Title
Primate Communities Along a Protected Area Border: A Two-site Comparison of Abundance and Hunting Response in Bioko, Equatorial Guinea
Author(s)
Forrest, Daniel L.;Muatiche, Fermin ;Riaco, Cirilo ;Gonder, Mary Katherine;Cronin, Drew T.;
Published
2017
Publisher
African Primates
Abstract
Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea is home to seven diurnal primate taxa, threatened with extinction largely due to high rates of illegal bushmeat hunting. The Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve (GCSR), one of two protected areas on Bioko, is the only remaining site where all seven taxa can be found. Historically, much of the wildlife in the GCSR has been passively protected due to its isolation, but a lack of effective law enforcement has allowed hunting to proliferate, and recent road and infrastructure development threatens more hunting in the future. Many calls have been made for the development of a comprehensive management plan to effectively protect the GCSR, but data are needed to understand the dynamics of the varying human-wildlife systems along its borders to develop well-informed and cost-effective management strategies. This study investigated the abundance and species richness of primates along the GCSR border near the village of Moka over four years (2011-2014), and compared results to those of a previous study near a similar GCSR-border village, Belebu. Although we found considerable inter-annual variation in the relative abundance of primates at Moka, the overall relative abundance there was significantly higher than at Belebu. We attribute this primarily to the higher observed hunting intensity at Belebu, differences in historical hunting patterns and accessibility, and the presence of a long-term research site and activities at Moka, which may deter hunters in the area. Further research is needed to provide greater resolution on complementary factors influencing abundance and distribution patterns. However, our results highlight the persistence of a notable primate community near Moka and emphasize the importance of understanding dynamics along protected area borders when planning for conservations. Relatively similar sites may require different approaches for effective management.
Keywords
Bioko;hunting;bushmeat;surveys;protected areas

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PUB22773