Diversité Et Distribution De La Grande Faune Mammalienne Dans Le Parc National De Moukalaba-Doudou (Sud-Ouest Du Gabon)

Le Gabon, pays d’Afrique Centrale est recouvert à plus de 80% de la forêt pourvue des zones diversifiées en paysages avec une importante biodiversité faunique et floristique. Cependant, cette biodiversité qui est mal connue dans certaines régions du pays est confrontée à plusieurs menaces. C’est dans cette optique que nous avons conduit un suivi de la faune dans la partie Nord Est du parc national de Moukalaba Doudou dont le but était de déterminer la diversité et la répartition spatiale des grands mammifères sauvages. En utilisant la méthode de line transect, nous avons installé 165 cameras traps le long de 11 transects. Les données ont été performées par le GML (Generalized Linear Models). Au total, 80410 nuits-pièges ont été réalisées. Près de 37 914 vidéos indépendantes ont été obtenues et 10 espèces de grands mammifères dont les plus observés étaient les Céphalophes bleus et rouges suivis des Chevrotains aquatiques, Eléphants et des Cercocèbes. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que les espèces de grands mammifères sont distribuées en fonction des habitats. Les céphalophes de grande taille, le mandrill, la panthère, le chat doré, l’éléphant, et le chevrotain aquatique ont des habitats préférentiels ; par contre, le gorille, le chimpanzé, le cercocèbe à collier blanc et le céphalophe bleu ne semblent pas être affectés par l’habitat. Ce sont des espèces ubiquistes. Cependant, tous les mammifères peuvent être observés sur l’ensemble des transects. Gabon, a country in Central Africa, is covered by more than 80% of the forest, with areas diversified into landscapes with significant fauna and flora biodiversity. However, this biodiversity, which is poorly understood in certain regions of the country, faces several threats. It is with this in mind that we conducted wildlife monitoring in the northeast part of Moukalaba Doudou National Park, the aim of which was to determine the abundance and spatial distribution of large wild mammals. Using the line transect method we installed 165 cameras traps along 11 transects. The data were performed by the GML (Generalized Linear Models). A total of 80,410 trap nights were completed. Almost 37,914 independent videos were obtained and 10 species of large mammals of which the most observed were the blue and red duikers followed by aquatic Chevrotains, Elephants and Mangabeys. The results obtained suggest that large mammal species are distributed according to habitats. Large duikers, mandrill, panther, golden cat, elephant, and aquatic chevrotain have preferred habitats; however, the gorilla, the chimpanzee, the white-collared cercocebe and the blue duiker do not seem to be affected by the habitat. They are ubiquitous species. However, all mammals can be seen on all of the transects

Evaluation of the role of Guenons and Mangabeys in seed dispersal in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon

In order to gain knowledge on the quantity of seed dispersed and the contribution of small diurnal primates in the ecosystem, a preliminary study  on four species of monkeys was carried out in the northeastern part of the Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in Gabon. The aim was to identify the  species of fruits which are dispersed and the animal biomass in two large groups of monkeys namely mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus and  Lophocebus albigena) and guenons (Cercopithecus cephus and Cercopithecus nictitans). Using the reconnaissance walking method, we followed old  tracks and dung piles were collected after direct observation of the little monkeys and in the sleeping site. The dung piles were washed, and the  seeds collected were identified. A total of 104 fecal samples from the four species of monkeys were collected. Seeds from 19 species of plants  were found in the dung piles. The majority of the seeds found in droppings were seeds of Cissus dinklagei and Musanga cecropioides.  Cercopithecus nictitans dispersed seeds of more plant species than the others. All the results obtained show that the monkeys disperse an average  of 1,114 seeds per day. In this study guenons disperses more fruit than the mangabeys who have a more varied diet. These results suggest that  monkeys of Moukalaba-Doudou disperse fewer seeds compared to monkeys in other sites in Africa.   Afin d’avoir une connaissance sur la quantité de graine dispersée et la contribution des petits primates diurnes dans l’écosystème, une étude  préliminaire sur quatre espèces de singes a été réalisée dans la partie nord-est du Parc National de Moukalaba-Doudou au Gabon. L’objectif était de  connaître les espèces de fruits dispersées et la biomasse animale chez deux grands groupes de singes à savoir les mangabeys (Cercocebus  torquatus et Lophocebus albigena) et les guenons (Cercopithecus cephus et Cercopithecus nictitans). En utilisant la méthode de la marche de  reconnaissance, nous avons suivi d’anciennes pistes et les tas de fumier ont été ramassés après observation directe des petits singes et dans les  dortoirs. Les crottes ont été lavées et les graines récoltées ont été identifiées. Un total de 104 échantillons fécaux des quatre espèces de singes a été  collectés. Les graines de 19 espèces de plantes ont été trouvées dans les excréments. Cercopithecus nictitans a dispersé plus d’espèces de  graines que les autres. La majorité des graines trouvées dans les déjections étaient des graines de Cissus dinklagei et Musanga cecropioides.  L’ensemble des résultats obtenus montre que les singes dispersent en moyenne 1114 graines par jour. Dans cette étude les guenons dispersent plus  de fruits que les mangabeys qui ont une alimentation plus variée. Ces résultats suggèrent que les singes de Moukalaba-Doudou dispersent  peu de graines en comparaison aux singes d’autres sites en Afrique.&nbsp

