Bushbuck Research Articles

Conservation value of the Wadrékro village forest in the Department of Oumé, Central-Western Côte d'Ivoire

Village forest fragments play a crucial role in wildlife conservation. However, limited information is available on their mammalian diversity. To address this gap, this study was conducted in the Wadrékro Village forest, located in the Oumé department, to identify the mammalian fauna inhabiting the area. The survey involved cataloging mammal species through linear transects and reconnaissance walks (recce). Pedestrian surveys recorded 14 mammal species, grouped into 9 families and 3 orders: Artiodactyla, Rodentia, and Carnivora. These orders are representative of the major mammal groups found in better-preserved areas of the country. Specifically, Tragelaphus scriptus and Thryonomys swinderianus were the most frequently observed species. According to the IUCN Red List, all recorded mammal species are classified as Least Concern (LC), except for Hippopotamus amphibius, which is categorized as Vulnerable (VU). Rural forest patches can therefore contribute to wildlife conservation, particularly for mammalian species.

Parks can effectively protect ungulates and elephants despite a constant poaching threat

Establishing protected areas is a key element of most conservation strategies, but continuous effective management is needed to ensure that biodiversity is protected. Here we provide an evaluation of park effectiveness by quantifying changes in the abundance of the commonly occurring ungulates (bushbuck - Tragelaphus scriptus; red duiker - Cephalophus harveyi; blue duiker - Cephalophus moniticola, bushpigs - Potomochoerus larvatus, and giant forest hogs - Hylochoerus meinertzhageni), and African elephants (forest elephants - Loxodonta cyclotis, savanna elephants - Loxodonta africana, and their hybrids) in Kibale National Park, Uganda and consider the financial commitment needed to ensure protection. Following the upgrading of the protection of Kibale from a forest reserve to a national park, wildlife populations generally increased. Bushpigs are an exception and their populations appear stable. The increases of ungulate and elephant populations typically happened soon after park establishment, with the exception of the giant forest hog that only recently showed an increase. We conducted an assessment of Uganda Wildlife Authorities budget and those of the small NGOs working in the area and considered the contribution that Makerere University Biological Field Stations makes to the community. This analysis indicates that with a small budget UWA and its collaborators have been successful in protecting the park’s ungulate and elephant populations. While the past decades have demonstrated the park’s ability to conserve biodiversity with limited resources, the changing climate and mounting pressures faced by the park will necessitate significantly increased investments.

Enteric parasites Cyclospora cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium hominis in domestic and wildlife animals in Ghana

BackgroundEnteric parasitic infections remain a major public health problem globally. Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora spp. and Giardia spp. are parasites that cause diarrhea in the general populations of both developed and developing countries. Information from molecular genetic studies on the speciation of these parasites and on the role of animals as vectors in disease transmission is lacking in Ghana. This study therefore investigated these diarrhea-causing parasites in humans, domestic rats and wildlife animals in Ghana using molecular tools.MethodsFecal samples were collected from asymptomatic school children aged 9–12 years living around the Shai Hills Resource Reserve (tourist site), from wildlife (zebras, kobs, baboons, ostriches, bush rats and bush bucks) at the same site, from warthogs at the Mole National Park (tourist site) and from rats at the Madina Market (a popular vegetable market in Accra, Ghana. The 18S rRNA gene (18S rRNA) and 60-kDa glycoprotein gene (gp60) for Cryptosporidium spp., the glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh) for Giardia spp. and the 18S rDNA for Cyclospora spp. were analyzed in all samples by PCR and Sanger sequencing as markers of speciation and genetic diversity.ResultsThe parasite species identified in the fecal samples collected from humans and animals included the Cryptosporidium species C. hominis, C. muris, C. parvum, C. tyzzeri, C. meleagridis and C. andersoni; the Cyclopora species C. cayetanensis; and the Gardia species, G. lamblia and G. muris. For Cryptosporidium, the presence of the gp60 gene confirmed the finding of C. parvum (41%, 35/85 samples) and C. hominis (29%, 27/85 samples) in animal samples. Cyclospora cayetanensis was found in animal samples for the first time in Ghana. Only one human sample (5%, 1/20) but the majority of animal samples (58%, 51/88) had all three parasite species in the samples tested.ConclusionsBased on these results of fecal sample testing for parasites, we conclude that animals and human share species of the three genera (Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Giardia), with the parasitic species mostly found in animals also found in human samples, and vice-versa. The presence of enteric parasites as mixed infections in asymptomatic humans and animal species indicates that they are reservoirs of infections. This is the first study to report the presence of C. cayetanensis and C. hominis in animals from Ghana. Our findings highlight the need for a detailed description of these parasites using high-throughput genetic tools to further understand these parasites and the neglected tropical diseases they cause in Ghana where such information is scanty.Graphical

