Wooded Savanna Research Articles

Bird species richness and abundance in an urban disturbed wooded Savanna

Bird species richness and abundance in an urban disturbed wooded Savanna

Soil geochemistry and constraint of tree seedlings immediately after germination on Macrotermes termite mounds in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Macrotermes termite mounds in the Kruger National Park occupy a significant part of the savanna landscapes, occurring at densities of up to 70 km-2 and often exceeding 10 m in width and 4 m in height. The mounds are usually devoid of trees, but have dense grass cover in wet years. As a result, these mounds form large patches of grassland amongst the wooded savanna. To our knowledge, it is not known why trees are largely excluded from the mounds. We analysed soil surface nutrient concentrations on and off mounds (0-2 cm deep, n = 80) to ascertain whether the availability of nutrients could be influencing competition between grasses and tree seedlings. The results showed that potential deficiencies in P, Ca, Cu, Zn and B in soils off the mounds are likely to be constraining plant growth. Notably, only B, with an average concentration of 0.19 mg kg-1, was likely to be limiting plant growth on the mounds. Notwithstanding likely interactions with herbivory and fire, we hypothesise that because grasses are far less susceptible to deficiencies of B than dicotyledonous trees, it is likely that grass competition with tree seedlings is considerably greater on mounds than off mounds.

Carbon stock estimation in halophytic wooded savannas of Uruguay: An ecosystem approach

Savannas constitute a mixture of trees and shrub patches with a more continuous herbaceous understory. The contribution of this biome to the soil organic carbon (SOC) and above-ground biomass (AGB) carbon (C) stock globally is significant. However, they are frequently subjected to land use changes, promoting increases in CO2 emissions. In Uruguay, subtropical wooded savannas cover around 100,000 ​ha, of which approximately 28% is circumscribed to sodic soils (i.e., subtropical halophytic wooded savannas). Nevertheless, there is little background about the contribution of each ecosystem component to the C stock as well as site-specific allometric equations. The study was conducted in 5 ​ha of subtropical halophytic wooded savannas of the national protected area Esteros y Algarrobales del Río Uruguay. This work aimed to estimate the contribution of the main ecosystem components (e.g., soil, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants) to the C stock. Site-specific allometric equations for the most frequent tree species and shrub genus were fitted based on basal diameter (BD) and total height (H). The fitted equations accounted for between 77% and 98% of the aerial biomass variance of Neltuma affinis and Vachellia caven. For shrubs (Baccharis sp.), the adjusted equation accounted for 86% of total aerial biomass. C stock for the entire system was 116.71 ​± ​11.07 ​Mg⋅ha−1, of which 90.7% was allocated in the soil, 8.3% in the trees, 0.8% in the herbaceous plants, and 0.2% in the shrubs. These results highlight the importance of subtropical halophytic wooded savannas as C sinks and their relevance in the mitigation of global warming under a climate change scenario.

Quaternary alluvial paleosols of the Atbara River, eastern Sudan: description and paleoenvironments

ABSTRACTQuaternary climatic changes in the Nile Basin and their effects on the evolution of African mammals and vegetation are poorly understood, particularly for the last 1 Ma. Pleistocene (~230 to <17 ka) alluvial sediments exposed along the middle stretches of the Atbara River in eastern Sudan are rich in fossil vertebrates and are ideal for paleoenvironmental reconstruction during this time interval. We performed petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical analyses on the middle Atbara paleosols to reconstruct the paleoclimate and paleolandscape. We describe Aridisols/Calcisols characterized by calcretes and containing gypsum and halite, and Vertisols with pedogenic slickensides and a relatively large amount of smectite. The paleosols indicate that the study area transitioned from an arid to semi‐arid climate during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS)7/6, to a more humid climate during MIS5, and then a return to more arid conditions during MIS2. The studied paleosols likely supported a range of grassland and wooded grassland savanna habitats. Our study confirms that the Atbara River Valley provided favorable living conditions for Pleistocene large mammal communities including Homo, potentially facilitating dispersals out of Africa through the Nile corridor.

