Petrozzi F., Amori G., Franco D., Gaubert Philippe, Pacini N., Eniang E. A., Akani G. C., Politano E., Luiselli L. (2016). Ecology of the bushmeat trade in west and central Africa. Tropical Ecology, 57 (3), p. 545-557. ISSN 0564-3295.
Titre du document
Ecology of the bushmeat trade in west and central Africa
Année de publication
2016
Auteurs
Petrozzi F., Amori G., Franco D., Gaubert Philippe, Pacini N., Eniang E. A., Akani G. C., Politano E., Luiselli L.
Source
Tropical Ecology, 2016,
57 (3), p. 545-557 ISSN 0564-3295
The bushmeat trade in West and Central Africa embraces a broad range of ecological, economic, and conservation issues. To date, most studies have focused on the economic and conservation aspects of the bushmeat trade, with less emphasis on the ecological implications of wildlife extraction. Here, we analysed available literature on the bushmeat trade in 5 countries in west and central Africa exploring ecological traits such as niche width breadth and trophic position of the species involved, and habitats impacted. We also examine temporal changes over a 40-year period. Our results confirm that mammals dominated the trade in all studied areas and time periods, in terms of (i) number of species, (ii) number of traded individuals, and (iii) overall biomass. Herbivores were the most common trophic animal guild traded. Forest-specialists were the most abundant in the trade, and in riverine habitats reptile biomass almost as important as mammals. Overall, the most traded species and individuals were non-threatened according to the IUCN Red List. Our temporal analyses indicated that more habitat generalist and water-linked species were traded during 1971 - 2000, but forest dependent taxa predominated during the following decade (2001 - 2010). Additionally, the number of individuals of large-bodied herbivores rose relative to small and medium-sized ones, whereas traded biomass over time increased: (a) in the consumption of super-predators; (b) of large-bodied herbivores, but (c) a significant decrease in consumed biomass of medium and small-bodied herbivores. We suggest that the observed trends may suggest an imminent reduction of large-bodied herbivores and, as a cascade effect, also of super-predators in African moist forests.
Plan de classement
Etudes, transformation, conservation du milieu naturel [082]
Description Géographique
GHANA ; NIGERIA ; CAMEROUN ; GUINEE EQUATORIALE ; REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010066789]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010066789