Ethno-medicinal uses of wild animal products in Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

Since the beginning of time, traditional medicines, including both plant and animal products,have been utilized to treat a variety of illnesses, especially in rural areas around the world. The purpose of this study, which was carried out in the Mokwa Local Government Area, was to acquire information on the types of wild animals hunted and used in traditional medicine, determine the types of illnesses cured and the perception of the people towards traditional medicine in the area. Structured questionnaires and oral interviews were used to gather data on the local use of traditional medicine from a representative sample of the communities. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables, charts and percentages. The results obtained revealed that the majority of respondents in the research area used animal products as medicine. Among the communities studied, Bokani was observed to record the least usage (6.67 %), while Kudu and Kpaki both had higher (10.67 %) usage respectively. The most frequently used wild animals include Duiker, Bush buck and Monitor Lizard. In Kpaki community, 11 animals were identified, while in Bokani community, only 4 animals were identified. The ways through which wild animals are acquired for the medicinal purpose include farmland, market and the state forest reserves around. A total of 20 animal products were identified to be effective in treating diseases and ailment. Therefore, sustainable use of wild animal species needs to be enhanced for improved conservation of threatened species and prevent their extinction in the near future.

Putative bloodmeal sources in Glossina austeni tsetse fly of Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve in Kenya.

Tsetse flies, the sole biological vectors of trypanosomiasis, are predominantly controlled using visual traps and targets baited with attractant lures. Formulation of the lures is informed by compositions of odors from vertebrate hosts preferred by specific tsetse species. However, there are no effective lures for Glossina austeni, a major vector of trypanosomiasis along eastern-coastal region of Africa. Formulation of the lure can be informed by knowledge of G. austeni, preferred vertebrate hosts. We thus sought to understand these hosts by assessment of putative bloodmeal sources of this tsetse fly in Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve where this species is naturally present. We sampled tsetse flies using NGU traps, isolated non-teneral G. austeni flies based on their feeding status, and identified vertebrate source of bloodmeals in their midgut contents using vertebrate 16S rRNA-PCR High-Resolution Melting analysis. We analyzed the relative vertebrate species frequencies in the bloodmeals using Fisher's exact tests. Overall, we trapped 122 flies, most of which (66.39%) were non-teneral, among which we successfully identified the vertebrate bloodmeals in 30 samples. Specifically, we detected putative suni antelope (Neotragus moschatus), harnessed bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and cattle (Bos taurus) derived bloodmeals. Putative suni antelope bloodmeals were significantly more frequent (63.22%), than those of the harnessed bushbuck (23.33%), buffalo (10.00%) or cattle (3.33%) (p < 0.05 Fisher's exact tests) among the samples analyzed. Suni antelope thus appears to predominate vertebrate bloodmeal source for G. austeni in the reserve, coincident with findings reported elsewhere, and is therefore a viable candidate for bioprospecting for G. austeni responsive attractants.

