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Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 3(3): 606-611, 2009

ISSN 1991-8631

Short Communication http://indexmedicus.afro.who.int

Ecological factors determining the distribution of the red-bellied guenon Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster in and

Georges NOBIME 1*, Brice SINSIN 1 and Jean-Marc LERNOULD 2

1 Laboratoire d'Ecologie Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Bénin. 2 Conservation des Espèces et de Populations Animales, France. * Auteur correspondant, Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The red-bellied guenon ( Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster) is an endangered subspecies of primate endemic to the Dahomey Gap. To better understand its distribution pattern, interviews with local people in 180 localities in south Benin and southeast Togo and ground surveys were conducted from 2000 to 2007. The species was found inhabiting eight localities in swamp forests, gallery forests and seasonally-flooded semi- deciduous forests. Two of these are protected areas: the Lama Forest of Benin and the Togodo Reserve of Togo. Appropriate conservation actions are necessary for the red-bellied guenon, including improved law enforcement and regular monitoring. © 2009 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.

Key words: Red-bellied guenon, Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster, distribution, Benin, Togo, conservation.

INTRODUCTION characterization of its remaining habitats are The originally named museum skin of particularly important to ensure the survival of Cercopithecus erythrogaster has red hair on this endangered taxon (Sinsin et al., 2002; its chest and abdomen and may have Campbell et al., 2008). Conservation agencies originated in Benin. Grubb et al . (1999) and scientists have acknowledged the recognized that there are two subspecies: necessity for spatial knowledge of biodiversity Cercopithecus e. pococki from Nigeria and for purposes of planning, management and Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster Gray 1866 conservation evaluation (Acharya, 1999). from Benin. C. e. pococki has a grey belly and Here we map the current distribution of C. e. erythrogaster a red belly. The relatively the subspecies C. e. erythrogaster , provide recent confirmation that the red-bellied evidence of its presence in Togo, and assess guenon survives in southern Benin, the ecological factors which impact its exemplifies the lack of ecological studies and distribution and continued existence. biodiversity surveys in the Dahomey Gap. A wild population of red-bellied guenons was MATERIALS AND METHODS discovered in 1994 (Oates, 1996). We are sure Study area people had seen them before; but Oates was This study took place in Southern the first to publish a sighting with a Benin and in Southeast Togo between 1°30 geographical distribution limited to forests of and 2°50 East longitudes and between 6°20 the southern Benin (Oates, 1996; Sinsin et al., and 8° North latitude. From an ecological 2002). Further information about the spatial perspective, this region covers four habitat distribution of the subspecies and the types within a forest-savannah mosaic: dry

© 2009 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.

G. NOBIME et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 3(3): 606-611, 2009 semi-deciduous forest, seasonally humid monkey in question by the surveyed persons. semi-deciduous forest, swamp forest and Once localities had been identified with the gallery forest. local population as having a past or present Benin and Togo are located within the guenon presence, surveys within the species so-called Dahomey Gap, in which Sudan-type habitat were conducted. Of the 180 localities savanna vegetation extends as far as the sea, where the population was interrogated, direct through a hiatus in the West African rain surveys of potential habitats was undertaken forest, covering some 200 km from South East in eight. Ghana to South East Benin (Guillaumet, 1967; Schnell, 1976; Onochie, 1979; Whitmore, RESULTS 1990; Martin, 1991; Maley, 1996; Salzmann Spatial distribution and habitat types and Hoelzmann; 2005). Nevertheless in areas Of 180 localities surveyed, 62 were where topography favours the semi-permanent identified by the inhabitants as having had a presence of water, elements of the humid red-bellied guenon population at some stage; forest and its associated fauna have been eight of these localities continue to harbor the retained (Adjanohoun, 1968; Kokou, 1998; subspecies, as confirmed by direct observation Kokou et al., 1999; Le Gall et al., 2002). (Figure 1; Table 1). This included the first Currently, across the entire Dahomey Gap, the sighting of the red-bellied guenon in Togo, original pattern of vegetation is largely where Nobimè observed two polyspecific obscured by the omnipresent impact of dense groups of red-bellied guenons and mona human settlements and ever increasing monkeys ( Cercopithecus mona ) in the Togodo exploitation through agriculture (Jenik, 1994; Reserve. Kokou and Caballé, 2000). This human influence has reduced humid forest cover to Causal factors of the presence of red- isolated forest islands and riparian forests bellied guenon stretching along rivers. The areas where people reported that the red-bellied guenon was previously found Data collection are characterized by humid habitats: swamp Nobimè visited dry and humid forest forests, gallery forests and dense semi- islands, riparian forests, and stream vegetation deciduous forests, which are flooded in the areas in the administrative departments of rainy season. In addition to the protected South Benin (Atlantique, Ouémé, Plateau, forests of Lama and Togodo, the wetland Mono, Couffo, Colline and Zou) and South vegetation of the Ouémé River, the swamp Togo (Maritime). The studies took place in a forest of Lokoli, and the gallery forests of total of 180 localities among rural villages Opkara and Mono are presently the preferred situated in the districts of Sakété, habitat of the red-bellied guenon. Zangnanado, Abomey, Allada, Bopa, Dogbo, Lalo, Athièmè, Djakotomey, Toviklin, Pobè, Major causes of red-bellied guenon habitat Kétou, Savè and Aplahoué, and in the Ouémé degradation. river valley, as well as in the Lama depression Pressures exercised by villagers as they and localities near Togodo reserve (Tabligbo continue to cut trees for firewood and to clear district) in Togo. land for agriculture, lead to a forecast of The approach was to conduct an continuing decline in the monkey’s interview survey of local people (and occupation area. Riparian forests provide especially with local authorities and hunters) fertile soil for cultivation, so in the Mono- in areas considered likely to harbor the red- Couffo department the local human bellied guenon. Interviews with the local population has already entirely destroyed the population throughout the different phases of gallery forests. the study provided information concerning the All hunters in the Mono gallery forest species’ habits, past presence, and the in Benin and Togo are based in Benin for localities where it could still be encountered. poaching in Togodo reserve. This reserve is A poster featuring good-quality images of the only one with high animal biodiversity several guenon species was employed to (primates, antelopes, buffalo, and lion) in the ensure differential identification of the region. 607 G. NOBIME et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 3(3): 606-611, 2009

