Diversité Et Variabilité Du Régime Alimentaire Des Éléphants Du Parc National d’Azagny (Sud - Côte d’Ivoire)

In Côte d'Ivoire, Azagny National Park has a small forest elephants population, described as isolated, self-contained and whose survival depends on the diversity of local biological resources. A study was undertaken to assess the diversity of the plant species consumed and the feeding preference of this large mammal. Pedestrian surveys were carried out in the different biotopes traveled by the elephants during one year, in search of fresh and old traces of nutrition and droppings. As a result of these inventories, six organs of 282 plant species have been identified has consumed by elephant. In this plant species list, three families are the most represented: the Apocynaceae, the Euphorbiaceae and the Rubiaceae. Among the elephant diet, five species appear to be the most consumed: Aframomum melegueta (1.45%), Aframomum sceptrum (1.45%), Sacoglottis gabonensis (1.27%), Echinochloa pyramidalis (1.2%) and Albizia adianthifolia (1.2%). Considering the number and type of organs harvested from plants, the study reveals that they varied from one species to another well. In general, leaves (256 species 90.8%) and fruits (95 species or 33.7%) have emerged as the most consumed organs of elephants. In view of this diet importance in elephant survival in the park, it would be important to identify the type of species consumed seasonally and to assess their availability in each of the biotopes traveled

Effect of the seeds provenance and treatment on the germination rate and plants growth of four forest trees species of Côte d’Ivoire

International audienceThe rapid rate of deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire has led to loss of plant species diversity and also threatens some commercial tree species with extinction. Some reforestation and afforestation has been completed. However, for some species, the numbers of surviving transplants has declined. Hence, it is necessary to develop properly adapted and resilient genotypes that can effectively support the programs of forest restoration. In this context we evaluated the effects of the provenances of seeds and of various treatments on the germination rates and on plant growth of four commercial trees species (Pycnanthus angolensis, Terminalia superba, Mansonia altissima and Pterygota macrocarpa). We analyzed these parameters for seeds of three provenances (Daloa, Akoupé and Daoukro) of four species and for thirty plants aged 6 months per provenance. Time to begin germination and time to reach maximum germination were similar among species, and were not influenced by either treatment or provenance. Untreated seeds and those soaked for 24 and 48 h in water at room temperature yielded the highest germination rates, irrespective of species or provenance. The one exception was P. angolensis, for which no germination was recorded. Within species, some provenances produced higher germination percentages than did others. No clear relationship was computed between the germination rate and the morphometric characteristics of the seeds which varied significantly between provenances. Plant growth and morphological variability also depended greatly on provenance. Genetic factors might be implicated, therefore provenance trials should be undertaken and evaluated. Furthermore, molecular analysis should be undertaken to confirm the implications of genetic factors and allow for genetic selection