Article (Scientific journals)
Short term impact of selective logging on a western lowland gorilla population
Haurez, Barbara; Tagg, Nikki; Petre, Charles-Albert et al.
2016In Forest Ecology and Management, 364, p. 46-51
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Keywords :
Gorilla gorilla gorilla; Timber exploitation; Gabon; Nesting behavior; Density; Line transects
Abstract :
[en] Selective timber production is implemented over a large proportion of the world’s tropical forests. Within these forest ecosystems, the frugivore community contributes important ecological services through animal-mediated seed dispersal. However, there is no clear understanding of the impacts of logging on wildlife or of the extent to which seed dispersal is preserved in logged forests. Given its tendency for nesting in light gaps, the western lowland gorilla is likely to provide directed-dispersal services to a wide range of tree species. Production forests preserved from poaching have been reported to harbor high densities of gorillas, but the monitoring of gorilla populations subjected to logging is poorly documented. This study investigated gorilla density and nesting behavior after timber exploitation in a logging concession in southeast Gabon. Nest count censuses were performed on line transects, before and after the second felling cycle. Gorilla density dropped from 1.5 (116.7 nests km 2, 95% CI = 83.4–163.5) to 1.0 (64.9 nests km 2, % CI = 32.6–129.5) weaned gorilla km 2 4–6 months after logging, then rose to 2.6 (176.3 nests km 2, 95% CI = 113.5–274.1) gorillas km 2 9–11 months after logging. A consistent preference for nesting in open canopy terra firma forest was observed during all censuses. This study demonstrates the short-term resilience of the western lowland gorilla to selective timber harvesting, and argues that they offer a continued contribution to directed-dispersal services within months after logging. Although a long-term monitoring of gorillas in a logged forest should be undertaken, the role of this species in logged forest recovery is thought to be important. The preservation of gorilla should receive particular consideration by forest managers.
Disciplines :
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Haurez, Barbara ;  Université de Liège > Ingénierie des biosystèmes (Biose) > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales
Tagg, Nikki
Petre, Charles-Albert ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Form. doct. sc. agro. & ingé. biol.
Vermeulen, Cédric ;  Université de Liège > Ingénierie des biosystèmes (Biose) > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales
Doucet, Jean-Louis ;  Université de Liège > Ingénierie des biosystèmes (Biose) > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales
Language :
English
Title :
Short term impact of selective logging on a western lowland gorilla population
Publication date :
2016
Journal title :
Forest Ecology and Management
ISSN :
0378-1127
eISSN :
1872-7042
Publisher :
Elsevier Science
Volume :
364
Pages :
46-51
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 15 January 2016

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