Ecology and ethnozoology of the three-cusped pangolin Manis tricuspis (Mammalia, Pholidota) in the Lama forest reserve, Benin
-
Hugues A. Akpona
Abstract
The conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management strategies must be based on an understanding of the structural and functional ecological traits of utilized species. Such basic data are still lacking for even the most endangered species in Africa. In this study, we combined ecological methods with ethnographic approaches to investigate the ecology and ethnozoology of three-cusped pangolin (Manis tricuspis) in the context of the Lama forest reserve (6°55.8′–58.8′ N and 2°4.2′–10.8′ E) in Benin. We interviewed 79 people from various socio-professional groups to assess how important is three-cusped pangolin to indigenous people. We surveyed 15 strip transects (3 km×1 km) within 12 sites to seek for indices of pangolin presence and record-associated vegetation data in six plots of 900 m2 (30 m×30 m). In total, 38 pangolins were observed in the forest. The density was 0.84 pangolins/km2 during the dry season and the number of observations did not differ significantly between plantations and natural forest. The age ratio of juvenile/adult was 1:1. The preferred habitat was colonized by termite mounds in 62% of the sites. Pangolins were mostly found in holes of Dialium guineense and Ceiba pentandra in the closed natural forests. The distribution of pangolins in the Lama forest reserve suggests that the species is more sensitive to forest age than to its composition. Three-cusped pangolin plays an important role as food, medicine, mythic and source of income for local communities around the Lama forest reserve. We also recommend future research guidelines important for the conservation of Manis tricuspis in Benin.
©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Abstract
The conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management strategies must be based on an understanding of the structural and functional ecological traits of utilized species. Such basic data are still lacking for even the most endangered species in Africa. In this study, we combined ecological methods with ethnographic approaches to investigate the ecology and ethnozoology of three-cusped pangolin (Manis tricuspis) in the context of the Lama forest reserve (6°55.8′–58.8′ N and 2°4.2′–10.8′ E) in Benin. We interviewed 79 people from various socio-professional groups to assess how important is three-cusped pangolin to indigenous people. We surveyed 15 strip transects (3 km×1 km) within 12 sites to seek for indices of pangolin presence and record-associated vegetation data in six plots of 900 m2 (30 m×30 m). In total, 38 pangolins were observed in the forest. The density was 0.84 pangolins/km2 during the dry season and the number of observations did not differ significantly between plantations and natural forest. The age ratio of juvenile/adult was 1:1. The preferred habitat was colonized by termite mounds in 62% of the sites. Pangolins were mostly found in holes of Dialium guineense and Ceiba pentandra in the closed natural forests. The distribution of pangolins in the Lama forest reserve suggests that the species is more sensitive to forest age than to its composition. Three-cusped pangolin plays an important role as food, medicine, mythic and source of income for local communities around the Lama forest reserve. We also recommend future research guidelines important for the conservation of Manis tricuspis in Benin.
©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Preface
- Preface
- Original Studies
- Polyandry and polygyny in an African rodent pest species, Mastomys natalensis
- Social relationships in Mastomys huberti as deduced from field and genetic analyses of multiple capture data
- Dietary selection in Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae) in the maize agro-ecosystems of central and southwestern Tanzania
- Diversity and distribution of rodent and shrew species associated with variations in altitude on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Correlating small mammal community characteristics and habitat integrity in the Caledon Nature Reserve, South Africa
- Farmer survey in the hinterland of Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo) on rodent crop damage and rodent control techniques used
- Ecology and ethnozoology of the three-cusped pangolin Manis tricuspis (Mammalia, Pholidota) in the Lama forest reserve, Benin
- Shrew trap efficiency: experience from primary forest, secondary forest, old fallow land and old palm plantation in the Congo River basin (Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Microgeographical distribution of shrews (Mammalia, Soricidae) in the Congo River basin (Kisangani, D.R. Congo)
- The presence of Praomys, Lophuromys, and Deomys species (Muridae, Mammalia) in the forest blocks separated by the Congo River and its tributaries (Kisangani region, Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Morphometric characterization of the Giant Pouched Rat (Cricetomys Waterhouse 1840) in the forest zone of South Western Nigeria
- Taxonomy and biogeography of the African Pygmy mice, Subgenus Nannomys (Rodentia, Murinae, Mus) in Ivory Coast and Guinea (West Africa)
- Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
- Short Note
- Sustainable small stock farming and ecosystem conservation in southern Africa: a role for small mammals?
- Book Reviews
- Book Reviews
- Meeting announcements
- 10.1515/MAMM.2008.013
Articles in the same Issue
- Preface
- Preface
- Original Studies
- Polyandry and polygyny in an African rodent pest species, Mastomys natalensis
- Social relationships in Mastomys huberti as deduced from field and genetic analyses of multiple capture data
- Dietary selection in Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae) in the maize agro-ecosystems of central and southwestern Tanzania
- Diversity and distribution of rodent and shrew species associated with variations in altitude on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Correlating small mammal community characteristics and habitat integrity in the Caledon Nature Reserve, South Africa
- Farmer survey in the hinterland of Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo) on rodent crop damage and rodent control techniques used
- Ecology and ethnozoology of the three-cusped pangolin Manis tricuspis (Mammalia, Pholidota) in the Lama forest reserve, Benin
- Shrew trap efficiency: experience from primary forest, secondary forest, old fallow land and old palm plantation in the Congo River basin (Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Microgeographical distribution of shrews (Mammalia, Soricidae) in the Congo River basin (Kisangani, D.R. Congo)
- The presence of Praomys, Lophuromys, and Deomys species (Muridae, Mammalia) in the forest blocks separated by the Congo River and its tributaries (Kisangani region, Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Morphometric characterization of the Giant Pouched Rat (Cricetomys Waterhouse 1840) in the forest zone of South Western Nigeria
- Taxonomy and biogeography of the African Pygmy mice, Subgenus Nannomys (Rodentia, Murinae, Mus) in Ivory Coast and Guinea (West Africa)
- Potential mammalian reservoirs in a bubonic plague outbreak focus in Mbulu District, northern Tanzania, in 2007
- Short Note
- Sustainable small stock farming and ecosystem conservation in southern Africa: a role for small mammals?
- Book Reviews
- Book Reviews
- Meeting announcements
- 10.1515/MAMM.2008.013
