Hemipyrellia fernandica (Macquart, 1855) and Hemipyrellia sp. (Print)

Abstract Carcasses of laboratory-bred red rats (Rattus rattus, Berkenhout, 1769 var Wistar) were exposed in wooden cages on the campus of the University of Yaounde I (Cameroon) to take a census and identify insects of forensic importance. Amongst the 1613 insects obtained from the emergence of maggots reared in the laboratory under ambient air temperature, the family Calliphoridae (Diptera) represents 72% (1161). The species were distributed betwee

Predicting bushmeat biomass from species composition captured by camera traps: Implications for locally based wildlife monitoring

アフリカ熱帯雨林における野生動物資源量推定の有効な指標を発見 --地域住民主体の野生動物モニタリング法の基礎を確立--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-26.Cameras candidly capture bushmeat mammals to avert crisis. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-30.1. Facing the bushmeat crisis, tropical forests require effective monitoring for sustainable wildlife management. To gain credibility with local people and conservation officials, the monitoring needs indicators that comply with local knowledge and predict the available faunal resources. 2. This study explores predictive indicators for bushmeat biomass --the total biomass of five main hunted mammals-- in a Cameroonian rainforest. We employed camera trapping and the Random Encounter and Staying Time (REST) model to estimate the spatial variation in each species' population density and bushmeat biomass at three sites. We then calculated six indicators from camera-trap capture rate estimates and assessed their predictive performance for the total wild meat amount. 3. Duikers generally increased with distance from the public road, but two red duiker species were more markedly affected by the distance than blue duikers. Spatial density patterns of brush-tailed porcupines and Emin's pouched rats differed between sites. Consequently, bushmeat biomass displayed exponential growth away from the road with varying degrees among the sites. 4. Of the six indicators, the R/B ratio (red-to-blue duiker ratio) and the D/R ratio (duiker-to-rodent ratio) exhibited positive linear-like correlations to bushmeat biomass at all sites. The correlation lines were moderately similar across sites in the R/B ratio but largely different in the D/R ratio, suggesting that the latter is unsuitable for sharing information between neighbouring communities. 5. Synthesis and applications. The two indicators based on captured animal composition may effectively predict the total biomass of the main target species for bushmeat hunting, given a reasonably large sample size. The R/B ratio (red duikers/blue duikers) is recommended as a first choice; the D/R ratio (duikers/rodents) can be a good alternative when information sharing is not essential. Because local hunters are aware of depletion-related changes in species composition of caught animals, these indices may be effectively incorporated into community-based wildlife monitoring.1. Face à la crise de la viande de brousse, les forêts tropicales nécessitent un système de suivi efficace pour une gestion durable de la faune. Pour gagner en crédibilité auprès des populations locales et des responsables de la conservation, le suivi a besoin d'indicateurs qui respectent les connaissances locales et prédisent les ressources fauniques disponibles. 2. Cette étude explore des indicateurs prédictifs de la biomasse de la viande de brousse --la biomasse totale de cinq principaux mammifères chassés-- dans une forêt tropicale camerounaise. Nous avons utilisé des caméra-piège et le modèle REST (Random Encounter and Staying Time) pour estimer la variation spatiale de la densité de chaque espèce et de la biomasse de viande de brousse sur trois sites. Nous avons ensuite calculé six indicateurs à partir des estimations du taux de capture par caméra-piège et évalué leur performance prédictive pour la quantité totale de viande sauvage. 3. Le nombre de céphalophes augmentaient généralement avec la distance de la route publique, mais deux espèces de céphalophes roux étaient plus fortement affectés par la distance que les céphalophes bleus. Les modèles de densité spatiale des porcs-épics et des rats géants d'Emin différaient selon les sites. Par conséquent, la biomasse de viande de brousse a affiché une croissance exponentielle en s'éloignant de la route, avec des degrés variables selon les sites. 4. Parmi les six indicateurs, le ratio R/B (le ratio des céphalophes rouges par rapport aux céphalophes bleus) et le ratio D/R (le ratio des céphalophes par rapport aux rongeurs) présentaient des corrélations linéaires avec la biomasse de viande de brousse sur tous les sites. Les lignes de corrélation étaient modérément similaires d'un site à l'autre pour le ratio R/B mais largement différentes pour le ratio D/R, ce qui suggère que ce dernier n'est pas approprié pour le partage d'informations entre communautés adjacentes. 5. Synthèse et applications. Les deux indicateurs basés sur la composition des animaux capturés peuvent prédire efficacement la biomasse totale des principales espèces cibles de la chasse à la viande de brousse, à condition de disposer d'une taille d'échantillon raisonnablement importante. Le ratio R/B (les céphalophes rouges/bleus) est recommandé comme premier choix; le ratio D/R (les céphalophes/les rongeurs) peut être une bonne alternative lorsque le partage des informations n'est pas essentiel. Comme les chasseurs locaux sont conscients des changements liés à l'épuisement dans la composition des espèces des animaux capturés, ces indicateurs peuvent être efficacement intégrés dans le suivi communautaire de la faune

Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2013-31 March 2013

This article documents the addition of 142 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources database. Loci were developed for the following species: Agriophyllum squarrosum, Amazilia cyanocephala, Batillaria attramentaria, Fungal strain CTeY1 (Ascomycota), Gadopsis marmoratus, Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata, Liriomyza sativae, Lupinus polyphyllus, Metschnikowia reukaufii, Puccinia striiformis and Xylocopa grisescens. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Amazilia beryllina, Amazilia candida, Amazilia rutila, Amazilia tzacatl, Amazilia violiceps, Amazilia yucatanensis, Campylopterus curvipennis, Cynanthus sordidus, Hylocharis leucotis, Juniperus brevifolia, Juniperus cedrus, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus thurifera, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza chinensis, Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Peer Reviewe

Caterpillars and fungal pathogens: two co-occurring parasites of an ant-plant mutualism

In mutualisms, each interacting species obtains resources from its partner that it would obtain less efficiently if alone, and so derives a net fitness benefit. In exchange for shelter (domatia) and food, mutualistic plant-ants protect their host myrmecophytes from herbivores, encroaching vines and fungal pathogens. Although selective filters enable myrmecophytes to host those ant species most favorable to their fitness, some insects can by-pass these filters, exploiting the rewards supplied whilst providing nothing in return. This is the case in French Guiana for Cecropia obtusa (Cecropiaceae) as Pseudocabima guianalis caterpillars (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) can colonize saplings before the installation of their mutualistic Azteca ants. The caterpillars shelter in the domatia and feed on food bodies (FBs) whose production increases as a result. They delay colonization by ants by weaving a silk shield above the youngest trichilium, where the FBs are produced, blocking access to them. This probable temporal priority effect also allows female moths to lay new eggs on trees that already shelter caterpillars, and so to occupy the niche longer and exploit Cecropia resources before colonization by ants. However, once incipient ant colonies are able to develop, they prevent further colonization by the caterpillars. Although no higher herbivory rates were noted, these caterpillars are ineffective in protecting their host trees from a pathogenic fungus, Fusarium moniliforme (Deuteromycetes), that develops on the trichilium in the absence of mutualistic ants. Therefore, the Cecropia treelets can be parasitized by two often overlooked species: the caterpillars that shelter in the domatia and feed on FBs, delaying colonization by mutualistic ants, and the fungal pathogen that develops on old trichilia. The cost of greater FB production plus the presence of the pathogenic fungus likely affect tree growth

Spatial Distribution of Dominant Arboreal Ants in a Malagasy Coastal Rainforest: Gaps and Presence of an Invasive Species

