16 research outputs found
Facial asymmetry tracks genetic diversity among Gorilla subspecies
Mountain gorillas are particularly inbred compared to other gorillas and even the most inbred human populations. As mountain gorilla skeletal material accumulated during the 1970s, researchers noted their pronounced facial asymmetry and hypothesized that it reflects a population-wide chewing side preference. However, asymmetry has also been linked to environmental and genetic stress in experimental models. Here, we examine facial asymmetry in 114 crania from three Gorilla subspecies using 3D geometric morphometrics. We measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect symmetry, and population-specific patterns of directional asymmetry (DA). Mountain gorillas, with a current population size of about 1000 individuals, have the highest degree of facial FA (explaining 17% of total facial shape variation), followed by Grauer gorillas (9%) and western lowland gorillas (6%), despite the latter experiencing the greatest ecological and dietary variability. DA, while significant in all three taxa, explains relatively less shape variation than FA does. Facial asymmetry correlates neither with tooth wear asymmetry nor increases with age in a mountain gorilla subsample, undermining the hypothesis that facial asymmetry is driven by chewing side preference. An examination of temporal trends shows that stress-induced developmental instability has increased over the last 100 years in these endangered apes
La participation des populations pygmées à la conservation dans le parc national de Kahuzi-Biega (république démocratique du Congo)
Le parc national Kahuzi-Biegaet les PygmĂ©es de son « hinterland » Le parc national de Kahuzi-Biega Le parc national de Kahuzi-Biega (PNKB), lâun des 7 parcs nationaux et des 5 sites du patrimoine de lâhumanitĂ© que compte la rĂ©publique dĂ©mocratique du Congo (RDC), fut crĂ©Ă© en 1970 dans le but de protĂ©ger une espĂšce endĂ©mique des forĂȘts orientales, le gorille de plaine (carte 1). Le PNKB chevauche les provinces du Sud/Kivu, du Nord/Kivu et du Maniema (carte,2). Il a Ă©tĂ© classĂ© dĂšs 1937 comme « ..
Diagnostic ethnobotanique partiel des espÚces végétales utilisées dans la médecine traditionnelle et par les gorilles de Grauer dans la zone montagneuse de Kahuzi-Biega, RD Congo.
RĂ©sumĂ©Le prĂ©sent travail a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ© dans et autour de la forĂȘt de montagne du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega (PNKB), Ă lâEst de la RD Congo. Ce site naturel de patrimoine mondial fut crĂ©Ă© principalement pour protĂ©ger la sous-espĂšce de gorille, le Gorilla beringei graueri, une espĂšce en danger critique dâextinction. Lâobjectif de cette thĂšse est dâanalyser le double usage des espĂšces vĂ©gĂ©tales qui sont utilisĂ©es dans la mĂ©decine traditionnelle et dans le rĂ©gime alimentaire des gorilles pour une gestion durable de la biodiversitĂ©, et en particulier, des ces espĂšces vĂ©gĂ©tales les plus sollicitĂ©es par les tradipraticiens et qui sont utiles dans lâalimentation et potentiellement lâautomĂ©dication des gorilles. Pour rĂ©aliser cette Ă©tude, nous avons abordĂ© les tradipraticiens spĂ©cialistes ;nous avons fait des observations directes de gorilles de 4 groupes et nous avons Ă©valuĂ© la vĂ©gĂ©tation de leur habitat en forĂȘt dâaltitude du parc. Lâanalyse des donnĂ©es a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e grĂące aux approches de lâethnobotanique quantitative et de lâĂ©cologie numĂ©rique.Les rĂ©sultats montrent que, sur la base de lâusage de 77 espĂšces mĂ©dicinales inventoriĂ©es, la typologie des tradipraticiens nâest pas basĂ©e sur leurs origines ethniques et gĂ©ographiques mais sur leurs spĂ©cialitĂ©s. Ils utilisent les mĂȘmes plantes pour soigner les mĂȘmes maladies. La forte convergence de leurs pratiques et le degrĂ© de consensus trĂšs Ă©levĂ© sur les plantes quâils utilisent pour traiter les maladies traduisent une tradition mĂ©dicinale solidement ancrĂ©e au sein des groupes ethniques vivant dans cette rĂ©gion du Parc. Cependant, 83% des espĂšces utilisĂ©es par les tradipraticiens sont forestiĂšres. Les usages des plantes mĂ©dicinales comparĂ©s aux choix alimentaires des gorilles montrent que 78 % des espĂšces vĂ©gĂ©tales consommĂ©es par ces primates sont