110 250 SAVE Y# #S N O k pa ra a r SAVALOU Y# For êt de a 880 p l'O uém é k B ouk ou O

Y#

O

DASSA u R ete n ue é NIGER de Nangbéto m é For ê t Y# ATAKPAME du D ogo % F or êt AMLAME Y# Z de K é tou B E N I N o m o u A m o u u A #S Y# O u nti vou KETOU TOGO 800 ABOMEY NIGERIA % BOHICON Y# M o n o C o Fo rê t H u Lo ko li f #S a T oh ou n #S d'A gr im è POBE h fo H o u an v è o NOTSE #S Y# # GHANA KPALIME Z Y Y# For ê t i Y# o de L am a #S OCEAN ATLANTIQUE APLAHOUE F or êt Gnanhouizoumè R ése rve de D j igbé #S Lo cality de T ogo do SAKETE Y# #Y ALLADA To w n T og bo ta #S LOKOSSA Y# TABLIGBO % C ity-To w n % Sô Y# é m é PORTO-NOVO State border h A ABOMEY 720 TSEVIE c % a CALAVI La c Y# Stream Y# L N oko ué OUIDAH VOGAN R o ad Y# % Y# Y# L a c SE M E # Protected area T og o Y KPODJI LOME Y# GRAND-POPO Lake and ocean ANEHO 0 50 K m % A T L A N T I C O C E A N

Figure 1: Surveyed zone for red-bellied guenon in Benin and Togo. 608 G. NOBIME et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 3(3): 606-611, 2009

Table 1: Features of localities where red-bellied guenons occur in Benin and Togo.

Habitat Locality Vegetation type Human encroachment Fragmented Habitat type area (ha) Lama protected Dense semi-deciduous forest ( Diospyros mespiliformis, Seasonal 16,250 Protected area: poaching No forest (Benin) Dialium guineense, Cynometra megalophylla ) swamp forest Community forest: tree cutting, Dense semi-deciduous forest ( Raphia hookeri , Alstonia Lokoli (Benin) 500 farming, raphia palm Yes Swamp forest congensis , Xylopia rubescens , Ficus congensis ) exploitation Gnanhouizoumè Dense semi-deciduous forest ( Diospyros mespiliformis, Community forest: tree cutting, Seasonal 50 Yes (Benin) Dialium guineense, Cynometra megalophylla ) farming swamp forest Dense semi-deciduous forest ( Diospyros mespiliformis, Community forest: tree cutting, (Benin) 5 – 10 Dialium guineense, Cynometra megalophylla, Cola Yes Gallery forest farming laurifolia, Berlinia grandiflora , Pterocarpus santalinoides ) Riparian forest ( Cola laurifolia, Berlinia grandiflora, Community forest: tree cutting, Houanvè (Benin) 3 Yes Gallery forest Pterocarpus santalinoides ) farming Riparian forest ( Cola laurifolia, Berlinia grandiflora, Community forest: tree cutting, Okpara (Benin) 3 – 5 Yes Gallery forest Pterocarpus santalinoides ) farming Riparian forest ( Cola laurifolia, Berlinia grandiflora, Community forest: tree cutting, Mono (Benin, Togo) 0.5 - 1 Yes Gallery forest Pterocarpus santalinoides ) farming Dense semi-deciduous forest and riparian forest ( Diospyros Togodo reserve mespiliformis, Dialium guineense, Cynometra megalophylla, Protected area: poaching and 31,000 No Gallery forest (Togo) Cola laurifolia, Berlinia grandiflora , Pterocarpus tree cutting santalinoides )