A focus on the last 1000 years of natural environmental changes in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. Can we detect anthropogenic disturbances?

The vast tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa were impacted by marked climatic deterioration, which mainly developed between 2500 and 2000 cal yr BP. However, the incidence of human intervention in these rainforests appears all the more speculative, although this was the period when the first stages of Bantu migration occurred towards the south. On the scale of the last millennium, which has seen increasing penetration and colonization of these Bantu peoples, one can envisage a priori a more accentuated anthropogenic pressure on the forest landscape. The combined observations of the environmental processes during the last 1000 years, as preserved in sediments from lakes, swamps, flooded forests and even oceanic environments, are presented on the basis of 24 records. The dominant number of sites in the humid forest or wooded savannas recorded only processes of relatively small size and local effects influencing vegetation cover almost simultaneously around 1000 and 500 cal yr BP; nothing is comparable with the devastating effect on a very large scale of the 2600 cal yr BP forest crisis. Conversely, other sites located in more perennial forest or savanna did not reveal any discontinuity. In all the examples of sedimentary archives considered, no out-of-phase or unusual event, possibly linked to human population and its impact, was observed. However, in more recent times, in intensive iron-ore mining/smelting areas, changes in the vegetal cover could be a legacy of charcoal production impacting forest biomass. Nevertheless, despite the clear cultural and socio-political importance of iron, its role in shaping vegetation communities in the Central African forest is generally presumed to be negligible. The oceanic causes of these climatic oscillations are more widely accepted. On a larger scale, the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age are climatic anomalies visible in a number of palaeoenvironmental records worldwide and date to ∼1600–1000 cal yr BP and ∼ 700–100 cal yr BP, respectively. These events are less visible or sometimes not present in some palynological records of tropical Africa, whereas reconstructions from lacustrine records in Atlantic equatorial Africa show overall reductions in lake levels and increases in pollen belonging to light-demanding and pioneer vegetation formations in relation to these two oscillations. To reply to what was more important «the potential influence of human activities on regional climate, or the vulnerability of societies to environmental variability», it appears clearly to date, that the second paradigm is most likely. However, today, the ongoing combined efffects of climate change and human impact, including the decimation of the diversity of seed dispersers necessary to regenerate the rainforests of West and Central Africa, may have irreparable and unforeseen consequences.

Spatial Dynamics and Predictive Analysis of Vegetation Cover in the Ouémé River Delta in Benin (West Africa)

The vegetation cover of the Ouémé Delta constitutes a biodiversity hotspot for the wetlands in southern Benin. However, the overexploitation of natural resources in addition to the intensification of agricultural practices led to the degradation of the natural ecosystems in this region. The present work aims to reconstruct, using remote sensing, the spatial dynamics of land use in the Ouémé Delta in order to assess the recent changes and predict the trends in its vegetation cover. The methodology was based on remote sensing and GIS techniques. Altogether, this process helped us carry out the classification of Landsat images for a period of 30 years (stating year 1990, 2005, and 2020) via the Envi software. The spatial statistics resulting from this processing were combined using ArcGIS software to establish the transition matrices in order to monitor the conversion rates of the land cover classes obtained. Then, the prediction of the plant landscape by the year 2035 was performed using the “Land Change Modeler” extension available under IDRISI. The results showed seven (07) classes of occupation and land use. There were agglomerations, mosaics of fields and fallow land, water bodies, dense forests, gallery forests, swamp forests, and shrubby wooded savannahs. The observation of the vegetation cover over the period of 15 years from 1990 to 2005 showed a decrease from 71.55% to 63.42% in the surface area of the Ouémé Delta. A similar trend was noticed from 2005 to 2020 when it reached 55.19%, entailing a loss of 16.37% of the surface area of natural habitats in 30 years. The two drivers of such changes are the fertility of alluvial soils for agriculture along and urbanization. The predictive modeling developed for 2035 reveals a slight increase in the area of dense forests and shrubby wooded savannas, contrary to the lack of significant decrease in the area of gallery forests and swamp forests. This is key information that is expected to be useful to both policy and decision makers involved in the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources in the study area.

