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 |
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| Authors: | Félicien Tosso Gauthier Cherchye Olivier J. Hardy Kasso Daïnou Georges Lognay Nikki Tagg Barbara Haurez Alain Souza Stéphanie Heuskin Jean‐Louis Doucet |
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| Affiliation: | 1. TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Central African Forests, Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium;2. Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit, CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium;3. Nature+ asbl, Wavre, Belgium;4. Analytical Chemistry, Department Agro‐Bio Chemistry, Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium;5. Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium;6. Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale, Electrophysiologie et de Pharmacologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | birds Detarioideae primates seed dispersal seed predation tropical rainforest |
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