utilisĂ©es par les tradipraticiens, avec une similaritĂ© de 80% dâusage des parties de plantes. Ce chevauchement trĂšs Ă©levĂ© dâusages traduit une compĂ©tition potentielle pour les plantes Ă double usage. Il met en danger Ă la fois les plantes, les gorilles et la mĂ©decine locale.Cette thĂšse montre ainsi la nĂ©cessitĂ© de mieux comprendre les diffĂ©rentes spĂ©cialitĂ©s mĂ©dicinales au sein des ethnies et leur recours Ă certaines plantes spĂ©cifiques dâune part, et dâautre part ,le besoin de mieux Ă©tudier les pratiques dâautomĂ©dication du gorille de Grauer au PNKB.Ces enseignements contribueront Ă la conservation de ces espĂšces vĂ©gĂ©tales Ă double usage Ă la fois utiles pour lâhomme et pour les grands singes.AbstractThis work was carried out in the mountain region of Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) in eastern DR Congo. That natural site was primarily created to protect the lowland gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri, a species in critical danger of extinction. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the dual-use of plants that are used both in traditional medecine and by gorillas in order to sustain the conservation management of plants most used by traditional healers and at the same time as food or for medication purposes by gorillas. For this study, we addressed traditional healers recognized as specialists in Batwa, Havu, Bashi and Tembo ethnic groups; we made direct observations of 4 groups of gorillas and assessed the vegetation within gorilla habitat in the mountain forest. Data analysis was conducted with two approaches: quantitative ethnobotany and numerical ecology. For 77 medicinal species identified, the results show that the typology of traditional healers relies on their specialisation than on ethnic and geographical membership. They use the same plants to treat the same diseases.The strong convergence of their practices and the high degree of consensus on plants they use to treat diseases reflect a consolidated medicinal tradition among ethnic groups living in this area of the Park. However, 83% of species used by traditional healers grow in the forest.The uses of medicinal plants compared to gorillaâs food choices show that 78% of plant species consumed by these primates are also used by traditional healers, with a similarity of 80% of use of plant parts. This high overlap of uses reflects a potential competition for dual-use plants, that endangers both plants, gorillas and local medicine.The topic thus shows the need of further studies for better understanding the different specialisation within local medicine and the use of specific plants on the one hand. The other hand, the self-medication practices of Grauer's gorilla in KBNP need to be investigated.These insights will contribute to the conservation of these dual-use plant species which are useful for both humans and great apes.Keywords: Traditional medicine â Traditional healers- Gorilla Grauer - Kahuzi-Biega- National Park- DR Congo.Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingĂ©nierie biologiqueinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
VULNERABILITY OF HABITUATED GRAUER'S GORILLA TO POACHING IN THE KAHUZI-BIEGA NATIONAL PARK, DRC
Kahuzi gorillas lived without any major disturbances since their habituation started in 1970. The wars from October 1996 to May 1997 and from August 1998 to June 2003 in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo led to a large-scale slaughter of gorillas. The results of this study based on interviews with ex-poachers suggest that when habituated and non-habituated gorillas are exposed to similar poaching-pressures, the habituated gorillas are more likely to be killed than the non-habituated. The estimated ratio of killed habituated gorillas was as high as 71% vs. 42% for non-habituated gorillas. Habituated gorillas were 1.6 times more susceptible to poaching than their non-habituated counterparts. It is recommended that habituation should not be expanded, although already habituated families should be maintained as such
Conservation of Gorilla beringei graueri and its habitat proves also relevant to traditional medicine in Kahuzi-Biega region, DR Congo
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
VULNERABILITY OF HABITUATED GRAUER'S GORILLA TO POACHING IN THE KAHUZI-BIEGA NATIONAL PARK, DRC
Characterization of traditional healers in the mountain forest region of Kahuzi-Biega, South-Kivu, DR Congo
Description of the subject. Several ethnobotanical studies have demonstrated links between traditional medicine practices and the ethnicity and geographical location of healers, while many others have concluded the opposite. This study deals with the typology of traditional healers in the mountain region of Kahuzi-Biega. Objectives. The goal is to understand whether the typology of traditional healers is related to their inter-ethnic and inter-zonal differences, based on diseases treated and plants used. Method. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted using the "PSSVV" method. This involved 88 traditional healers recognized as "specialists" in 33 villages adjacent to the forest of Kahuzi-Biega, in DR Congo. Multivariate analysis (clustering, ordination, Mantel test, IndVal) were applied to establish typologies of traditional healers. Results. Multivariate analyses showed that ethnicity and geographical location did not explain the practices and knowledge of healers. However, by using the IndVal method, differences were observed in their degree of specialization. Non-specialized healers (70%) could be distinguished from specialized healers (30%). Two clear groups of specialists emerged; those who treat bone trauma and those who treat obstetric-gynecological complaints. The Mantel correlation test revealed a positive association (r = 0.134, p < 0.05) between the "healers-plants" and "healers-diseases" matrices. This indicates that healers who treat similar diseases use similar herbs. Both typologies have shown their preferences for forest species (81%), especially trees (51%). Conclusions. This exploratory study suggests that traditional healers are characterized based on their specializations. This result helps in creating strategies to preserve local traditional knowledge and apply it to the conservation of species
Typology of traditional healers around the moutain forest of Kahuzi-Biega (Flash Presentation)
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
Typology of healers in traditional medicine around the Kahuzi-Biega national park, DR Congo
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
CaractĂ©risation des tradipraticiens de la rĂ©gion de forĂȘt montagneuse de Kahuzi-Biega, sud-Kivu, RD Congo
Description of the subject. Several ethnobotanical studies have demonstrated links between traditional medicine practices and the ethnicity and geographical location of healers, while many others have concluded the opposite. This study deals with the typology of traditional healers in the mountain region of Kahuzi-Biega. Objectives. The goal is to understand whether the typology of traditional healers is related to their inter-ethnic and inter-zonal differences, based on diseases treated and plants used. Method. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted using the âPSSVVâ method. This involved 88 traditional healers recognized as âspecialistsâ in 33 villages adjacent to the forest of Kahuzi-Biega, in DR Congo. Multivariate analysis (clustering, ordination, Mantel test, IndVal) were applied to establish typologies of traditional healers. Results. Multivariate analyses showed that ethnicity and geographical location did not explain the practices and knowledge of healers. However, by using the IndVal method, differences were observed in their degree of specialization. Non-specialized healers (70%) could be distinguished from specialized healers (30%). Two clear groups of specialists emerged; those who treat bone trauma and those who treat obstetric-gynecological complaints. The Mantel correlation test revealed a positive association (r = 0.134, p < 0.05) between the âhealers-plantsâ and âhealers-diseasesâ matrices. This indicates that healers who treat similar diseases use similar herbs. Both typologies have shown their preferences for forest species (81%), especially trees (51%). Conclusions. This exploratory study suggests that traditional healers are characterized based on their specializations. This result helps in creating strategies to preserve local traditional knowledge and apply it to the conservation of species.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe