Abstract
The African montane bamboo Yushania alpina provides both habitat and food for many species in the Albertine Rift region. In Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, it is especially important as a key food resource for the Endangered mountain gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei and Endangered golden guenon Cercopithecus mitis kandti. We examined temporal and spatial variation in bamboo shoots regeneration and consumption by primates, monitored between 2013 and 2018 in 82 16-m2 plots located along transects in VNP. Our analyses revealed a decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo in recent years, which is mirrored by a decline in bamboo shoot consumption by primates; but an increase in proportional intake. Local declines in regeneration are potentially due to high intensities of herbivory, decreased amounts of rainfall during growing seasons, and natural processes that form part of the life cycle of bamboo. Moreover, spatial variation in bamboo regeneration can be explained by elevation, as well as by stand-level variation in soil acidity, vegetation density, and the density of dead bamboo culms. We discuss the potential mechanisms underlying observed temporal and spatial variations and outline possible effects of a decline in bamboo regeneration for primates and other aspects of biodiversity in VNP.
Highlights
Bamboo forests occur in most tropical regions and serve as habitat for a large variety of species
Most of this decline occurred before 2015, current rates of bamboo shoot regeneration are at such low levels that even small future declines could eventually lead to a complete lack of bamboo shoot regeneration in our study plots
Trends in climatic conditions (e.g., Volcanoes National Park (VNP) has seen a decline in rainfall and increase in temperatures, this paper), increases in primate population sizes which may have led to an increased intensity of herbivory, and natural succession of bamboo stands are all factors that possibly contribute to observed declines in bamboo shoot regeneration
Summary
Bamboo forests occur in most tropical regions and serve as habitat for a large variety of species. Y. alpina is monocarpic, and death of entire sections of bamboo forest will usually follow synchronized flowering and seed-forming events. Park staff of VNP as well as researchers affiliated with The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center hinted at similar trends in VNP Such declines, if confirmed, could lead to limitations in food availability for species, such as gorillas and golden guenons. If confirmed, could lead to limitations in food availability for species, such as gorillas and golden guenons It could affect various aspects of the ecology of these primates, including reproductive behaviour, and could have consequences for a range of other biota (e.g., birds) associated with bamboo habitat
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