Methods used in the evaluation of lowland gorilla habitat in the Lope Reserve, Gabon

Abstract

This paper presents methods chosen to sample forest structure and composition with a view to understanding the ranging patterns and habitat use by great apes, and suggests how data may be presented in simple yet meaningful ways. Straight-line transects were used to sample all tree >10 cm DBH within a 10 m strip. Although it may be difficult to make direct comparisons between study sites, it is relatively easy to compare some aspects of forest structure, species diversity, tree density, and the density of important food-sources in different forests. Several measures of diversity and food availability can be estimated using tree species frequencies and basal areas obtained from trancects, some of which are described here.