African Journal of Ecology最新文献

The ongoing biodiversity crisis is driven primarily by habitat degradation and accelerating climate change, with extreme climatic events increasingly shaping population dynamics across taxa. Detecting and interpreting these effects requires long-term ecological studies, yet such datasets remain rare, including Africa where biodiversity is high and ecological systems are strongly influenced by climatic variability and human land use. Here we synthesise evidence demonstrating why short- and even medium-term studies often fail to capture the demographic consequences of climate change, especially those driven by rare but severe events such as droughts and floods. Drawing on case studies from temperate and tropical systems—including predator–prey collapses, reptile population crashes and iconic long-term projects such as Gombe and Amboseli—we show how sustained monitoring has transformed ecological understanding and conservation priorities. We emphasise that Africa's ecological complexity and prevalence of long-lived species make long-term, population-focused research particularly critical. However, funding structures and institutional constraints frequently undermine continuity. To address this gap, we propose an integrative framework combining targeted long-term ecological research funding, institutional support for data continuity, community-based monitoring and local ecological knowledge, and the integration of diverse data sources. We argue that long-term monitoring is not a luxury but a scientific and ethical necessity for effective conservation under rapid environmental change.

Ground-dwelling birds play vital roles in forest ecosystems, such as seed dispersal and pest control, but are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and hard to detect using traditional survey methods. Camera traps offer a non-invasive, effective alternative for monitoring these elusive species, especially in difficult terrain and over extended periods. Camera trapping can enhance data collection on species behaviour, distribution and diversity, especially on rare, elusive species. The Albertine Rift Valley, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to many endemic bird species, yet their ecology remains poorly understood. A study in Rwanda's Gishwati-Mukura National Park used camera traps to assess bird diversity and compare two forest fragments. The study used 64 camera traps arranged in 4 × 4 grids across Gishwati and Mukura Forests from May 2017 to May 2018. Images were analysed for ground-dwelling birds using defined photographic events. Species richness was assessed through rarefied species accumulation curves and Jacknife-2 estimators. Diversity was measured using Shannon, Simpson, and evenness indices, which were subsequently compared between forest fragments. Bird community composition was examined using Detrended Correspondence Analysis. Eighteen bird species were recorded, with similar richness and diversity in either forest, though Mukura showed greater species heterogeneity, that is, greater variation in species composition. Detection rates were limited due to insufficient sampling effort, suggesting true species richness may well exceed 20 species. Some rare and endemic species were documented, highlighting camera trapping to be a valuable supplement to traditional survey methods. Despite habitat disturbance, both forests maintain healthy bird communities. However, more extensive sampling is needed to improve precision and to better understand community structure and species turnover between forest fragments.

This study employs a conditional logit model to analyse the preferences of the Togolese population regarding a degraded forest restoration program. Based on a choice experiment method, the analysis draws on a sample of 255 respondents and a total of 3825 observations. Two models are estimated: a baseline model (Model 1) and a model incorporating interactions with sociodemographic variables (Model 2). The results indicate that respondents assign statistically significant value to three main attributes: carbon sequestration, erosion reduction and biodiversity improvement. In contrast, cost and the type of organisation do not exhibit statistical significance. The rejection of the status quo reflects a strong desire for environmental change. The interaction model highlights preference heterogeneity linked to education level, income, interest in forestry practices and perception of forest conditions. For instance, individuals holding a doctoral degree place less importance on carbon sequestration and erosion reduction, whereas farmers and forestry practitioners are more sensitive to these attributes. Finally, estimates of the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) confirm that respondents are willing to pay more to combat erosion (5357 FCFA) and enhance biodiversity (3389 FCFA) than for carbon sequestration (200 FCFA), a finding consistent with results from similar studies conducted in Africa and elsewhere.

