A5069206045- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Plant Ecology and Soil Science
- Wood and Agarwood Research
- Video Surveillance and Tracking Methods
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Advanced Image and Video Retrieval Techniques
University of Stirling
2015-2025
Park University
2024
University of Glasgow
2024
Faculty (United Kingdom)
2023
National Agency for National Parks
2020-2021
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
2018
Summary Audio recorders are widely used in terrestrial and marine ecology essential for studying many cryptic or elusive taxa. Although several commercial systems available, they often expensive rarely user‐serviceable easily customized. Here, we present the Solo audio recorder. Units constructed from Raspberry Pi single board computer run easy‐to‐install freely available software. We provide an example configuration costing £167 (£83 excluding suggested memory card battery), which records...
Afrotropical forests host much of the world's remaining megafauna, although these animals are confined to areas where direct human influences low. We used a rare long-term dataset tree reproduction and photographic database forest elephants assess food availability body condition an emblematic megafauna species at Lopé National Park, Gabon. Our analysis reveals 81% decline in fruiting over 32-year period (1986-2018) 11% fruit-dependent from 2008 2018. Fruit famine one last strongholds for...
Abstract Diurnal raptors have declined significantly in western Africa since the 1960s. To evaluate impact of traditional medicine and bushmeat trade on raptors, we examined carcasses offered at markets 67 sites (1–80 stands per site) 12 countries during 1990–2013. Black kite Milvus migrans hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monachus together accounted for 41% 2,646 comprising 52 species. Twenty-seven percent were species categorized as Near Threatened, Vulnerable or Endangered IUCN Red List. Common...
Abstract Ecological data are collected over vast geographic areas using digital sensors such as camera traps and bioacoustic recorders. Camera have become the standard method for surveying many terrestrial mammals birds, but trap arrays often generate millions of images that time‐consuming to label. This causes significant latency between collection subsequent inference, which impedes conservation at a time ecological crisis. Machine learning algorithms been developed improve speed labelling...
Abstract The commercial bushmeat trade threatens numerous species in the forests of West and Central Africa. Hunters shoot trap animals, which are transported to rural urban markets for sale. Village-based surveys hunter offtake have shown that mammals reptiles affected most, followed by birds. However, hunters also consume some animals forest camps these may been overlooked focused on extracted from forest. A number studies used indirect methods, such as diaries, quantify this additional...
Abstract Efforts to preserve, protect and restore ecosystems are hindered by long delays between data collection analysis. Threats can go undetected for years or decades as a result. Real‐time help solve this issue but significant technical barriers exist. For example, automated camera traps widely used ecosystem monitoring it is challenging transmit images real‐time analysis where there no reliable cellular WiFi connectivity. We modified an off‐the‐shelf trap (Bushnell™) customised existing...
ABSTRACT Aim The long‐term survival of many mammal populations relies on how effectively we mitigate the threat from unsustainable hunting. Yet, hunting activities are often cryptic, especially in unprotected forests. Here, investigate whether signs can help understand spatiotemporal dynamics an African rainforest and examine landscape characteristics predict various indicators Location Ebo forest, Cameroon, Central Africa. Methods We recorded (e.g., shotgun cartridges, wire snares, direct...
Abstract Ecosystem function and resilience are compromised when habitats become fragmented due to land‐use change. This has led national international conservation strategies aimed at restoring habitat extent improving functional connectivity (i.e., maintaining dispersal processes). However, biodiversity responses landscape‐scale creation the relative importance of spatial temporal scales poorly understood, there is disagreement over which should be prioritized. We used 160 years historic...
Intact forest landscapes (IFLs) are globally important for maintaining functional ecosystems. Ebo (~1400 km2) in Cameroon is one of the largest remaining IFLs Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal ecoregion and harbours several IUCN Red-Listed threatened mammal species. We evaluated status, trends, distribution mammals ≥ 0.5 kg over 12 years using guided recce camera trap monitoring surveys, as well local knowledge to inform future land use conservation planning. Recce six taxa (blue duiker Philantomba...
Abstract Species distributions are a product of both current spatial configuration habitats and legacies historic land use. Therefore, effectiveness agri-environment schemes, Payment for Ecosystem Service policies, conservation management all hinge on understanding the relative importance of, interactions among, drivers species distributions. Here, we explore combined effects spillovers temporal legacies, within between habitat types. We use Bayesian hierarchical occupancy models with data...
