Chabi A.M.S. Djagoun

Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis of the Diets of West African Bovids in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, Northern Benin

Bovid diets have been studied for decades, but debate still exists about the diets of many species, in part because of geographical or habitat-related dietary variations. In this study we used stable carbon isotope analyses of faeces to explore the seasonal dietary preferences of 11 bovid species from a West African savanna, the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (PBR), along the browser/grazer (or C3/C4) continuum. We compare our carbon isotope values with those for eastern and southern African bovids, as well as with dietary predictions based on continent-wide averages derived from field studies. Oribi and reedbuck, expected to be grazers were found to be predominantly C3-feeders (browsers) in the PBR. Bushbuck, common duiker and red-flanked duiker consumed more C4 grass than reported in previous studies. When comparing wet and dry season diets, kob, roan and oribi showed the least variation in C3 and C4 plant consumed proportions, while red-flanked duiker, bushbuck, reedbuck and waterbuck showed the most marked shifts. This study shows that animals in the betterstudied eastern and southern African savannas do not exhibit the full range of possible dietary adaptations. Inclusion of data from a wider geographical area to include less well-studied regions will inform our overall picture of bovid dietary ecology.

Ecology and ethnozoology of the three-cusped pangolin Manis tricuspis (Mammalia, Pholidota) in the Lama forest reserve, Benin

Abstract The conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management strategies must be based on an understanding of the structural and functional ecological traits of utilized species. Such basic data are still lacking for even the most endangered species in Africa. In this study, we combined ecological methods with ethnographic approaches to investigate the ecology and ethnozoology of three-cusped pangolin (Manis tricuspis) in the context of the Lama forest reserve (6°55.8′–58.8′ N and 2°4.2′–10.8′ E) in Benin. We interviewed 79 people from various socio-professional groups to assess how important is three-cusped pangolin to indigenous people. We surveyed 15 strip transects (3 km×1 km) within 12 sites to seek for indices of pangolin presence and record-associated vegetation data in six plots of 900 m2 (30 m×30 m). In total, 38 pangolins were observed in the forest. The density was 0.84 pangolins/km2 during the dry season and the number of observations did not differ significantly between plantations and natural forest. The age ratio of juvenile/adult was 1:1. The preferred habitat was colonized by termite mounds in 62% of the sites. Pangolins were mostly found in holes of Dialium guineense and Ceiba pentandra in the closed natural forests. The distribution of pangolins in the Lama forest reserve suggests that the species is more sensitive to forest age than to its composition. Three-cusped pangolin plays an important role as food, medicine, mythic and source of income for local communities around the Lama forest reserve. We also recommend future research guidelines important for the conservation of Manis tricuspis in Benin.

Seasonal Habitat and Diet Partitioning between Two Sympatric Bovid Species in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (Northern Benin): Waterbuck and Western Kob

Niche theory suggests differential use of shared resources facilitates coexistence of species in a community. In this study we used the faecal stable isotope analysis with observations along transect lines perpendicular to the Pendjari River. This was to examine seasonal habitat features and diet partitioning between two sympatric bovid species waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) and western kob (Kobus kob) in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve. In support of niche partition hypothesis, diets of western kob and waterbuck diverged significantly along both faecal selection axes (d13C and d15N) during the resource-limited period of the dry season as opposed to wet season when there is resource abundance. Western kob and waterbuck resource partitioning does not occur only on the basis of diet segregation but also some habitat variables play an important role in the coexisting system. Findings support the niche partition hypothesis, where morphologically, ecologically and closely related sympatric species segregate at least in one of the niche dimensions to allow coexistence. The two bovid species were observed to diverge largely along distance to water source gradient. The results provided empirical evidence that habitat features acts as an additional dimension over which herbivores partition resources.