Valorization of Vitellaria paradoxa butter in cosmetics and agrifood in Africa

Forest species are very abundant in African ecosystems and contribute to the economy of households, through their use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and agri-food. Among these species, Vitellaria paradoxa (sapotaceae) is a tree that can reach about fifteen meters, which grows exclusively in wooded savannas in Africa. Its area of ​​distribution is Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to highlight the forms of valuation of shea butter in the food industry and in cosmetics. To do this, we carried out a literature review. The results revealed that shea butter is a fat extracted from the kernels of the shea fruit. It is obtained by shelling, drying and crushing the nuts. Crushed seeds and then mixed with water. Once immersed in water, the impurities will come out naturally from the butter and thus settle in the bottom of the container. Then, the butter that has remained on the surface is collected, and kneaded, to be cooked for a long time at a very low temperature. The water evaporates, leaving only room for the oil, which will be manually filtered through muslin and then conditioned. Once at room temperature, the butter (melted into oil) regains its solid and melting texture. This butter, for its properties, is on considerable importance in food industry and cosmetics. Thus, shea butter is used in cooking (edible oils), in pastry products, confectionery and in chocolate industry as a substitute for cocoa butter. In cosmetics, it is best known for its moisturizing and softening properties of the skin. It is also used as an excipient in cosmetic formulations such as ointments, shampoos, toilet soaps and in creams.

Factors affecting vegetation dynamics in the south of the Mokolo District in the Far North of Cameroon

Plant dynamics is a natural process that occurs in the ecosystem. This dynamic becomes abnormal in the presence of human pressure. The vegetation of the district of Mokolo (Cameroon) faces many anthropic factors that disturb its steady evolution. This work aims to evaluate the different factors that influence the vegetation dynamics in the south of the Mokolo District. All traces of anthropization were identified on all woody species in a rectangular plot (20 m x 100 m). All individuals with a height ≤1.30 m and a Dhp less than 10 cm were considered regenerating individuals. Among the main plant factors, dynamics identified, regeneration, spread type, phytogeographic type have positive impacts while logging, debarking, pruning, grubbing, trampling and burning have negative impacts. Regeneration is the main positive natural factor with the highest frequency in wooded savannas (321±95%). Timber harvesting is the main negative anthropogenic factor with a higher frequency in the home garden (85.00%) and the shrub savannas (68.66%). To reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive impacts, the government must implement reforestation projects in this ecologically fragile area.

Land Use Dynamics in the Department of Séguéla, Northwestern Côte D’Ivoire

Land use monitoring occupies a very important place in the analysis of the dynamics of the earth system. It helps to understand the organization and helps to provide relevant elements for the establishment of diagnoses and the development of environmental forecasts. The objective of this study is to follow the evolution of the agricultural landscape in the department of Séguéla from 1988 to 2020 and to make a prediction for 2050, in order to manage the spaces reasonably. The methodology adopted is based on the one hand on the processing of satellite images for the analysis of land cover and on the other hand on predictive modeling (LCM model) by 2050. The results obtained show that the land use maps produced after processing the satellite images made it possible to highlight the dynamics of the agricultural landscape in this part of the Worodougou region. During the period 1988 to 2020, we witness an increase in the area of cultivated territory as well as a slight reduction in wooded savannas which are largely made up of perennial crops (cashew trees, cocoa trees, coffee trees, etc.). These two aforementioned classes have respective annual rates of change of 2.42% and −0.44%. A scenario modeling land cover changes in 2050 with an overall accuracy of 80.35% revealed a continued growth of crops and fallows to the detriment of natural forests and wooded savannas.

