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Akani, Godfrey C.; Aifesehi, Pedro E. E.; Petrozzi, Fabio; Amadi, Nioking; Luiselli, Luca
(detail)
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2014a |
Preliminary surveys of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna (mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) of the Edumanon Forest Reserve, Nigeria.
Tropical Zoology 27(3): 63-72. 2 tabs. 3 figs. DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2014.944376. July 3, 2014.
–ABSTRACT: The Edumanon Forest Reserve is one of the least explored protected areas in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria, West Africa. In this article, we report the results of preliminary surveys, conducted between 2011 and 2014, for determining a checklist and a relative estimate of abundance for three groups of vertebrates, namely mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Overall, we detected 69 vertebrate species (birds excluded), several of them being of high conservation concern. Among the most remarkable species from the conservation point of view, we can cite the chimpanzee, the manatee, and three species of sympatric crocodiles. Analysis of the reptile diversity suggested that species dominance was high and evenness was low, thus revealing altered ecological conditions in this forest area. Nonetheless, several forest specialists were still observed in this forest reserve. The conservation implications of the observed patterns, together with some ethnozoological data, are also discussed.
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Akani, Godfrey C.; Aifesehi, Pedro E. E.; Petrozzi, Fabio; Amadi, Nioking; Luiselli, Luca
(detail)
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2014b |
Diversity of terrestrial vertebrates in Taylor Creek forest reserve, an area of high environmental value in the River Niger Delta (Bayelsa State, Nigeria).
Vie et Milieu - Life and Environment 64: 59-68. Dec. 2014.
–ABSTRACT: The Taylor Creek Forest reserve (Bayelsa State) is one of the most important protected areas of the River Niger Delta region, southern Nigeria. Unfortunately, however, no field studies are available on the diversity of the terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, mammals) in this protected territory. Here, we report the results of field surveys devoted to assess on a preliminary base the vertebrate diversity of Taylor Creek Forest reserve. Mammals and amphibians were assessed only qualitatively, whereas reptiles were assessed also quantitatively within 15 plots of 2 ha area. We detected about 70 vertebrate species (some genera may include multiple species that remained non-detected in our surveys). Several of the recorded species were of high conservation concern (e.g. manatee, dwarf crocodile, hinge-back tortoises, etc.). The presence of the endangered Nigerian chimpanzee was suspected for the Forest Reserve, and indeed few groups of this species do occur in the surroundings of the protected area. Analysis of the reptile diversity suggested that, however, species dominance was high and evenness was low, with very few lizard species dominating the samples. Thus, the reptile community diversity profile revealed altered ecological conditions in this forest area. The conservation implications of the observed patterns are also discussed.
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Bibliography and Index of the Sirenia and Desmostylia 