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DISCUSSION limited within buffer zones around these The red-bellied guenon, present in areas. Law enforcement capabilities should gallery forests, wetland and swamp forests of be strengthened to reduce greatly illegal, Southern Benin and Togo, is an endemic unregulated and unmanaged hunting. Major subspecies of the Dahomey Gap. donors and conservation bodies should be During a humid phase of the Holocene, encouraged to put into place trust funds to the Dahomey Gap was probably covered with support the required law enforcement, evergreen lowland forest (Salzmann and research, monitoring, evaluation, information Hoelzmann, 2005). This suggests that extant and conservation education programs, patches of natural forest in Southern Benin are especially in and around the existing protected remnants of the former semi-evergreen areas (Lama protected forest, Togodo reserve) lowland forest that has been largely destroyed and the surviving riparian forests. This could by humans. For species distributed in the be done within the context of a regional lowland rainforest during the Holocene, these wetland conservation project covering Benin forest remnants, such as the Lama protected and Togo. The Benin and Togo governments forest, are important refuges (Nagel et al., must coordinate their actions against poachers 2004). in the Mono river region. According to Levaux (1990), Roggeri Domestic food alternatives to bushmeat (1995) and Brugière et al . (1999), riparian and alternative livelihoods should be forests are important in the conservation of a developed and promoted, particularly around large range of plants and animals, constituting protected areas and riparian forests. These a natural habitat or the last refuge for many measures might include small mammal species, but also they contain many endemic breeding, fish breeding, bee keeping, and species and threatened species. The Ouémé mushroom production. River and its forested banks are rich in bird The Dahomey Gap’s populations of life, and serve as a focal point of primates and primates should be regularly surveyed and animals of many kinds (Natta, 2003), monitored so that numbers, distributions, including the red-bellied guenon. In the red- trends, and threats are well known and bellied guenon habitat, there is little human appropriate conservation actions taken. activity for the three months or more per year when the area is flooded, providing therefore ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a good refuge (Sinsin et al., 2002). This study was conducted with the Our studies have also shown that the financial support of the Laboratoire red-bellied guenon is present in gallery forests d’Ecologie Appliquée (LEA), Conservation of the Mono River system, including the des Populations et Espèces Animales (CEPA) Togodo Reserve of Togo. and Conservation International (CI). The authors are grateful to Dr. Aristide Adomou, Conclusions and recommendations for Prof John Oates and the anonymous reviewers conservation for their contribution of this manuscript. Human pressures in Benin and Togo have led to the degradation, destruction and REFERENCES fragmentation of riparian gallery forests. They Acharya B. 1999. Forest biodiversity are now endangered ecosystems. Although assessment: A spatial analysis of tree small in size, the remaining seasonally- species diversity in Nepal. PhD Thesis. flooded and riparian forests are important in ITC Forest Division, ITC Publication 72, the conservation of numerous animals and the Enschede, The Netherlands, 199p. Lama protected forest, the gallery forests of Adjanohoun E. 1968. Le Dahomey. Acta Oueme, Mono and Opkara, and the Lokoli Phytogeographica Suecica, 54 : 86-91 swamp forest are important refuges for red- Brugière D, Sakom D, Gauthier-Hion A. bellied guenon. The uniqueness, vulnerability 1999. Structure de la communauté des and diversity of these forests are the most primates simiens de la forêt de Ngotto: important criteria rendering their protection a importance des milieux marginaux dans priority. Logging within the protected areas le maintien de la biodiversité. Rapport and riparian forests should be prevented, and ECOFAC. 51p. www.ecofac.org 610 G. NOBIME et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 3(3): 606-611, 2009

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