African Journal of Ecology最新文献

Understanding the ecological requirements of species in arid and semi-arid ecosystems is critical for effective biodiversity conservation. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of aardvark (Orycteropus afer) burrows and the environmental factors influencing their habitat selection in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, Benin. Using a grid-based field survey and spatial point-pattern analysis, we explored the occurrence of aardvark burrows across heterogeneous savannah landscapes. We then employed resource selection functions (RSFs) implemented as logistic regression models to assess the role of vegetation structure, fire intensity, water availability and anthropogenic factors in shaping aardvark habitat preferences. Our findings reveal a non-random spatial distribution of burrows and highlight the importance of specific habitat features, such as tree density, tree dbh, fire intensity and distance from water sources. These patterns suggest behavioural adaptations to vegetation structure and predator avoidance. The spatial clustering detected is consistent with previous estimates of aardvark home ranges, while providing novel insights into aardvark ecology in West Africa, a region where data on the species remain scarce. The results underscore the importance of incorporating fine-scale habitat features into conservation planning for semi-arid savannahs.

The study investigated the vegetation diversity as a driver of avian richness and seasonality in Ethiopia's sacred forest habitats in the southern Lake Tana watershed during the wintering and breeding periods. The study was conducted in three historically significant sacred forests of the Ethiopian Orthodox churches. Data collection took place from November to December and from March to April 2022, utilising systematic random sampling to establish point-count plots for assessing bird diversity and abundance. A total of 163 avian species were recorded. Two of them were endemic, 11 near-endemic, and 24 highland biome species. The richness of birds and abundance were notably higher in the post-rainy time (H = 4.51); the interior and edge habitat diversity were H = 4.39 and H = 4.33, respectively. Diversity indices indicated a more even distribution of bird species in the post-rainy time, while dominance enlarged at the edge forest in the dry periods, relatively. The study further uncovered significant correlations between bird richness and tree richness and abundance, highlighting the essential impact of vegetation diversity in supporting avian populations. The multiple regression analysis considering the factor scores in the Principal Component Analysis reveals that the linear combination of tree richness or tree abundance has a significant effect in determining bird richness (R² = 0.796, p < 0.001) than DBH (diameter of tree at breast height), tree basal area, and tree height, which were not significant predictors. Overall, conservation efforts should prioritise enhancing vegetation diversity in less disturbed areas of church forests to sustain avian populations. We recommend that continued research is crucial to explore the multifaceted relationships between other vegetation variables such as canopy cover, tree age and anthropogenic factors with avian dynamics.

Tropical elevational gradients offer unique insights into ecological processes shaping biodiversity, although micromoths remain severely understudied, especially in the Afrotropics. We analysed species richness, community composition, elevational range size and wingspan of two micromoth families, many-plumed moths (Alucitidae) and plume moths (Pterophoridae), along a complete forest gradient on Mount Cameroon, an Afrotropical biodiversity hotspot. Alucitidae exhibited a distinct mid-elevation diversity peak, mirroring common patterns in tropical butterflies and moths, whereas Pterophoridae showed an uncommon upslope increase in species richness. Both families demonstrated clear elevational turnover in community composition, indicative of strong environmental filtering. Additionally, community-weighted elevational range size and wingspan increased consistently with elevation, supporting Rapoport's rule and Bergmann's cline, respectively. These patterns likely reflect interactions among climatic factors and environmental complexity, though the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Our findings reveal the unique communities of both mid- and high-elevation forests, as well as the distinctiveness of species-poor lowland assemblages. This elevational differentiation underscores the need for conservation across the full gradient and the vulnerability of endemic highland taxa to climate-driven range contractions. Comprehensive research on neglected tropical insect groups is urgently needed to better anticipate biodiversity responses to environmental change.

Understanding elephant habitat use and movement is essential for conservation in dynamic, resource-limited semi-arid ecosystems. Remote sensing and GPS telemetry provide powerful tools for quantifying elephant ecological patterns across heterogeneous landscapes. This study investigates the habitat preferences, movement patterns and spatial clustering of African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Mana Pools National Park (MPNP), Zimbabwe, using GPS telemetry data and remote sensing–derived environmental variables. Habitat suitability was modelled using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modelling technique. Seasonal home ranges and movement dynamics were analysed using minimum convex polygons (MCP), Voronoi polygons and the Time local convex hull (T LoCoH) techniques. Clusters were identified using the K-means method. The MaxEnt results revealed that proximity to permanent water sources particularly, the Zambezi River was the most significant predictor of elephant distribution, contributing over 96% to the model's performance. Home range size estimates varied across methods and seasons. During the dry season, MCP, Voronoi polygons and time local convex hull (T-LoCoH) estimated ranges of 406 km², 521 km² and 325 km², respectively. In the wet season, home ranges expanded markedly to 975 km² (MCP), 713 km² (Voronoi) and 527 km² (T-LoCoH). The transition season recorded the largest ranges, with 1065 km² (MCP), 1032 km² (Voronoi) and 714 km² (T-LoCoH). MCP consistently produced the largest estimates, while T-LoCoH yielded the smallest, highlighting methodological sensitivity in quantifying elephant ranging behaviour across seasonal landscapes. K-means clustering identified spatially distinct movement clusters across all seasons, showing non-random habitat use driven by environmental constraints such as water availability, vegetation productivity and terrain. Findings support data-driven conservation strategies for sustainable elephant management in protected areas.

Semi-arid forests in North Africa face growing pressures from climate change, agricultural intensification and urban sprawl, all of which reshape habitats and wildlife communities. Among the species inhabiting these dynamic landscapes, the Maghreb magpie (Pica mauritanica Malherbe, 1845), an endemic corvid of the Maghreb, offers an insightful model to examine how environmental factors influence breeding strategies and spatial organisation. This study aimed to investigate the nesting ecology and spatial patterns of P. mauritanica in semi-arid oak-dominated forests of northeastern Algeria. Specifically, the study assessed nest-site selection in relation to tree characteristics, compared nesting preferences between holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and mixed tree stands and analysed the spatial distribution of inter-nest distances to evaluate potential clustering. Fieldwork was conducted during the breeding season, where detailed measurements of nest height, supporting tree dimensions and surrounding vegetation were recorded. Independent-sample t-tests and linear regression models were applied to examine nest–tree relationships, while spatial analyses employed Euclidean distance matrices and hierarchical clustering to assess inter-nest distribution. Maghreb magpie nests were built in holm oak trees, particularly those with larger diameters and higher canopies that presumably offer more structurally robust supports. Nest height was positively correlated with tree height and canopy cover, highlighting the importance of vertical structure for breeding. Comparisons between Q. ilex and mixed tree species revealed significant differences in nest placement strategies. Spatial analyses indicated nonrandom nest distribution, with inter-nest distances forming clustered patterns rather than uniform spacing, suggesting social or ecological drivers behind colony-like aggregation. These findings emphasise that P. mauritanica exhibited selective nesting strategies strongly shaped by tree attributes and forest structure, while also displaying a clustered spatial distribution of breeding sites. In the context of rapid environmental change and ongoing anthropogenic pressures in North African forests, understanding these ecological requirements provides crucial insights for conserving this endemic species and managing vulnerable semi-arid ecosystems.