Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo)
“The Dahomey Gap” is a human-derived mostly savannah region that separates the Guineo-Congolian rainforest block into two major units: the Upper Guinean and the Lower Guinean Forest blocks. Several forest patches are distributed throughout this savannah-dominated habitat. The mammal communities in t...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/3041 |
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| author | Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto Kokouvi Gbétey Akpamou Yawo Konko John Kokou Toviho Gaglo Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh Daniele Dendi Julia Elizabeth Fa Luca Luiselli |
| author_facet | Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto Kokouvi Gbétey Akpamou Yawo Konko John Kokou Toviho Gaglo Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh Daniele Dendi Julia Elizabeth Fa Luca Luiselli |
| author_sort | Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | “The Dahomey Gap” is a human-derived mostly savannah region that separates the Guineo-Congolian rainforest block into two major units: the Upper Guinean and the Lower Guinean Forest blocks. Several forest patches are distributed throughout this savannah-dominated habitat. The mammal communities in the Dahomey Gap region have been poorly studied. In this paper we analyse the species richness and abundance of, as well as conservation implications for, medium and large mammals (especially ungulates) inhabiting a complex of flooded forests near the Mono river in south-eastern Togo. We use several field methods to describe the species richness of mammals in this area, including camera-trapping, recce transects, Kilometric Index of Abundance (KIA) estimates, examination of hunters’ catches and face-to-face hunter interviews. Overall, we directly recorded 19 species that coexist in these forests. Based on interviews, nine other species were confirmed as present in the study area. Only five species were common: <i>Cephalophus rufilatus</i>, <i>Tragelaphus scriptus</i>, <i>Chlorocebus aethiops</i>, <i>Atilax paludinosus</i> and <i>Herpestes ichneumon</i>. The area still contains various threatened species such as <i>Tragelaphus spekii</i> and <i>Hippopotamus amphibius</i>. We stress that to ensure the protection of the Dahomey Gap mammals, it is important to seriously consider protecting not only the forest patches but also the surroundings, mainly savannah landscapes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:19:56Z |
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| id | doaj.art-485e81e0e7214cbab813ce909118496e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:19:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-485e81e0e7214cbab813ce909118496e2023-11-24T03:26:10ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-11-011221304110.3390/ani12213041Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo)Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto0Kokouvi Gbétey Akpamou1Yawo Konko2John Kokou Toviho Gaglo3Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh4Daniele Dendi5Julia Elizabeth Fa6Luca Luiselli7Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, TogoLaboratory of Forestry Research, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, TogoMinistry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Lomé BP305, TogoTogolese Society for Nature Conservation (AGBO-ZEGUE NGO), Lomé 06BP6057, TogoLaboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, TogoLaboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, TogoDepartment of Natural Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UKLaboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, Togo“The Dahomey Gap” is a human-derived mostly savannah region that separates the Guineo-Congolian rainforest block into two major units: the Upper Guinean and the Lower Guinean Forest blocks. Several forest patches are distributed throughout this savannah-dominated habitat. The mammal communities in the Dahomey Gap region have been poorly studied. In this paper we analyse the species richness and abundance of, as well as conservation implications for, medium and large mammals (especially ungulates) inhabiting a complex of flooded forests near the Mono river in south-eastern Togo. We use several field methods to describe the species richness of mammals in this area, including camera-trapping, recce transects, Kilometric Index of Abundance (KIA) estimates, examination of hunters’ catches and face-to-face hunter interviews. Overall, we directly recorded 19 species that coexist in these forests. Based on interviews, nine other species were confirmed as present in the study area. Only five species were common: <i>Cephalophus rufilatus</i>, <i>Tragelaphus scriptus</i>, <i>Chlorocebus aethiops</i>, <i>Atilax paludinosus</i> and <i>Herpestes ichneumon</i>. The area still contains various threatened species such as <i>Tragelaphus spekii</i> and <i>Hippopotamus amphibius</i>. We stress that to ensure the protection of the Dahomey Gap mammals, it is important to seriously consider protecting not only the forest patches but also the surroundings, mainly savannah landscapes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/3041mammaliaungulatescommunity structure |
| spellingShingle | Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto Kokouvi Gbétey Akpamou Yawo Konko John Kokou Toviho Gaglo Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh Daniele Dendi Julia Elizabeth Fa Luca Luiselli Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo) Animals mammalia ungulates community structure |
| title | Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo) |
| title_full | Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo) |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo) |
| title_short | Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo) |
| title_sort | diversity and relative abundance of ungulates and other medium and large mammals in flooded forests in the dahomey gap togo |
| topic | mammalia ungulates community structure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/3041 |
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