Ungulate co-occurrence in a landscape of antagonisms

Protected areas largely now exist as coupled natural-human ecosystems where human activities are increasingly forcing wildlife to adjust behaviors. For many ungulate species that rely on protected areas for their persistence, they must balance these anthropogenic pressures amid natural regulators. Here, we investigated the pressures exerted from humans and livestock, apex predators, and within guild competitors on ungulate co-occurrence patterns in a fragile protected area complex in West Africa. Specifically, we used multi-species occupancy modeling to quantify co-occurrence among four ungulates (Tragelaphus scriptus, Redunca redunca, Kobus kob, Phacochoerus africanus) and applied structural equation models to discern the relative contributions of pressures on co-occurrence patterns. We observed a strong spatial gradient across with higher co-occurrence in the wetter western portion of our ~13,000 km2 study area. Co-occurrence patterns among ungulate dyads ranged from 0.15 to 0.49 with the smallest body sized pair showing highest levels of sympatry, warthog and reedbuck. We found that anthropogenic pressures, namely cattle had the greatest effect in reducing sympatry among wild ungulates more strongly than the presence of African lions that also exhibited negative effects. Humans, hyenas, and competitors showed positive effects on ungulate co-occurrence. In a region of the world ongoing rapid socio-ecological change with increasing threats from climate and environmental instability, protected areas in West Africa represent a major safeguard for wildlife and human livelihoods alike. Our findings highlight the need for effective interventions that focus on large carnivore conservation, habitat restoration, and containment of livestock grazing to promote the coexistence of biodiversity and socio-economic goals within the region.

Influence of microhabitat structure on large‐ and medium‐sized mammals in South African forests

AbstractMicrohabitats play a significant role in the persistence of mammalian species and communities. In South Africa, the forest biome is the smallest. It includes the naturally fragmented Southern Mistbelt Forest group, where little is known about contemporary mammalian assemblage dynamics concerning these forest's microhabitats. We determined the microhabitat characteristics that best explained mammalian species' presence and absence in these forests in the northern Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu‐Natal provinces. We deployed a minimum of 60 camera traps at any time for 24 h/day to monitor mammalian species' presence/absence. We recorded a habitat foliage profile within a 20 m radius around each camera trap. The species most often photographed were Tragelaphus scriptus and Cercopithecus albogularis labiatus, with the least photographed species being Leptailurus serval and Felis silvestris cafra. All mammalian species detected in our study had a negative association with bare ground. Cercopithecus albogularis labiatus, an arboreal species that requires a dense connecting canopy for movement, showed a positive association with crown closure. Our study highlighted that microhabitat variables: leaf litter, crown closure and grass cover played an important role in the presence and persistence of large and medium‐sized mammalian species that inhabit the Southern Mistbelt Forests, which benefits forest conservation management plans.

Motives, other meat sources and socioeconomic status predict number of consumers with preference for two antelope species served in Enugu-Nigeria

Conservationists are raising concerns about escalating rates of illegal hunting and trading of wildlife resource for food (meat). Hunting of wild animals is associated with complex motivations and drivers that include the high demand for high-value luxury products or a preference for a particular wild animal that consumers consider nutritious over other commercial meat products. Despite the fact that the preference for animal meat from the wild could be a contributory factor hampering most conservation efforts, more studies are still focusing more on habitat destruction rather than bushmeat trade. We investigated the factors influencing preference for antelopes compared with other forms of meat (commercial and non-antelope bushmeat) sold at bushmeat retail centers of Enugu-Nigeria. Data was collected from retailers and a face-to-face interview of respondents at four different centers (selected by cluster probability sampling method) of the three rural areas over a 12-month period. A total of 283 bushbucks (Tragelaphus sylvaticus) and 211 common duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia) were provided by hunters to the retail centers. Data from 1884 semi-structured questionnaires (administered by simple random sampling) indicate most respondents preferred to consume antelope meat because it is readily availability. The duiker was consumed for its morphology and resemblance to goat. In the absence of antelope, the non-antelope bushmeat (guinea fowl) and commercial meat (pork) were consumed due to affordability. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMMs) analyses indicated that respondent age, occupation and motives were significantly related to the number of consumers of antelopes and other sources of meat at the retail centers. The younger consumers of age range 18–35 years consumed antelope and other forms of meat at the retail centers due to health benefits, while businessmen, due to availability. The selection of antelopes by the younger consumers could be an indication of a push to healthier living which may be motivated by status-seeking attitude that could in turn affect future conservation of wildlife resources.

