Characterization of animal communities involved in seed dispersal and predation of Guibourtia tessmannii (Harms) J.Léonard, a species newly listed on Appendix II of CITES. (21st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tosso, Félicien; Cherchye, Gauthier; Hardy, Olivier J.; Daïnou, Kasso; Lognay, Georges; Tagg, Nikki; Haurez, Barbara; Souza, Alain; Heuskin, Stéphanie; Doucet, Jean‐Louis
• Is Part Of: African journal of ecology. Volume 56:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 468
• Page End: 476
• Publication Date: 2017-11-21
• Subjects: birds -- Detarioideae -- primates -- seed dispersal -- seed predation -- tropical rainforest; Zoology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Wildlife management -- Africa -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Africa, East -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Africa, East -- Periodicals; Wildlife management -- Africa, East -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/aje.12480
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-6707

Abstract

Abstract: Characterization of the ecology of endangered timber species is a crucial step in any forest management strategy. In this study, we described the animal communities involved in seed dispersal and predation of a high‐value timber species Guibourtia tessmannii (Fabaceae; Detarioideae), which is newly listed on Appendix II of CITES. We compared the animal communities between two forest sites (Bambidie in Gabon and Ma'an in Cameroon). A total of 101 hr of direct observations and 355 days of camera trapping revealed that a primate ( Cercopithecus nictitans nictitans ) and a hornbill ( Ceratogymna atrata ) were important seed dispersers in Gabon. Conversely, a greater presence of a rodent ( Cricetomys emini ), which could act both as predator and disperser, was observed in Cameroon. This study suggests that animal communities involved in seed dispersal of G. tessmannii may vary depending on environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts. However, further studies are needed to properly identify the factors involved in seed dispersal and predation of G. tessmannii .