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Mayaka, Theodore B.; Koh-Dimbot, Jean P.; Keith-Diagne, Lucy W.
(detail)
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2019 |
Occurrence patterns of African manatees, conflicts with humans, and local perception in the Southern Korup Area, Cameroon.
Aquatic Conservation: Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems Early Release, pages 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3210. Published online Aug. 30, 2019.
–ABSTRACT--1. The African manatee has been poorly studied throughout its range and is heavily hunted. This study aimed at discerning patterns in manatee sightings and emerging conflicts with humans, as well as the local perception of manatees, outside the southern periphery of Korup National Park, Cameroon.
2. The study investigated whether patterns in manatee sightings and manatee?related conflicts differ between aquatic systems in southern Korup, and which demographic variables determine perceptions of the manatee in the study area. For this purpose, the study used a three?stage stratified random sampling design with a structured questionnaire to survey 101 local fishers.
3. The reported patterns of manatee sightings and manatee?related conflicts were as follows: in the Nyangorobe River during the wet season only, where crop raiding and net destruction by manatees were reported; in the Ndian River and the mangrove estuary only during the dry season, where fish theft and net damage were reported; and in the Moko River during both seasons, where crop raiding, fish theft, and net destruction were reported. Reducing these conflicts is likely to increase local support for the conservation of manatees, because fishermen kill them in response to net destruction and fish loss.
4. Most reported sightings were at waterway intersections and river bends, suggesting that waterway connectivity is important to manatees for dispersal, foraging, and escape from danger.
5. The log?odds probability of negative perception decreased significantly with awareness of manatee protected status but increased with age and primary or higher education level. These findings have implications for community outreach focused on raising awareness of the importance of manatee conservation by schoolchildren and the public.
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Hieb, Elizabeth E.; Eniang, Edem A.; Keith-Diagne, Lucy W.; Carmichael, Ruth H.
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2021 |
Impacts of in-water bridge construction on manatees and implications for other marine megafauna species.
Journal of Wildlife Management 85(4): 674-685. 1 tab. 2 figs. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22030
–ABSTRACT: Globally, increasing coastal development requires construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure that affects terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Construction of bridges as part of transportation networks introduces a series of risks to aquatic species near construction zones. We reviewed relevant literature and obtained exemplary case studies to synthesize potential effects of bridge construction on the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), a nearshore megafauna species vulnerable to human activities. Stages of bridge construction including dredging, pile driving, and installation and assembly of bridge components each involve potential direct and indirect effects on manatees. Direct effects such as vessel interactions, entanglement or ingestion, and entrainment may result in acute physical injury or mortality. Indirect effects from construction such as habitat obstruction or degradation and increased noise from construction activities can alter behavior and intraspecies communication and reduce access to essential resources. Some effects of construction may be immediately diffcult to quantify, but cumulative effects through time can result in major habitat and species loss. To prevent large-scale negative effects of construction on manatees and other aquatic species, use and evaluation of itigation strategies should be implemented pre-, during, and post-construction. As the global human population increasingly occupies coastal zones, effective planning of coastal development, including bridge and other in-water construction, will be essential to support conservation and recovery efforts for manatees and other species at risk in these areas.
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Bibliography and Index of the Sirenia and Desmostylia 