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Ecological MonographsVolume 93, Issue 1 e1533 COVER IMAGEFree Access Cover Image First published: 01 February 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1533AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Graphical Abstract COVER PHOTO: Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus) in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park. Daskin et al. (Article e1549; doi:10.1002/ecm.1549) tracked movement and foraging behaviors of three closely related but different-sized spiral-horned antelopes: bushbuck, nyala (T. angasii), and kudu (T. strepsiceros). The authors found that behavioral metrics scaled allometrically with body mass, which in turn reduced spatial and dietary overlap among species. Allometric scaling of behavior may promote niche differentiation and species coexistence throughout the animal kingdom. Photo credits: Brett Kuxhausen / Gorongosa Media Project. Volume93, Issue1February 2023e1533 RelatedInformation

Mechanisms of individual variation in large herbivore diets: Roles of spatial heterogeneity and state-dependent foraging.

Many populations of consumers consist of relatively specialized individuals that eat only a subset of the foods consumed by the population at large. Although the ecological significance of individual-level diet variation is recognized, such variation is difficult to document, and its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Optimal foraging theory provides a useful framework for predicting how individuals might select different diets, positing that animals balance the "opportunity cost" of stopping to eat an available food item against the cost of searching for something more nutritious; diet composition should be contingent on the distribution of food, and individual foragers should be more selective when they have greater energy reserves to invest in searching for high-quality foods. We tested these predicted mechanisms of individual niche differentiation by quantifying environmental (resource heterogeneity) and organismal (nutritional condition) determinants of diet in a widespread browsing antelope (bushbuck, Tragelaphus sylvaticus) in an African floodplain-savanna ecosystem. We quantified individuals' realized dietary niches (taxonomic richness and composition) using DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples collected repeatedly from 15 GPS-collared animals (range 6-14 samples per individual, median 12). Bushbuck diets were structured by spatial heterogeneity and constrained by individual condition. We observed significant individual-level partitioning of food plants by bushbuck both within and between two adjacent habitat types (floodplain and woodland). Individuals with home ranges that were closer together and/or had similar vegetation structure (measured using LiDAR) ate more similar diets, supporting the prediction that heterogeneous resource distribution promotes individual differentiation. Individuals in good nutritional condition had significantly narrower diets (fewer plant taxa), searched their home ranges more intensively (intensity-of-use index), and had higher-quality diets (percent digestible protein) than those in poor condition, supporting the prediction that animals with greater endogenous reserves have narrower realized niches because they can invest more time in searching for nutritious foods. Our results support predictions from optimal foraging theory about the energetic basis of individual-level dietary variation and provide a potentially generalizable framework for understanding how individuals' realized niche width is governed by animal behavior and physiology in heterogeneous landscapes.

Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo).

"The Dahomey Gap" is a human-derived mostly savannah region that separates the Guineo-Congolian rainforest block into two major units: the Upper Guinean and the Lower Guinean Forest blocks. Several forest patches are distributed throughout this savannah-dominated habitat. The mammal communities in the Dahomey Gap region have been poorly studied. In this paper we analyse the species richness and abundance of, as well as conservation implications for, medium and large mammals (especially ungulates) inhabiting a complex of flooded forests near the Mono river in south-eastern Togo. We use several field methods to describe the species richness of mammals in this area, including camera-trapping, recce transects, Kilometric Index of Abundance (KIA) estimates, examination of hunters' catches and face-to-face hunter interviews. Overall, we directly recorded 19 species that coexist in these forests. Based on interviews, nine other species were confirmed as present in the study area. Only five species were common: Cephalophus rufilatus, Tragelaphus scriptus, Chlorocebus aethiops, Atilax paludinosus and Herpestes ichneumon. The area still contains various threatened species such as Tragelaphus spekii and Hippopotamus amphibius. We stress that to ensure the protection of the Dahomey Gap mammals, it is important to seriously consider protecting not only the forest patches but also the surroundings, mainly savannah landscapes.

