Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/33341
Appears in Collections:Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Mammal distribution and trends in the threatened Ebo 'intact forest landscape', Cameroon
Author(s): Whytock, Robin C
Abwe, Ekwoge E
Mfossa, Daniel M
Ketchen, Marcel E
Abwe, Abwe E
Nguimdo, Vianny R V
Maisels, Fiona
Strindberg, Samantha
Morgan, Bethan J
Keywords: Forest elephant
chimpanzee
monitoring
camera trapping
recce surveys
Central Africa
Issue Date: Nov-2021
Date Deposited: 21-Sep-2021
Citation: Whytock RC, Abwe EE, Mfossa DM, Ketchen ME, Abwe AE, Nguimdo VRV, Maisels F, Strindberg S & Morgan BJ (2021) Mammal distribution and trends in the threatened Ebo 'intact forest landscape', Cameroon. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, Art. No.: e01833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01833
Abstract: Intact forest landscapes (IFLs) are globally important for maintaining functional ecosystems. Ebo forest (~1400 km2) in Cameroon is one of the largest remaining IFLs in the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forest ecoregion and harbours several IUCN Red-Listed threatened mammal species. We evaluated the status, trends, and distribution of mammals ≥ 0.5 kg in the Ebo forest over 12 years using guided recce and camera trap monitoring surveys, as well as local knowledge to inform future land use and conservation planning. Recce monitoring of seven taxa (blue duiker Philantomba monticola, chimpanzee Pan troglodytes, forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis, putty-nosed monkey Cercopithecus nictitans, medium sized duikers Cephalophus spp., and red river hog Potamochoerus porcus) showed that some are stable or increasing. Indeed, our recent camera trap data confirmed breeding Gorilla gorilla (western gorilla) and elephant. Distribution models for chimpanzees and elephants showed that their populations are concentrated in the centre of the forest, away from human pressure. Some other species, however, including red colobus Piliocolobus preussi, leopard Panthera pardus, African golden cat Caracal aurata, and forest buffalo Syncerus caffer nanus are either close to extirpation or have been extirpated within living memory. We conclude that the Ebo intact forest landscape retains an important mammal community, despite no formal legal protection. Ebo’s future is uncertain, with two commercial logging concessions announced by Cameroon in 2020 and later suspended in response to national and international pressure. It is crucial to maintain Ebo’s integrity to maintain the biodiversity and function of this important part of the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forest ecoregion.
DOI Link: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01833
Rights: This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) and permits non-commercial use of the work as published, without adaptation or alteration provided the work is fully attributed. For commercial reuse, permission must be requested.
Licence URL(s): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
1-s2.0-S2351989421003838-main.pdfFulltext - Published Version3.24 MBAdobe PDFView/Open



This item is protected by original copyright



A file in this item is licensed under a Creative Commons License Creative Commons

Items in the Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

The metadata of the records in the Repository are available under the CC0 public domain dedication: No Rights Reserved https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

If you believe that any material held in STORRE infringes copyright, please contact library@stir.ac.uk providing details and we will remove the Work from public display in STORRE and investigate your claim.