Understanding patterns of biodiversity distribution is fundamental for ecology, biogeography, and conservation. However, persistent challenges arise from the inaccessibility of many regions and habitats. Subterranean environments, in particular, host highly distinctive and specialised faunal assemblages, yet their investigation is hindered by logistical, technical, and environmental constraints. Despite the wide range of ecosystems across the African continent, its subterranean biodiversity remains remarkably underexplored. To address this gap and provide evidence-based guidance for decision-makers and research prioritisation, we compiled and analysed records of terrestrial and aquatic cave-restricted species across Africa. Specifically, we evaluated whether accessibility to natural subterranean habitats influences scientific knowledge and perceptions of biodiversity distribution. We hypothesised that limited accessibility, resulting from natural, social, and economic barriers, constrains data collection and thereby reduces our understanding of subterranean biodiversity. Our synthesis revealed 373 cave-restricted species recorded from Africa, of which 86 (~23%) occur in terrestrial habitats and 287 (~77%) in aquatic systems. These species belong to six phyla: Arthropoda (348 species), Mollusca (18), Platyhelminthes (3), Annelida (2), Chordata (1), and Onychophora (1). The results indicate that areas located near roads and airports contain a greater number of records, reflecting the influence of accessibility on sampling intensity and species detection. Research progress on subterranean fauna in Africa is substantially limited by the inherent difficulties of accessing these environments and coping with their extreme conditions. In addition, less developed or politically unstable regions remain largely neglected. Insufficient funding and institutional support further exacerbate these knowledge gaps. Overall, this study highlights the urgent need to expand comprehensive research on subterranean biodiversity across Africa, encompassing both geographical regions and taxonomic groups. Such efforts are crucial for advancing our understanding and conservation of subterranean ecosystems, particularly in light of growing global threats such as climate change, habitat degradation, and resource exploitation.

Extensive forest exploitation decreases ecosystem integrity and forces species to adapt to changes in their habitats. Following thousands of years of human settlement in the Pare Mountains, less than 3% of the area remains covered with natural forests. We studied nocturnal and arboreal eastern tree hyraxes Dendrohyrax validus in North and South Pare. We compared their calls and songs from the Pare Mountains with calls from the Taita Hills (Kenya) and Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and found some similar calls indicating that these populations are closely related. D. validus in the Pare Mountains mostly inhabit steep rocky outcrops with crevices, demonstrating that this species is not obligately arboreal or entirely dependent on old-growth forests.

Large carnivores play a vital role in ecosystem functioning, yet their populations are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, human–wildlife conflict and declining prey availability. The Benoue ecosystem in Cameroon, one of the last strongholds for lions (Panthera leo), leopards (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Central Africa, is experiencing significant conservation challenges. This study assessed spatiotemporal trends in large carnivore encounter rates in the Benoue ecosystem, Cameroon, from 2014 to 2023. We used repeated spoor counts as a proxy for inferring population trends and assessing the impacts of land cover changes. We found significant declines across species and blocks. Lion declines were similar between blocks (substrates are similar and detection therefore unlikely to be affected by this source of bias). Spoor encounter rates were significantly higher in the National Park (NP) compared with the surrounding Hunting Zones (HZ) in the Bouba Ndjidda block, whereas the reverse was true in the Benoue block; there was no significant effect in the Faro block. Leopard spoor encounter rates were highest in the Bouba Ndjidda block and in the NP within the block. Spotted hyaena spoor encounter rates decreased over time across the ecosystem (and were lowest in the Benoue block). These trends can be linked to trends in vegetation dynamics across the three blocks, with the highest habitat loss recorded in the Benoue block, compared to the more stable habitat conditions in Bouba Ndjidda and Faro. These differences are likely influenced by variations in conservation investments, habitat degradation, and anthropogenic pressures, which were not fully assessed during the study. The findings emphasise the urgent need for increased conservation efforts in the Benoue block to mitigate further population declines and habitat fragmentation. Effective management strategies, including enhanced anti-poaching efforts and habitat restoration, are likely to be crucial for maintaining viable carnivore populations in the region.