Assessment of Bush Buck (Gongronema latifolia) as a Dietary Supplement on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Indices of Broiler Chickens

The high cost of conventional feed ingredients for livestock and competition between man and his animals, necessitate the need for alternative and under-utilized plant materials in poultry nutrition. However, in doing so, it is important to ensure that such plant materials are not deleterious to the animals. This research therefore examines the effect of bush buck (Gongronema latifolia) leaf extracts as dietary supplements on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Fresh leaves (6kg) of bush buck (Gongronema latifolia) were after rinsing with de-ionized water air-dried for ten (10) days under room temperature and were ground in a hammer mill to pass through 0.5mm sieve. It was thereafter dissolved in de-ionized warm water (40oC) at 1kg per 5 litres of water and was left to settle for 1 hour before decanting the supernatant. One hundred and ninety-two (192) broiler chicks, after brooding for two weeks were divided into six (6) dietary treatment groups of thirty two (32) birds each. Birds on dietary treatment 1, had no vitamin/mineral supplement in water, while dietary treatment 2 birds had supplemental commercial vitamin/mineral premix (vitalyte extra). Dietary treatments 3, 4, 5 and 6 had Gongronema latifolia leaf warm water extract in the following ratios; 25, 50, 75, and 100ml/litre of water respectively. The vitalyte extra was administered (5g/l) once a week while the birds had access to feed and water/GLLE ad libitum. On the last day of the experiment, blood samples were collected from the birds for haematological analysis. All the assayed parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), heterophil (H), lymphocyte (L), monocyte (M), eosinophil (E), basophil (B), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) were significantly (P&lt;0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. The analyzed serum biochemical indices such as total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, sodium and potassium were generally better in the 25ml/l GLLE. Glucose was significantly reduced in the vitalyte treatment while total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein were least in the 50ml/l GLLE treatment. In conclusion, the results above revealed that the Gongronema latifolia leaf warm (40oC) water extract of 50ml/l was safer and supported better health and wellbeing of the broiler chickens. This shows that Gongronema latifolia leaf warm (40oC) water extract could be used to wholly replace the conventional vitamins and minerals (vitalyte extra) in broiler diets without any adverse effect on growth and health performance of the birds.

Patterns of predation and meat-eating by chacma baboons in an Afromontane environment

Abstract Meat-eating among non-human primates has been well documented but its prevalence among Afromontane baboons is understudied. In this study we report the predatory and meat-eating behaviours of a habituated group of gray-footed chacma baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes) living in an Afromontane environment in South Africa. We calculated a vertebrate-eating rate of 1 every 78.5 hours, increasing to 58.1 hours when unsuccessful predation attempts were included. A key food source was young antelopes, particularly bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), which were consumed once every 115 observation hours. Similar to other baboon research sites, predations seemed mostly opportunistic, adult males regularly scrounged and monopolised prey, there was no evidence they used an active kill bite, and active sharing was absent. This is the first baboon study to report predation of rock python (Python sebae) eggs and likely scavenging of a leopard (Panthera pardus) kill (bushbuck) cached in a tree. We also describe several scramble kleptoparasitism events, tolerating active defence from antelope parents, and the baboons inhibiting public information about predations. In the latter case, baboons with meat often hid beyond the periphery of the group, reducing the likelihood of scrounging by competitors. This often led to prey carcasses being discarded without being fully exploited and potentially providing resources to scavengers. We also highlight the absence of encounters with numerous species, suggesting the baboons are a key component of several species’ landscapes of fear. Given these findings it seems likely that their ecological role in the Soutpansberg has been undervalued, and such conclusions may also hold for other baboon populations.

