The Impact of Bushmeat Hunting on the Primates of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea Drew T
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The Impact of Bushmeat Hunting on the Primates of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Drew Timothy Cronin in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2013 © Copyright 2013 Drew Timothy Cronin. All Rights Reserved. ii Dedications To my Dad Learn so you can earn and be all you can be. “Como esta tu dormir?” -Miguel Angel Silochi, Moraka Playa iii Acknowledgments Funding and support for this project was provided by the ExxonMobil Foundation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea, Inc., Primate Conservation, Inc., International Primatological Society, Margot Marsh Biodiversity Fund, Los Angeles Zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. I am grateful to the Government of Equatorial Guinea, including the Ministry of Fisheries and the Environment, the Ministry of Information, Press, and Radio, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for permission to conduct research in Equatorial Guinea. I am also grateful to the National University of Equatorial Guinea for allowing me the privilege of working on Bioko and collaborating with its faculty and students. There are so many people I would like to thank for all their support during my graduate career and their contributions to this project. Indeed, this thesis could be filled entirely with the names of those whom who have made this project possible and/or graduate life better, so I am bound to forget at least one person. So, to you, and you know who are if you have been forgotten, I am truly grateful. That said, I am particularly grateful to: My advisor and mentor, Gail Hearn, for introducing me to Bioko Island, for teaching me nearly everything I know about primatology and conservation, and for encouraging me every step of the way. I haven’t looked back since Animal Behavior! Michael O’Connor, a man I can’t thank enough. His patience with my office visits over the last 5 years is impressive, but I always left feeling more confident than when I entered. This thesis could not be what it is today without all of his help and support. Shaya Honarvar, for unending support, friendship, in addition to encouragement in the field, the lab, and in my professional life. Her comments on drafts of this thesis were invaluable, as were the cookies and Bonds offered to me each time I shambled onto Moaba Playa. James Spotila, for introducing me to the world of international conservation biology, for prompting me to set my sights high, for his useful comments on my drafts of this thesis, and for teaching me that KFC in China is indeed an experience. Wayne Morra, for encouraging me to think about economics, and for always reminding me that I was making progress. Joshua Linder, for endless assistance with survey design and for helping me think about the broader implications of my work. All of your input and editorial comments over the course of my dissertation have been extremely helpful. iv Richard Bergl, for assistance with my Cybertracker database, invaluable input on survey design, help with GIS issues, and for always having helpful both career and life advice. I am truly appreciative of all I’ve learned along the way. Cirilo Riaco, for being my right-hand man during my primate surveys. I could not have completed my field work without him. Miguel Angel Silochi, for walking every single meter of Bioko with me during my primate surveys. The people of Ureca and Belebu for all their support, and especially Mama Jauna and Epifanio Mualeri, for their hospitality. Marcelino Bahe, Pascual Bahe, Adolfo Eparalele, Apolonio Eparalele, Dionisio Eparalele, Jose Luis Lopez, Rafael Maho, Mansuerto Mualeri, Florentino Motove, Jesus Pons, Evaristo Riaba, Cresencio Riaco, Bernardo Siabu, Fortunato Siabu, Felipe Teache, and numerous other assistants in the field. Stephen Woloszynek, who went from unknown undergrad to a great friend, and provided invaluable insight and assistance with statistical analyses. It’s a strangerguy. Jennifer Seale, for believing in me from the beginning. Mary and Pete Johnson, for all your support on Bioko and for making me feel at home on the other side of the world. The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program staff for all of their assistance and support: Sally Vickland, Reginaldo Biacho, Filemon Riosa Etingue, Esteban Muatiche, Bosco Pons Sipako, Javier Rivas, Gertudis Ribado Meñe, Ilidio Mobulo Moheté, David Montgomery, Nabil Nasseri, Mark Andrews, Elizabeth Congdon, and Heidi Ruffler. Matthew Cuzzocreo, Livy Lewis, and Andrew Fertig for making my work on Bioko a little bit easier and lot more enjoyable. Karim Shnan, for his friendship, generosity and hospitality. Jose Manuel Esara Echube, for all of his assistance over the years, and for never letting me forget that I look like a drill when I get out of the field. Maximilliano Fero Meñe, for introducing me to fieldwork on Bioko, for his assistance in the field, and for excellent discussions about conservation. Claudio Posa Bohome, a man of amazing spirit, for teaching me about the plants of Bioko. He will be missed. The Drexel University Biology Department faculty and staff. v All of the numerous Drexel undergraduate students who endlessly entered data for me, especially Erica Henn and Halle Choi. All of my research assistants, who graciously volunteered their time, without whom I could not have completed my data collection: Tim Bransford, Seth Cunningham, Tara Hetz, Caroline Laine, Maia Lipschutz, Allie Gibat, Polly Gibson, Rachel Granberg, Kim Reuter, and Alexis Rosvall. Libalah Moses for his help with surveying trees in Korup. The Panmictic Rabbits. The Drexel Ecology cohort, who are too many to name, for their friendship and support, especially Maggie Cunningham, Lori Lester, Noga Neeman, Aliki Panagopoulou, Tom Radzio, Kevin Smith, Marilyn Sobel, Karen Sullam, Jack Suss, Dane Ward, and our adopted member Steve Essinger. Steven Pearson, for being an excellent friend, colleague, and squash player, and for commiserating with me over sharks and/or minks. Samir Patel, for the thought provoking discussions, especially during the Champions League. Shauna Henley, for dragging me to social events and for her excellent friendship. Jules Winters, for being an excellent friend, a sounding board, and an excellent editor, who made the dissertation process slightly less unbearable. Nano! Demetrio Bocuma, for his friendship since my first trip to Bioko, his terrible, but perfectly timed jokes, and for mailing Pat’s spoon away. Patrick McLaughlin, for putting up with sitting a foot away from me all day, his groundbreaking work on linsangs, and for being just cynical enough to become an excellent friend. Jacob Owens, for making this a lot more fun than it should have been and for sharing too many memorable experiences with me to count along the way. Loie and Oscar, for reminding me not to take life too seriously. Frank McCombs, Robert Molner, and William Snell who have been my closest friends through it all, as well as Gregory Radian, my almost brother, for unending friendship and support, and for standing in for me at home when I’m invariably out of the country. The Kellers (Dave, Rachel, Jenny, Justin, Holden, Madeline) and Stopfels (Terry, Nolan, and Anna) for welcoming me into your lives and for all the support over the last 10 years. vi My sisters, Meghan and Caitlin, for their continual support, love, and patience. My uncle, James, for supporting my wandering spirit and providing a voice of reason amidst my nonsensical rambling. My father, for teaching the value of a life of hard work and service, that life is short, and that pretty much anything can be solved by jumping and diving. My mother, for inspiring me to take advantage of opportunities to travel and study abroad, and for her unending encouragement, love, and understanding. And lastly, my wife Laura, for putting up with, understanding, supporting, feeding, reassuring, and loving me throughout my graduate career and long before. I could never have done it without you. vii Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xv Chapter 1: General Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 Introduction to thesis ....................................................................................................... 1 Hunting and the bushmeat trade .................................................................................. 1 Differential vulnerability of primates to hunting ......................................................... 2 Project significance ...................................................................................................... 3 Dissertation structure ................................................................................................... 4 Description of study sites ................................................................................................ 6 Biafran forests and highlands ...................................................................................... 6 Location of this study .................................................................................................. 7 Political history