We conducted a survey along three belt transects located at increasing distances from the coast to determine whether a non-random arboreal ant assemblage, such as an ant mosaic, exists in the rainforest on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. In most tropical rainforests, very populous colonies of territorially dominant arboreal ant species defend absolute territories distributed in a mosaic pattern. Among the 29 ant species recorded, only nine had colonies large enough to be considered potentially territorially dominant; the remaining species had smaller colonies and were considered non-dominant. Nevertheless, the null-model analyses used to examine the spatial structure of their assemblages did not reveal the existence of an ant mosaic. Inland, up to 44% of the trees were devoid of dominant arboreal ants, something not reported in other studies. While two Crematogaster species were not associated with one another, Brachymyrmex cordemoyi was positively associated with Technomyrmex albipes, which is considered an invasive species—a non-indigenous species that has an adverse ecological effect on the habitats it invades. The latter two species and Crematogaster ranavalonae were mutually exclusive. On the other hand, all of the trees in the coastal transect and at least 4 km of coast were occupied by T. albipes, and were interconnected by columns of workers. Technomyrmex albipes workers collected from different trees did not attack each other during confrontation tests, indicating that this species has formed a supercolony along the coast. Yet interspecific aggressiveness did occur between T. albipes and Crematogaster ranavalonae, a native species which is likely territorially dominant based on our intraspecific confrontation tests. These results suggest that the Masoala rainforest is threatened by a potential invasion by T. albipes, and that the penetration of this species further inland might be facilitated by the low density of native, territorially dominant arboreal ants normally able to limit its progression

Neotropical ant-plant Triplaris americana attracts Pseudomyrmex mordax ant queens during seedling stages

The association between the myrmecophyte Triplaris and ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex is an often-reported example of mutualism in the Neotropics. The ants colonize the hollow stems of their hosts, and in exchange, the plants benefit from a reduced degree of herbivory. The previous studies have shown that workers can discriminate their host from other plants, including a closely related species. Little is known about how queens locate their host during the colonization process, but it has been suggested that host recognition is mediated by volatiles. Since queens of Pseudomyrmex mordax colonize their hosts during the seedling stage, we hypothesized that queens would discriminate leaves of seedlings from adult plants. To evaluate our hypothesis, we used a two-sided olfactometer, to test the preference of queens towards different leaf and plant ages of Triplaris americana. Virgin queens of Pseudomyrmex mordax preferred seedlings over adult plants, as well as plant leaves over empty controls, showing no discrimination for leaf age. Our results suggest that the volatiles virgin queens recognize are either produced or are more abundant at the early growing stage of the host when colonization is crucial for the host's survival. © 2017, The Author(s)

Biodiversity study of arthropods collected on rat carrion in Yaounde, Cameroon: first study on forensic entomology in Central Africa

The first investigation of arthropods associated with carrion in Cameroon was carried out within the campus of the University of Yaounde I (Cameroon) from 17thJanuary to 3rd April 2008. Carcasses of rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769 var WISTAR) were exposed to colonization by the local fauna of arthropods. The invading organisms were collected daily during the study period. 2287 individuals of arthropod belonging to 3 classes, 16 orders, 37 families and 7 subfamilies were identified. The insects assessed were mainly Diptera, Coleoptera and Acari. This study illustrates the high diversity of the necroentomofauna in Cameroon and provides an insight approximation into the succession pattern of invading insect and a weekly estimation of the time of death

Ontogenetic sucession and the ant mosaic : an empirical approach using pioneer trees

International audienc

Current distribution and population dynamics of the little fire ant supercolony in Cameroon

Contact : [email protected] audienceThe little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, is native to Central America, but has been introduced into many parts of the world. We examined the current distribution of W. auropunctata in Cameroon, tested for aggression between workers from different parts of the country, and examined the genotypes of workers, queens, and males to evaluate the mating system. We found W. auropunctata at 36 sites in three provinces (Centre, East, and South). We found W. auropunctata only in human-disturbed habitats. Its spread appears to be primarily human mediated. Aggressive behaviour was almost non-existent between workers from different sites, indicating that there is only one supercolony in Cameroon. Our genetic analysis found that only one male/female pair of clones was introduced into Cameroon, probably from Gabon. No new male clonal lineage was identified, whereas new sexually derived female clonal lineages were noted. Apart from the genotype of the founding queen, which was well distributed but generally not dominant, a new clonal queen genotype emerged and was both omnipresent and dominant at most sites. These results may be useful in the development of management strategies