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Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rosin, C; Beals, KK; Belovitch, MW; Harrison, RE; Pendred, M; Sullivan, MK; Yao, N; Poulsen, JR
Published in: Biotropica.
May 2020

African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are ecosystem engineers that browse and damage large quantities of vegetation during their foraging and movement. Though elephant trail networks and clearings are conspicuous features of many African forests, the consequences of elephant foraging for forest structure and diversity are poorly documented. In this study in northeastern Gabon, we compare stem size, stem density, proportional damage, species diversity, and species relative abundance of seedlings and saplings in the vicinity of seven tree species that produce elephant‐preferred fruits (“elephant trees”) relative to control trees that do not. Across 34 survey trees, with a combined census area of 2.04 ha, we recorded data on 26,128 woody stems in three sizes classes. Compared with control trees, the area around elephant trees had the following: (a) a significantly greater proportion of damaged seedlings and a marginally greater proportion of damaged saplings (with 82% and 24% greater odds of damage, respectively); (b) no significant difference in stem density or species diversity; and (c) a significantly greater relative abundance of seedlings of elephant tree species. Increasing distance away from focal elephant trees was associated with significantly reduced sapling stem damage, significantly increased sapling stem density, and significantly increased sapling species diversity. Considered in sum, our results suggest that elephants can affect the structure and diversity of Afrotropical forests through their foraging activities, with some variation based on location and plant size class. Developing a more complete understanding of elephants’ ecological effects will require continued research, ideally with manipulative experiments. Abstract in French is available with online material.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biotropica.

DOI

ISSN

0006-3606

Publication Date

May 2020

Volume

52

Issue

3

Start / End Page

502 / 508

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

Citation

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Rosin, C., Beals, K. K., Belovitch, M. W., Harrison, R. E., Pendred, M., Sullivan, M. K., … Poulsen, J. R. (2020). Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest. Biotropica., 52(3), 502–508. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12758
Rosin, Cooper, Kendall K. Beals, Michael W. Belovitch, Ruby E. Harrison, Megan Pendred, Megan K. Sullivan, Nicolas Yao, and John R. Poulsen. “Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest.” Biotropica. 52, no. 3 (May 2020): 502–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12758.
Rosin C, Beals KK, Belovitch MW, Harrison RE, Pendred M, Sullivan MK, et al. Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest. Biotropica. 2020 May;52(3):502–8.
Rosin, Cooper, et al. “Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest.” Biotropica., vol. 52, no. 3, May 2020, pp. 502–08. Epmc, doi:10.1111/btp.12758.
Rosin C, Beals KK, Belovitch MW, Harrison RE, Pendred M, Sullivan MK, Yao N, Poulsen JR. Assessing the effects of elephant foraging on the structure and diversity of an Afrotropical forest. Biotropica. 2020 May;52(3):502–508.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biotropica.

DOI

ISSN

0006-3606

Publication Date

May 2020

Volume

52

Issue

3

Start / End Page

502 / 508

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences