Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Mini Reviews

Vol. 1 No. 4 (2014)

Conservation relevance of terrestrial herbaceous vegetation studies

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2014.1.4.66
Submitted
30 May 2014
Published
02-10-2014

Abstract

Herbaceous vegetation studies are pivotal for a better understanding of the ecology of several animal species that use these plants as food items, nest-building materials, and tools. This article illustrates how such investigations can build on the knowledge base required for conservation planning and help to assess habitat quality. Although many descriptive studies on herbaceous plants used by animals have been carried out, more research effort is needed to address questions such as diversity, community composition, population dynamics, and the influence of abiotic factors. This investment would result in more accurate estimations of resource availability and a better understanding of the effects of abiotic factors on herbaceous plants and dependent animal species.

References

  1. Brugiere, D., & Sakom, D. (2001). Population density and nesting behaviour of lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the Ngotto forest, Central African Republic. Zoologial Journal London, 255, 251–259. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0952836901001315
  2. Calvert, J. J. (1985). Food selection by western gorillas (G. g. gorilla) in relation to food chemistry. Oecologia, 65, 236–246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00379223
  3. Deblauwe, I., Guislain, P., Dupain, J., & Van Elsacker, L. (2006). Use of a tool-set by Pan troglodytes troglodytes to obtain termites (Macrotermes) in the Periphery of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Southeast Cameroon. American Journal of Primatology, 68, 1191–1196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20318 PMid:17096418
  4. Djoufack, S. D. (2003). Végétation et distribution des nids de gorilles (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) dans la périphérie Nord de la Réserve de Biosphère du Dja (Unpublished DEA thesis), University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
  5. Doran, D. M., McNeilage, A., Greer, D., Bocian, C., Mehlman, P., & Shah, N. (2002). Western lowland gorilla diet and resource availability: New evidence, cross-Site comparisons, and reflections on indirect sampling methods. American Journal of Primatology, 58, 91–116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.10053 PMid:12454955
  6. Fay, J. M. (1997). The ecology, social organization, populations, habitat and history of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla Savage and Wyman 1847) (Unpublished doctoral thesis),Washington University, USA.
  7. FAO (2005). Global forest resources assessment. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  8. Furuichi, T., Inagaki, H., & Angoue-Ovono, S. (1997). Population density of chimpanzees and gorillas in the Petit Loango Reserve, Gabon: employing a new method to distinguish between nests of the two species. International Journal of Primatology, 18(6), 1029–1046. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1026356432486
  9. Ganas, J., Robbins, M. M., Nkurunungi, J. B., Kaplin, B. A., & McNeilage, A. (2004). Dietary variability of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. International Journal of Primatology, 25(5), 1043–1072. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:IJOP.0000043351.20129.44
  10. Harrison, M. E., & Marshall, A. J. (2011). Strategies for the use of fallback foods in apes. International Journal of Primatology, 32, 531–565. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10764-010-9487-2 PMid:21654902 PMCid:PMC3083508
  11. Head, J. S., Boesch, C., Makaga, L., & Robbins, M. M. (2011). Sympatric chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Loango National Park, Gabon: dietary composition, seasonality, and intersite comparisons. International Journal of Primatology, 32, 755–775. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10764-011-9499-6
  12. Kingdon, J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African mammals. London: Academic Press.
  13. Koops, K., Humle, T., Sterck, E. H. M., & Matsuzawa, T. (2007). Ground-nesting by the chimpanzees of the Nimba Mountains, Guinea: environmentally or socially determined? American Journal of Primatology, 69, 407–419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20358 PMid:17146789
  14. Malenky, R., Wrangham R., Chapman, C., & Vineberg, E. (1993). Measuring chimpanzee food abundance. Tropics, 2, 231–244. http://dx.doi.org/10.3759/tropics.2.231
  15. McCune, B., & Grace, J. B. (2002). Analysis of ecological communities. Oregon: MjM software design.
  16. McGrew, W. C., Marchant, L. F., Beuerlein, M. M., Vrancken, D., Fruth, B., & Hohmann, G. (2007). Prospects for bonobo insectivory: Lui Kotal, Democratic Republic of Congo. International Journal of Primatology, 28, 1237–1252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10764-007-9215-8
  17. Mehlman, P. T., & Doran, D. M. (2002). Influencing western gorilla nest construction at Mondika Research Center. International Journal of Primatology, 23(6), 1257–1285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1021126920753
  18. Moffatt, S. F., & McLachlan, S. M. (2004). Understorey indicators of disturbance for riparian forests along an urban–rural gradient in Manitoba. Ecological Indicators, 4, 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2003.08.002
  19. Musana, A., & Mutuyeyezu, A. (2011). Impact of climate change and climate variability on altitudinal ranging movements of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (Externship Report), The International START Secretariat, USA.
  20. Nagendra, H., & Ostrom, E. (2011). The challenge of forest diagnostics. Ecology and Society, 16(2), 20.
  21. Rogers, M. E., & Williamson, E. A. (1987). Density of herbaceous plants eaten by gorillas in Gabon: Some preliminary data. Biotropica, 19, 278–281. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2388348
  22. Rogers, M. E., Abernethy, K., Bermejo, M., Cipolletta, C., Doran, D., McFarland, K., …Tutin, C. E. G. (2004). Western gorilla diet: A synthesis from six sites. American Journal of Primatology, 64, 173–192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20071 PMid:15470742
  23. Rogers, M. E., Williamson, E. A., Tutin, C. E. G., & Fernandez, M. (1988). Effects of the dry season on gorilla diet in Gabon. Primates, 22, 25–33.
  24. Sabater Pi, J. (1977). Contribution to the study of alimentation of lowland gorillas in the natural state, in Rio Muni, Republic of Equatorial Guinea (West Africa). Primates, 18, 183–204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02382958
  25. Sanz, C. M., & Morgan D. B. (2007). Chimpanzee tool technology in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. Journal of Human Evolution, 52, 420–433. PMid:17194468 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.11.001
  26. Tagg, N., Willie, J., Petre, C. A., & Haggis, O. (2013). Ground nesting in chimpanzees and occurrence of central chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) ground nesting in south-east Cameroon. Folia Primatologica, 84, 362–383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000353172 PMid:23988519
  27. Tutin, C. E. G., Fernandez, M., Rogers, M. E., Williamson, E. A., & McGrew, W. C. (1991). Foraging profiles of sympatric lowland gorillas and chimpanzees in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, (Series B 334), 179–186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1991.0107 PMid:1685576
  28. Tutin, C. E. G., Parnell, R. J., White, L. J. T., & Fernandez, M. (1995). Nest building by lowland gorillas in the Lope Reserve, Gabon: environmental influences and implications for censusing. International Journal of Primatology, 16(1), 53–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02700153
  29. Tutin, C. E. G., White, L. J. T., & Mackanga-Missandzou, A. (1997). The use by rain forest mammals of natural forest fragments in an equatorial African savanna. Conservation Biology, 11, 1190–1203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1997.96211.x
  30. Walsh, P. D., Tutin, C. E. G., Baillie, J. E. M., Maisels, F., Stokes, E. J., & Gatti, S. (2008). Gorilla gorilla ssp. gorilla. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. Retrieved August 05, 2012, from www.iucnredlist.org
  31. Webb, E. L., Van de Bult, M., Chutipong, W., & Kabir, Md. E. (2006). Composition and Structure of Lowland Rain-Forest Tree Communities on Ta'u, American Samoa. Pacific Science, 60 (3), 333–354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/psc.2006.0019
  32. White, L. J. T., & Edwards, A. (2000). Vegetation inventory and description. In L. J. T. White &, A. Edwards (Eds.), Conservation research in the African rain forests: a technical handbook. (pp. 115–151). New York, USA: Wildlife Conservation Society.
  33. White, L. J. T., Rogers, M. E., Tutin, C. E. G., Williamson, E., & Fernandez, M. (1995). Herbaceous vegetation in different forest types in the Lopé Forest Reserve, Gabon: implications for keystone food availability. African Journal of Ecology, 33, 124–141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1995.tb00788.x
  34. Williamson, E. A., Tutin, C. E. G., Rogers, M. E., & Fernandez, M. (1990). Composition of the diet of lowland gorillas at Lopé in Gabon. American Journal of Primatology, 21, 265–277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.1350210403
  35. Willie, J., Tagg, N., Petre, C. A., Pereboom, Z., & Lens, L. (2014). Plant selection for nest building by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon. Primates, 55, 41–49. PMid:23732768. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10329-013-0363-5

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.