.9) than in wet season (H’ = 2.6). Young leaves comprised the largest proportion of plant parts consumed by waterbucks compared to others. There was a highly significant difference in feeding plant parts in both seasons (χ2 = 88.5, df = 7, p < 0.05 ). Waterbucks spent more time on feeding in the morning and late afternoon during both seasons. The total number of waterbucks in each habitat varied due to food availability in different seasons. Different conservation measures should be taken against waterbuck reduction and create appropriate environment for waterbuck.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Dewi Ayu Lestari ◽  
Agung Sri Darmayanti

Alas Purwo National Park (APNP) is a conservation area with lowland forest type. The adaptation of plants conserved is strongly influenced by environmental factors and the behaviour of flowering and fruiting. The aims of this research were to find the number, species, dominance, and abundance of flowering and fruiting plants, comparison of flowering and fruiting species, and environmental factors affecting the flowering and fruiting time in APNP observation tracks. This study used purposive random sampling in each observation track where flowering and fruiting plants were found. Environmental factors (temperature, humidity, light intensity, soil pH, elevation, and coordinates) in each observation track were measured. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and PAST 4.0. statistic program. The behaviour of flowering and fruiting plants species in APNP was unique. There were 90 species of flowering and fruiting plants in APNP from 45 families. Most species often found flowering and fruiting were Orophea enneandra, Polyalthia littoralis and Leea angulata which were scattered in Moto Lele, Patirtan Mas, and Sadengan Savanna. Fruiting plants species were more often found than flowering ones. Temperature and light intensity became the two most affecting environmental factors on flowering and fruiting plants behaviour. The study of flowering and fruiting behaviour is very important for genetic resources conservation and conservation areas management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Ice Anugrahsari ◽  
Mustofa Agung Sardjono ◽  
Nur Fitriyah ◽  
Golar

The stability of protected areas was influenced by the existence of areas outside it (Meijaard et al., 2006). The more development of the area outside the conservation area, it was necessary to arrange the function of the area to increase the value and opportunities for the use of the area to support development (Kelso et al., 2010). The buffer zone had a very important function, namely to reduce population pressure into conservation areas and nature reserves, provide community economic activities and was an area that allows for sustainable interaction of benefits for the community with conservation areas (Ardhian, 2011). The existence of conservation areas, buffer zones and community economics had a reciprocal relationship that could be beneficial if managed properly (Robinson et al., 2013; and Golar, 2014). This conservation area was increasingly isolated due to exploitative and destructive human activities such as land conversion, encroachment and the resulting increase in human population (Indrawan, 2007; Livawanty et al., 2012; and Golar et al., 2014). A conservation strategy that integrates the uniqueness of resources and the people who live and activities around and within the national park still needs to be explored (Mallombasang, 2012). Abdullah et al. (2013) states that the application of collaboration mechanisms must be followed by safeguards, as a safeguard for its success. One of them was the consolidation of social contracts towards strengthening the buffer zone. The research purposes was to find out the effectiveness of collaboration models that had been applied in overcoming conflicts and find out management strategies through a partnership pattern (process towards social contracts) in an effort to implement collaborative management. This research was conducted in the Lore Lindu National Park area which included 6 buffer villages as samples. The location was determined by consideration as a buffer zone where the community was part of the partnership process. Data analysis was adjusted to the research objectives of qualitative descriptive (in cluster model), fishbone and SWOT analysis. The conclusion was interaction and dependence on various supply of forest resource products that had been going on for generations, and in the end giving birth to positive local wisdom was a major factor in maintaining forest cover in Cluster 1 of Lore Lindu Valley Bada National Park. The experience and learning of collaborative management activities that had been or had been carried out in TNLL were still conventional in nature where community involvement was still mobilized and dominated by BBTNLL management. The non-optimal management of colabotaif in TNLL was dominated by internal factors compared to internal and external factors such as limited resources and access to information, the involvement of stakeholders at the local level which was not yet maximal, the absence or finalization of boundary management, traditional attitudes towards life, and experience bad past in resolving tenure and social conflicts. Global, national and local strategic issues demonstrate the potential for developing collaborative and participatory TNLL management through prospective and competitive Community-based Conservation Partnerships (KKM) in the future. Four important components as a policy strategy that must be carried out based on SWOT in the development of KKM in TNLL were strengthening the legality status of the area through mapping boundaries and preparing participatory zoning, empowering parties, especially local institutions and resources, changing paradigms in resolving tenurial and social conflicts, and developing diversity alternative livelihood sources. Collaborative Management that begins with a social contract in the Community-based Conservation Partnership (KKM) policy, besides having a huge opportunity in overcoming tenurial and social conflicts in the LLNP, also provided certainty and guarantees the sustainability of more equitable and participatory management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Gashururu ◽  
Samuel M. Githigia ◽  
Methode N. Gasana ◽  
Richard Habimana ◽  
Ndichu Maingi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Glossina (tsetse flies) biologically transmit trypanosomes that infect both humans and animals. Knowledge of their distribution patterns is a key element to better understand the transmission dynamics of trypanosomosis. Tsetse distribution in Rwanda has not been well enough documented, and little is known on their current distribution. This study determined the current spatial distribution, abundance, diversity, and seasonal variations of tsetse flies in and around the Akagera National Park. Methods A longitudinal stratified sampling following the seasons was used. Biconical traps were deployed in 55 sites for 6 consecutive days of each study month from May 2018 to June 2019 and emptied every 48 h. Flies were identified using FAO keys, and the number of flies per trap day (FTD) was used to determine the apparent density. Pearson chi-square (χ2) and parametrical tests (t-test and ANOVA) were used to determine the variations between the variables. The significance (p < 0.05) at 95% confidence interval was considered. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between tsetse occurrence and the associated predictors. Results A total of 39,516 tsetse flies were collected, of which 73.4 and 26.6% were from inside Akagera NP and the interface area, respectively. Female flies accounted for 61.3 while 38.7% were males. Two species were identified, i.e. G. pallidipes [n = 29,121, 7.4 flies/trap/day (FTD)] and G. morsitans centralis (n = 10,395; 2.6 FTD). The statistical difference in numbers was significant between the two species (p = 0.000). The flies were more abundant during the wet season (15.8 FTD) than the dry season (4.2 FTD). Large numbers of flies were trapped around the swamp areas (69.1 FTD) inside the park and in Nyagatare District (11.2 FTD) at the interface. Glossina morsitans was 0.218 times less likely to occur outside the park. The chance of co-existing between the two species reduced outside the protected area (0.021 times). Conclusions The occurrence of Glossina seems to be limited to the protected Akagera NP and a narrow band of its surrounding areas. This finding will be crucial to design appropriate control strategies. Glossina pallidipes was found in higher numbers and therefore is conceivably the most important vector of trypanosomosis. Regional coordinated control and regular monitoring of Glossina distribution are recommended. Graphic Abstract


Author(s):  
Michael D. Drake ◽  
Jonathan Salerno ◽  
Ryan E. Langendorf ◽  
Lin Cassidy ◽  
Andrea E. Gaughan ◽  
...  

Mammalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Brugière ◽  
Bakary Magassouba ◽  
Amidou Sylla ◽  
Halimou Diallo ◽  
Mamadou Sow

AbstractThe Republic of Guinea is thought to contain the largest population of common hippopotamus in West Africa. However, no systematic field survey has been carried out recently and the information available is limited to informal observations. To clarify the status of the common hippopotamus in Guinea, we carried out a biannual population survey along the section of the Niger River (the largest river in Guinea) within the Haut Niger National Park. We counted 93 hippopotamuses in 28 groups in the dry season and 77 hippopotamuses in 23 groups in the wet season. Mean group size and number of neonates did not change between the seasons. Hippopotomuses were more numerous along the river sections bordering uncultivated floodplains. This underlines the significance of this habitat (which is used as a grazing area) for conservation of this species. Haut Niger National Park is the most important protected area in Guinea for conservation of the common hippopotamus. Hippopotamus-human and -cattle conflicts in terms of floodplain use in the park's buffer zone should be closely monitored. Floodplain conversion to rice fields represents one of the most important threats to the long-term conservation of hippopotamus populations in Guinea.


Oryx ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Makacha ◽  
Michael J. Msingwa ◽  
George W. Frame

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is famous for its huge herds of migrating wildebeest, zebras and other ungulates. But these herds spend much of the year in neighbouring reserves where their survival depends on preserving the right conditions. The authors made a study of two of these reserves with disturbing results. The Maswa Game Reserve they found was seriously threatened by invading (illegal) settlement with a fast-growing population cultivating land and felling trees; in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area they report that the Maasai have taken to poaching, both for subsistence meat and for trophies to sell – skins, ivory and rhino horn. In both places the guards are so poorly equipped they can do little to stop poaching.


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