Some Perspectives on the Use and Value of Southern Mistbelt Forests to Surrounding Rural Communities in Northern Eastern Cape, and Southern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

African forests have been negatively affected because of human impacts. The use of forest products is high for lower-income communities. Excessive logging alters the forest patch structure and composition, causing degradation. In addition, increases in bushmeat hunting for sustenance and trade result in increased pressures on forest mammalian species. We investigated forest use by rural communities residing around forest patches in uMthatha, Eastern Cape, and iNgeli and Creighton, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We selected villages to conduct interviews based on their proximity to forest patches sampled during our camera trap surveys (May 2018 – June 2019). We conducted 303 interviews using semi-structured questionnaires and analysed these. A higher proportion of respondents (38%, n = 117) conveyed that the forest extent increased over ten years, mainly because the settlement residents did not use the forest often. Afrocarpus falcatus and Ptaeroxylon obliquum were the preferred native tree species to be logged because of their sturdiness and durability for building structures and fencing. The most hunted mammalian species included the southern bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus ) and common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia ). The most significant reason for residents hunting was for consumption, followed by financial gain. According to respondents, ungulates are the most frequently targeted for consumption in lower-income settlements and are an important source of protein. Some participants in our study expressed that mammalian species' numbers are dwindling because of people overhunting. An emerging trend in our study was the high cultural importance placed on the forest. Forest resources are more likely to be used sustainably if appropriate measures such as capacity building for security guards as well as clear rules and regulations about hunting and plant harvesting are applied. Incorporating socio-economic aspects into ecological management is of benefit for forest conservation.

Facultative cleaning of spiral-horned antelope by the African paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis).

In cleaning associations, individuals known as “cleaners” remove and feed on parasites and pests found on, or around, other animals known as “clients.” While best documented in marine environments and as mutualisms, cleaning associations are widespread in terrestrial systems and range along a spectrum of obligate to facultative associations. In African savannas, cleaning associations primarily comprise facultative interactions between mammals and birds that remove attached parasites. Few reports, however, exist on cleaning associations that involve the removal of unattached pests. In this short note, I report a novel facultative bird–ungulate cleaning association involving the removal of unattached pests, between the African paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) and two species of spiral‐horned antelope (Tragelaphus spp.): greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and Cape bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus). On multiple occasions, I observed African paradise flycatchers hawking flying insects around greater kudu and a Cape bushbuck during the dry season at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia, Kenya. These observations document a rare feeding strategy for the African paradise flycatcher and are among the few records on cleaning interactions involving the removal of unattached pests.

Assessment of Proximate Composition, Minerals and Vitamins of Bush Buck (Gongronema latifolia) Leaf Meal and Leaf Extracts

Assessment of Proximate Composition, Minerals and Vitamins of Bush Buck (Gongronema latifolia) Leaf Meal and Leaf Extracts

Five small antelope species diets indicate different levels of anthrodependence in the Overberg Renosterveld, South Africa

AbstractThe Overberg area, Western Cape, South Africa is highly suitable for agricultural practices and has subsequently been severely transformed over the last four centuries. This has created a novel habitat for many wildlife species. The objective of this study was to determine the forage use of five antelope species and thereby assess their level of anthrodependence in terms of diet. The five species were bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus), Cape grysbok (Rhaphicerus melanotis), common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), grey rhebok (Pelea capreolus) and steenbok (Rhaphicerus campestris). To do this, we performed a histological analysis on dung samples collected. Our study indicated a high ratio of anthropogenic to natural vegetation in the diets of bushbuck, grey rhebok and steenbok, as anthropogenic vegetation presented a high nutrient food resource, which is easily accessible. However, Cape grysbok and common duiker indicated a higher use of natural vegetation. The results indicated that all the species benefit from the resources offered by the altered landscape and that some species may be dependent on these resources while others appear to be more dependent on the pockets of natural vegetation in the landscape.