The impact of wood cutting and of bush fires on the dynamics of the herbal strata of Sudano-Guinean Savanna

Few studies were carried out on the impact of wood cutting and bush fires on the dynamics of the herbal strata in savannahs of Adamawa, Cameroon. This study has as objectives to evaluate: 1. the recovery of the vegetation of shrub and grass savanna, 2. the evolution of the number of herbs with regards to time, 3. the floristic and specific contribution of the herbal specie. The inventories of herbaceous plants were carried out through quadra method in 9 sub-plots of 10 m × 10 m for each vegetal formation. The experimental design was split-plot with two (02) factors (savanna trees and shrubs), three (3) treatments (felling without fire, with fire and witness) and three (3) rehearsals/repetitions (portions). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare means between treatments by using STATGRAPHIC XVII, and XLSAT to obtain result shown that 103 herbaceous plants divided in 73 genres and 23 families. The rate of recovery of savanna vegetation the herbs are more numerous 60% in the CSF, 50% in the CAF and 45% in witness site (wood savanna), Adversely, 30% in a witness site, 40% in the CSF and 50% in the CAF (shrub savanna). The number the species have grown from 3 to 45 in the tree’s savanna and 2 to 34 for the shrub savanna. The specific contribution of herbaceous varies according to the sites and the species.

Roots take up labeled nitrogen from a depth of 9 m in a wooded savanna in Brazil

The savannas (called Cerrado) are the second-largest vegetation formation in Brazil after the Amazon rainforest, with about 2 million km2. Roots have been found in very deep soil layers in Cerrado ecosystems, which suggests a crucial role of deep rooting in the supply of water and nutrients over dry periods. The aim of our study was to gain insight into the complementarity of common Cerrado woody species in taking up mobile nutrients throughout deep soil profiles. In a closed-canopy savanna with dense woody understory, labeled nitrate was injected into the soil at six soil depths (0.1, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, or 12.0 m) with three plots per depth, at two dates (in rainy and dry seasons). Five months after labeled nitrate injection, young leaves were sampled and foliar δ15N was determined in each plot in the three most common woody species (Coussarea hydrangeifolia, Miconia albicans and Xylopia aromatica). The maximum depth of 15N uptake was dependent on the species. X. aromatica trees took up 15N from a maximum depth of 9 m and exploited a much larger soil volume than the two other species, with the uptake of 15N at a horizontal distance of up to 5 m between the trunk and the injection site. The behavior of M. albicans and C. hydrangeifolia was similar, with a strong uptake of 15N only in the 0–1.5 m soil layer, within 2 m horizontally from the injection site. The depth of 15N uptake over the dry season was not related to the diameter at breast height of the woody plants sampled. We show that roots can take up labeled nitrogen from a depth of 9 m in tropical wooded savannas, which suggests an important role of deep-rooted species in closing biogeochemical cycles on highly weathered tropical soils.

Diversity in Nutrient Content and Consumer Preferences of Sensory Attributes of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties in Ugandan Agroecosystems

The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most widely consumed legumes globally due to its nutrient content, taste, and affordability. Nutrient composition and consumer preference were determined for twenty local farmer (landrace) and commercial peanut varieties grown in the Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts of the central wooded savanna of Uganda through sensory and laboratory evaluation. Significant differences in nutrient content (p < 0.05) among peanut varieties were found within and across sites. A significant relationship between nutrient content and consumer preference for varieties within and across sites was also realized (Wilk’s lambda = 0.05, p = 0.00). The differences in nutrient content influenced key organoleptic characteristics, including taste, crunchiness, appearance, and soup aroma, which contributed to why consumers may prefer certain varieties to others. Gender differences in variety selection were significantly related to consumer preference for the crunchiness of roasted peanut varieties (F = 5.7, p = 0.016). The results imply that selecting different varieties of peanuts enables consumers to receive different nutrient amounts, while experiencing variety uniqueness. The promotion of peanut intraspecific diversity is crucial for improved nutrition, organoleptic appreciation and the livelihood of those engaged in peanut value chains, especially for the actors who specialize in different peanut products. The conservation of peanut diversity will ensure that the present and future generations benefit from the nutritional content and organoleptic enjoyment that is linked to unique peanut varieties.