Mongoose species in southern Benin: Preliminary ecological survey and local community perceptions

Abstract Information on the ecology and local perception of particular species is required for their conservation and management in tropical forests, where their range has either disappeared or their numbers are shrinking due to anthropogenic factors. We combined indigenous knowledge and wildlife observations to record four species of mongooses in the Lama and Niaouli forests. Three diurnal species, such as the cusimanse (Crossarchus obscurus), the ichneumon mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), and the marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus), were directly observed, and one nocturnal species (the white-tailed mongoose: Ichneumia albicauda) was identified by interviews. Factorial correspondence analysis shows that the marsh and the white-tailed mongooses are more frequent in the lowland habitat, whereas the ichneumon mongoose is often sighted near villages and the cusimanse is more generalist. Mongooses are used for food, medicine, and mythic purposes. They are recognized as snake predators and thus their presence is appreciated by local communities to reduce snake bites (84.3% of interviews in Niaouli). Some species, such as cusimanse, are seen as natural pesticides. Our results suggest that the larger area of the Lama classified forest (4777 ha) allows for more intra-site movements as opposed to the inter-site movements observed in the Niaouli forest due to its small size (120 ha). We suggest further investigations of the ecology and ethology of the conservation of mongoose in Benin.

Hunting Affects Dry Season Habitat Selection by Several Bovid Species in Northern Benin

Multiple land uses including tourism, hunting, and agriculture around protected areas can be a serious complication for wildlife management. We calculated habitat selection indices (Manlys alpha) for 10 bovid species in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin, west Africa, to assess if habitat use differed in each bovid species between hunting and non-hunting zones. Presence/absence data was used in resource-selection functions based on a generalized linear mixed effect model to examine factors that explained bovid species distribution. We observed stronger avoidance of open habitat types in the hunting zone than in the non hunting zone for the hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus, oribi Ourebia ourebi, roan Hippotragus equines, kob Kobus kob, Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa and reedbuck Redunca redunca. In contrast, in grey duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, red-flanked duiker Cephalophus rufilatus, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus and buffalo Syncerus caffer we found no differences in habitat use between hunted and non-hunted areas. This may indicate that the latter species show more pronounced ecological and behavioural plasticity. Further, resource selection of bovid species on a small scale was influenced by other factors such as habitat structure, landscape characteristics, and human disturbance. This preliminary assessment of bovid habitat relationships in west Africa suggests that human hunting activities may cause species to alter their habitat selection. We therefore suggest habitat models may need to incorporate this source of variation if they are to accurately predict habitat use or distribution of a species.

Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving the Highly Hunted Mammal Species as Bushmeat in Southern Benin

RESEARCH ARTICLE Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving the Highly Hunted Mammal Species as Bushmeat in Southern Benin Chabi A.M.S. Djagoun, Etotépé A. Sogbohossou, Barthélémy Kassa, Christian B. Ahouandjinou, Hugues A. Akpona and Brice Sinsin Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-calavi, 01BP526 LEA-FSA, Cotonou, Benin Direction Générale des Forêts et des Ressources Naturelles, BP. 393 Cotonou, Bénin University of Rostock, Agricultural and Environmental Faculty, Grassland and Fodder Sciences, Justus-von-LiebigWeg 6, 18059, Rostock, Germany

Vigilance efficiency and behaviour of Bohor reedbuck Redunca redunca (Pallas 1767) in a savanna environment of Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (Northern Benin)

Abstract. This study was performed to gain more knowledge about the Bohor reedbuck time budget and vigilance in a savanna habitat. Detailed data on the time-budget were collected through focal animal observation technique to determine whether the time budget activities of Bohor reedbuck was affected by vegetation cover and to test if herd size, position in herd, the age and sex affect vigilance efficiency. We fit generalized linear mixed-effect models to assess how herd size, sex, animal position in the herd and age affected individual time allocation to vigilance behaviour. The most parsimonious model averaging clearly showed how vigilance behaviour among Bohor reedbuck was strongly affected by age, sex, the total herd size and animal position in the herd accounting for the lowest value of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Vigilance and feeding behaviour occupied the largest percent of Bohor reedbuck daylight time budget. Herd size effects were significant on different behaviour categories only when the Bohor reedbuck was observed in sympatric association. Our findings support the herd size effect hypothesis only in sympatric grouping system. However, further study is needed to investigate the possible sex-specific functions and targets of vigilance behaviour with respect to the herd direction in the field.