Diet Composition and Feeding Ecology of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in a Lowland Tropical Forest in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon

Characterizing the diet of wild chimpanzees is fundamental to understanding ecological variation, flexibility, and adaptation within and among populations. Here, we describe the diet composition of central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, southwestern Gabon. The chimpanzee diet in this area has not previously been described. Based on a macroanalysis of 809 fecal samples and 1, 119 minutes of direct observation of their foraging, we showed that they consume fewer insects and more vertebrate prey than those in other study sites. No evidence for the consumption of termites or driver ants was found. Fruits of Ficus spp. was the most frequently identified plant food and appeared in the diet of Moukalaba chimpanzees throughout the year. Chimpanzees at Moukalaba, like at other study sites, exhibit a preference for a small number of fruit species, including Ficus spp., among the foods available at any given period or area while flexibly changing the foods they eat in response to seasonal changes in fruit quantity in the habitat

Diet Composition and Feeding Ecology of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in a Lowland Tropical Forest in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon

Characterizing the diet of wild chimpanzees is fundamental to understanding ecological variation, flexibility, and adaptation within and among populations. Here, we describe the diet composition of central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, southwestern Gabon. The chimpanzee diet in this area has not previously been described. Based on a macroanalysis of 809 fecal samples and 1,119 minutes of direct observation of their foraging, we showed that they consume fewer insects and more vertebrate prey than those in other study sites. No evidence for the consumption of termites or driver ants was found. Fruits of Ficus spp. was the most frequently identified plant food and appeared in the diet of Moukalaba chimpanzees throughout the year. Chimpanzees at Moukalaba, like at other study sites, exhibit a preference for a small number of fruit species, including Ficus spp., among the foods available at any given period or area while flexibly changing the foods they eat in response to seasonal changes in fruit quantity in the habitat

Estimating diurnal primate densities using distance sampling method in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon

Objective: To complete data of diurnal primates, we have estimated the density of diurnal primates in the northeastern part of Moukalaba Doudou National Park (MDNP) in Gabon and then we compared the results from those obtained in other areas.Methodology and results: we estimated the densities of each species based on the conventional distancesampling approach. Sampling was done in two sessions along 14 line-transects including various types of vegetation. Cercocebus torquatus is the species most abundance with 62.37 ind.km-2, followed by Cercopithecus nictitans (33.26 individuals.km-2), Cercopithecus cephus (29.38 individuals.km-2) Lophocebus albigena (15.72 ind.km-2). The low density was observed in Cercopithecus pogonias (5.23 individuals.km-2). Those values are higher than Makokou with C. cephus, C. nictitans 25 ind.km-2and 30 ind.km-2 respectively. Those results are relatively high unlike to Lopé C. cephus (5.1 individuals.km-2) C. nictitans (19.2 individuals.km-2) C. pogonias (4.6 individuals.km-2) which have the same vegetation types. They are different from Loango Loango, C. cephus (13.33 individuals.km-2) C. nictitans (3.71 individuals.km-2) Cercocebus torquatus (15.89 individuals.km-2) which have a disturbed forest, which may affect monkey’s density.Conclusion and application: our results showed that the density of monkeys in MDNP is among the highest in Gabon. This can be explained by the lacking of colobine monkeys, which generally dominated in the African rainforest, and the different types of vegetation that we founded.Keywords: Moukalaba-Doudou, distance sampling, monkeys, density, compariso

Diet Composition and Feeding Ecology of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in a Lowland Tropical Forest in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon

Characterizing the diet of wild chimpanzees is fundamental to understanding ecological variation, flexibility, and adaptation within and among populations. Here, we describe the diet composition of central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, southwestern Gabon. The chimpanzee diet in this area has not previously been described. Based on a macroanalysis of 809 fecal samples and 1, 119 minutes of direct observation of their foraging, we showed that they consume fewer insects and more vertebrate prey than those in other study sites. No evidence for the consumption of termites or driver ants was found. Fruits of Ficus spp. was the most frequently identified plant food and appeared in the diet of Moukalaba chimpanzees throughout the year. Chimpanzees at Moukalaba, like at other study sites, exhibit a preference for a small number of fruit species, including Ficus spp., among the foods available at any given period or area while flexibly changing the foods they eat in response to seasonal changes in fruit quantity in the habitat