Isotopic paleoecology (δ13C, δ18O) of late Quaternary herbivorous mammal assemblages from southwestern Amazon

We report the first radiocarbon datings and carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) stable isotopes data to reconstruct the paleoecology of medium to large herbivorous mammals from late Quaternary of southwestern Amazon (Acre and Rondônia states, Brazil). AMS 14C dates for Neochoerus sp. (29,072 - 27,713 Cal yr BP), Notiomastodon platensis (25,454 - 24,884 Cal yr BP) and Eremotherium laurillardi (11,320 - 11,131 Cal yr BP) support the Lujanian ages. All fossils have low δ13C and δ18O isotopic values that suggest C3-dominated environments from closed canopy forests to wooded savannas, agreeing with paleovegetation reconstitution. Most species were browsers (piC3=100%; Niche breadth, BA=0), where the key species with the largest body mass, N. platensis (∼6,300 kg) and E. laurillardi (∼3,500 kg), possibly had a more generalized browser diet in closed-canopies to woodlands. Their diet distinguished from the C3/C4 generalist Trigodonops lopesi (∼1,900 kg), which foraged in wooded savannas (piC3=70%; BA=0.72), similarly with its relative Toxodon platensis (∼1,800 kg) that had a browse-dominated mixed feeder diet (piC3 ≥ 84%, BA ≤ 0.38) in Peruvian and Bolivian Amazon localities. Palaeolama major (∼280 kg) was possibly a strictly folivorous within forest canopies, whereas Tapirus sp. (∼250 kg) and Mazama sp. (∼40 kg) were browsers in closed-canopies to woodlands. Holmesina rondoniensis (∼120 kg) was a browser but not restricted, where could also feed on herbaceous from understories in woodlands, and Neochoerus sp. (∼200 kg) feeding predominantly herbaceous plants in wooded savannas (piC3=∼69%; BA=0.75). We estimate that the interspecific competition could have been avoid by different feeding strategies, although more investigations are still needed to better understand their ecological interactions in the habitats of the southwestern Amazon during the late Quaternary.

Miombo woodland, an ecosystem at risk of disappearance in the Lufira Biosphere Reserve (Upper Katanga, DR Congo)? A 39-years analysis based on Landsat images

Lufira Biosphere Reserve (LBR) is a protected area located in Southeastern DR Congo, created for the conservation of Miombo woodland, an ecosystem threatened by anthropogenic activities developed in the region. However, scientific studies regarding land cover dynamics within the LBR are non-existent to date. This study maps and quantifies the land cover dynamics within and around the LBR, based on diachronic analysis of five Landsat images (1979, 1986, 1998, 2008 and 2018) and field verification missions. Landscape metrics were utilized to understand changes in landscape pattern. The results indicate that Miombo woodland area have been reduced by a factor of three in the LBR, as they covered 11.2 km2 in 2018 compared to 85.3 km2 in 1979. The annual deforestation rate between 1979 and 2018 was 1.8%, almost eight-fold higher than the rate registered at the country level. Within the LBR, this deforestation has been offset by an increase in areas occupied by grassy savanna (+16.9 km2), as well as fields and fallows (+53.3 km2). Further, water and wetland area increased by 17.9 km2 in 39 years whereas the wooded savanna, the bare soil and built-up decreased by 24.9 km2 and 4.0 km2 respectively. In general, analysis of landscape spatial pattern dynamics through landscape metrics, showed a process of creation and aggregation of grassy savanna, water and wetlands, as well as fields and fallows, as opposed to dissection and attrition of Miombo woodland, wooded savanna, bare soil and built-up. Overall, the LBR has undergone a major transformation, mainly due to demographic pressure and the development of subsistence activities in a precarious economic context. The study concludes that in the absence of any land use planning policy, LBR risks losing its status following lost of the rare Miombo woodland patches still existing.