Abstract Context Land-use change and habitat fragmentation are well known drivers of biodiversity declines. In forest birds, it has been proposed that landscape can cause increased predation pressure leads to population declines or community change. Predation also have non-lethal effects on prey, such as creating ‘landscapes fear’. However, few studies simultaneously investigated the relative contribution regional land-use local management Objectives To quantify ‘landscape fear’ in...
Abstract Great apes are threatened by many factors including habitat loss, forest degradation and disease. Despite the improved understanding of distribution gorillas in Cameroon, there is a lack fine‐scale knowledge about their use. We used Kernel Density Estimate method combined with grid cell counting to assess gorilla distribution, use human disturbance on one least studied populations Cameroon. Proportions different types landscape were quantified using classification regression tree...
Riparian zones are formed by interactions between fluvio-geomorphological processes, such as sediment deposition, and biota, vegetation. Establishment of invasive alien plant (IAP) species along rivers may influence vegetation dynamics, evidenced higher seasonal or inter-annual fluctuations in native diversity when IAP cover is high. This could impact the overall functioning riparian ecosystems. Conversely, fine deposited after floods replenish propagule banks, thus supporting recruitment...
Migratory species are protected under international legislation; their seasonal movements across borders may therefore present opportunities for understanding how global conservation policies translate to local-level actions different socio-ecological contexts. Moreover, management of migratory can reveal culture and governance affects progress towards achieving targets. Here, we investigate potential misalignment in the two-way relationship between global-level (i.e. hunting bans quotas)...
Populations of many Afro-Palearctic birds have declined, with those wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, particularly affected. In this study we investigated the relationship between habitat characteristics and presence/absence Centre Region Cameroon. A total six transects were established three types (forest, forest–savanna transitional zone savanna). Call playback surveys conducted monthly from November 2015 to April 2016 determine...
Land use change in sub‐Saharan Africa continues apace, but its role driving the declines of Afro‐Palaearctic migrant birds is unknown. This due partly to a lack knowledge migrants’ requirements on wintering grounds, and spatially explicit assessments land cover change. We compared tree data derived from satellite remote sensing (available for period 2000–2014) with distributional surveys four West African countries Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix , one such declining migrant, determine...
Abstract Ecological data are increasingly collected over vast geographic areas using arrays of digital sensors. Camera trap have become the ‘gold standard’ method for surveying many terrestrial mammals and birds, but these often generate millions images that challenging to process. This causes significant latency between collection subsequent inference, which can impede conservation at a time ecological crisis. Machine learning algorithms been developed improve camera processing speeds,...
Capsule Maximum provisioning rates occurred during the seasonal peak in caterpillar availability, controlling for brood age and time of day.Aims To determine if availability caterpillars influenced Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix nest rates.Methods Remote cameras were used to monitor visits at 14 nests 8 British oak Quercus woodlands 2013. The timing was estimated by monitoring production faecal pellets under trees.Results when date coincided with but percentage change asynchrony...
Abstract Efforts to preserve, protect, and restore ecosystems are hindered by long delays between data collection analysis. Threats can go undetected for years or decades as a result. Real-time help solve this issue but significant technical barriers exist. For example, automated camera traps widely used ecosystem monitoring it is challenging transmit images real-time analysis where there no reliable cellular WiFi connectivity. Here, we present our design trap with integrated artificial...
Abstract Spotted hyaena distribution currently widely encompasses sub‐Saharan Africa, apart from the Congo Basin. Formerly described as residents of Gabon but considered extinct, vagrant individuals have been recorded since 2003, no systematic species presence assessment has made. Based on records killed individuals, tracks and camera‐trap sightings, we show that not only are roaming in Gabon, a small resident population occurs North‐East country. The collated here formed basis for spotted...
ABSTRACT The present work reports on new records of the flat‐headed or Cameroon cusimanse ( Crossarchus platycephalus ) obtained from camera trap surveys carried out between 2021 and 2023 in central northwestern Gabon. These records—in form high‐definition videos—extend southern limit species' known range by 172 km, as well provide additional evidence group living co‐occurrence with blue duiker Philantomba monticola moustached guenon Cercopithecus cephus ). findings suggest that C. may be...