Diversity, Abundance, and Habitat Association of Medium and Large-Sized Mammals in Tiski Waterfall, Awi Zone, Ethiopia

The reliable data on faunal diversity, abundance, and habitat preference are essential for proposing and establishing relevant conservation interventions. A survey was done from September 2019 to March 2021 to investigate the diversity, relative abundance, and habitat association of large and medium mammals in Tiski Waterfall, Ethiopia. Data were collected using the line transect survey method in both habitat types. In cliff sites, the point transect was also used. The habitats were populated by large and medium animal species that favor dense forest and shrubland habitats near water sources. During the research, three different habitat categories were evaluated (dense forest, shrubland, and cliff sites). Ten mammalian species were discovered. During the wet season, there were 243 ± 6.6 populations recorded, while during the dry season, there were 204 ± 6.8. Seasonal differences in species abundance were statistically significant p ≤ 0. 001 . The total populations of the three habitat types were 198.2 ± 7.39, 135 ± 5.35, and 114 ± 5.16 for dense forest, shrubland, and cliff site, respectively. All three habitat categories had a great difference in species abundance p ≤ 0. 001 . The olive baboon (Papio anubis) was the most common, accounting for 38 percent of the population, followed by the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops), which accounted for 23 percent. Leopard (Panthera pardus) and common bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) contributed the least to the total, accounting for only 2% each of the total. The highest diversity of mammalian species was found in dense forest (H′ = 0.98), followed by shrubland (H′ = 0.90), and the cliff location has the lowest diversity (H′ = 0.57). The maximum uniformity of the species was found in dense forests (J = 0.51), followed by a shrub region (J = 0.43), and the remaining of the habitat (J = 0.35). Dense forest and shrubland had the highest species similarity (Sl = 0.67), followed by shrubland and cliff site (SI = 0.61). In dense forests with cliff sites, the similarity was lowest (SI = 0.31) in each. To limit the impact of agricultural growth on big and medium mammals, good habitat management is required.

Interpreting unusual imagery: a rare rock art depiction of a bushbuck in the southeastern mountains of South Africa

ABSTRACT A rare, painted depiction of a bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) is reported from the Drakensberg Mountains of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The painting is located outside the known distribution range of the species. It is identified based on the close correlation between details of the painting and the colouration of the animal. Differences between the painting and animal are noted. These differences are discussed in terms of San views on anomalous individual animals. How depictions of such animals may act as symbols is also discussed.

What factors affect species richness and distribution dynamics within two Afromontane protected areas?

Context Biodiversity monitoring programs provide information on the status and trends in wildlife populations. These trends are unknown for most mammals within African montane forests, which harbour many endemic and threatened species. Camera traps are useful for assessing mammal populations, because they allow for the estimation of species richness, occupancy, and activity patterns. Aims We sought to explore the richness and distribution of small- to large-sized mammals by using occupancy models while accounting for imperfect detection in Volcanoes and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, in Rwanda and Uganda. Methods We used camera-trap data collected from 2014 to 2017 by the Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) network and multi-season occupancy models with multispecies data to assess the dynamics of species richness and distribution in the Virunga Massif and the influence of site covariates on species detection probability, occupancy, colonisation and extinction. Key results We identified 17 species from 7047 trap-days, with most of them showing an uneven distributional pattern throughout the park. We found that average species richness per site increased from five to seven species in 2017. Average local colonisation was estimated at 0.13 (s.e. 0.014), but the probability of local extinction was 0.17 (s.e. 0.028) and negatively influenced by distance from the park boundary. Detection probability was highest for medium-sized species. For species distribution, we found that black-fronted duiker, Cephalophus nigrifrons, and bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, declined in distribution but remained widespread in our study area, while all other species showed an increase in distribution over the study period. Conclusions Our approach allowed us to draw inferences on rare species, such as African golden cat, Caracal aurata, by estimating detection probability on the basis of shared covariate information with more common, widespread species. As such, we were able to estimate all occupancy parameters across the terrestrial mammal community. Implications The results of this study on the distribution of terrestrial mammal species can be used by park management to inform optimal ranger patrolling efforts for mitigating threats in areas of high species presence. Additionally, the results can highlight locations of potential human–wildlife conflicts on the basis of species commonly found along the park boundary.