Comunidade arbórea em cerradão na bacia do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

O objetivo neste estudo foi verificar a análise fitossociológica da comunidade arbórea de cerradão em um trecho da bacia do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso do Sul. Foram demarcadas 100 parcelas de 1.000 m², com a medição das árvores com diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) maior ou igual a 10 cm. Foram levantados 2.638 indivíduos distribuídos um total de 91 espécies lenhosas. Tapirira guianensis obteve o maior valor de importância (13,3%). A diversidade (H’ = 3,493) e a equabilidade (J’ = 0,77) mostraram notável distribuição ao longo da área levantada. A riqueza e a composição da amostragem, bem como os valores de Shannon e Pileou gerados, mostraram-se compatíveis com informações de outros estudos, indicando que a vegetação lenhosa amostrada na bacia do rio Verde condiz com o esperado para áreas de cerradões do Centro-Oeste.

Ecosystem restoration in fire-managed savanna woodlands: Effects on biodiversity, local livelihoods and fire intensity

Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potentially contrasting goals of long-term carbon storage, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods are unknown. To quantify the effects of grazing exclusion on vegetation and fire behaviour, we established six 30 × 30 m fenced exclosures with grazed controls, in a mesic wooded savanna. Experimental burns were done after 1.5 years. Tree seedlings were few but more common inside fences. Field layer cover and biomass increased inside fences, and grass species increased in numbers and cover. Fire intensity was higher inside fences, killing shrubs and saplings but not mature trees. Interviews confirmed that overgrazing has resulted in “cool fires”, causing shrub encroachment. High-intensity fires occurred in the 1980s after a zoonotic disease killed most livestock. Short-term increase in carbon storage through fire and grazing exclusion may lead to loss of pasture, and in the long-term increased wildfire risk.

Dinâmicas de uso e cobertura do solo do território da comunidade pesqueira do povoado São Pedro, Jaramataia, Alagoas

Este trabalho objetivou efetuar um levantamento e classificação sobre os usos e cobertura do solo no território da comunidade pesqueira do povoado São Pedro em Jaramataia, Alagoas, utilizando como suporte o geoprocessamento. Para isso utilizou-se a imagem LANDSAT 8, cena 215/067, que foi processada através de algoritmos não supervisionados e supervisionados usando o software Envi 5.3. Para a classificação não supervisionada a interpolação gerou 7 classes que apresentou vários conflitos de dados. Para a supervisionada foi identificada e caracterizada oito classes: savanas estépicas arborizadas, savanas estépicas secundárias, estepe estacional arborizada, lavoura temporária ou pastagem, lavoura permanente, solo exposto, área urbana e corpos d’água com destaque para a pesca artesanal. Com isso, observou-se que a área possui elevado grau de antropização e a mancha relevante de vegetação nativa se concentra nas cotas altimétricas mais acentuadas do relevo de difícil acesso. Esse estudo abre possibilidade para a gestão do território a partir da apropriação de informações das áreas de uso e cobertura e geração de políticas públicas que promovam o desenvolvimento local com base em ações sustentáveis.

Kitala Ware: A New Early Iron Age Pottery Group from the Lower Congo Region in Central Africa

This article presents the first detailed account of a previously unknown Early Iron Age pottery group from the Kongo Central Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ceramic group is named Kitala ware, after the site where it was first discovered, and excavated in 2014 and 2015. Dated between cal AD 230 and 524 at Kitala, the ware is also documented as surface finds from six other sites south of the Congo River. Its chronology partly overlaps with the previously known Kay Ladio ware dated between cal AD 30 and 475. Both Early Iron Age (EIA) pottery groups share many features and are distinct from Ngovo ware, the province’s earliest pottery group which preceded the arrival of iron metallurgy and dates between 420 cal BC and cal AD 130. The users of Kitala ware had iron metallurgy and lived in a natural environment of open deciduous woods with access to tree species characteristic of wooded savannas, such as Bridelia spp., and gallery forests, such as Elaeis guineensis. The clay properties, shapes, and decoration patterns of Kitala vessels presented in this article indicate that this ceramic group derived from Kay Ladio ware. While it is unrelated to EIA pottery traditions known in the Atlantic Coast region of the Congo Republic to the north, it does share specific features with certain EIA pottery types in the vicinity of Kinshasa. This article shows that during the EIA, the Lower Congo region of Central Africa had more regional variation in ceramic production than previously known.

Behind white-tailed deer teeth: A micro- and mesowear analysis from three Panamanian pre-Columbian archaeological sites

The white tailed-deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann 1780) is one of the largest mammals in Holocene America. It was a primary resource for pre-Columbian communities in the wooded savannas of Panama for several millennia. The oldest remains yet found refer to the Late Preceramic period (6000-4500 cal yr BP), when people were already farming (i.e. at Cerro Mangote). Deer bones, antlers, and inferentially, sinews and skins, were used for tools, ornaments, musical instruments, and furniture. A prominent role in regional (i.e., Greater Coclé) symbolism is evidenced by the frequent representation of these cervids on ceramic, gold, and bone art objects at hierarchized villages and burial grounds during the period 2300-500 cal yr BP. We infer the duration and seasonality of human-deer interactions across a region characterized climatically by ~4 month intense dry seasons, and ~8 month unpredictable wet seasons. We combine microwear and mesowear analyses of deer teeth at three pre-Columbian sites with different time spans –Cerro Mangote (AG-1) (5900-3020 cal yr BP), Sitio Sierra (AG-3) (2300-500 cal yr BP), and Cerro Juan Díaz (LS-3) (2300-400 cal yr BP)–. The two dental wear methods indicate that the white-tailed deer was a browser at these sites. The microwear results, based on the degree of variability in the numbers of microwear traits such as scratches and pits, show that white-tailed deer hunting was restricted to wet seasons at Cerro Mangote and Cerro Juan Díaz while, at Sitio Sierra, different kinds of occupational events involving white-tailed deer occurred throughout the year.

Sacred groves hold distinct bird assemblages within an Afrotropical savanna

Riparian forests, an integral part of savanna ecosystems, are threatened across West Africa by agricultural expansion. However, some patches of original riparian vegetation are protected by traditional beliefs as ‘Sacred Groves’. We assessed the role of Sacred Groves in maintaining landscape-scale bird assemblages by conducting 144 1-h point counts, distributed over 24 plots in eastern Guinea-Bissau. The plots were situated in three riparian habitat types with different levels of human modification (Sacred Grove, Young Secondary Forest, Annual Cultures) and the adjacent Wooded Savanna. We accumulated 4572 records of 174 species and compared total species richness, composition, and functional traits among the four habitat types. At the plot level, species richness was higher in Wooded Savannas and Annual Cultures compared to Secondary Forests and Sacred Groves. Bird communities in Wooded Savannas were similar to those in Annual Cultures and differed the most from those of Sacred Groves. Bird community composition in Young Secondary Forests was similar to that in Annual Cultures but showed a shift towards the community composition found in Sacred Groves. Certain traits were strongly specific to habitat type. For example, Sacred Groves were characterized by a high number of forest specialists and insectivorous birds. Our results suggest that the rapid successional dynamics in riparian habitats enable disturbance tolerant forest species to recolonize fallow areas after a relatively short period of time. However, Sacred Groves hold a distinct avifauna and their conservation may therefore be crucial for forest specialist species and the re-establishment of bird assemblages in fallow riparian areas. Our findings also stress the importance of respecting and strengthening traditional forms of nature protection.