Great apes show strong attachment to their nesting sites which provides them with substantial survival elements. Their nesting behaviors are influenced by geographical and ecological variables including habitat type, slope, elevation gradients, and sometimes anthropogenic pressures. This study aimed to assess environmental variables that influenced the Ebo gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) nesting behavior in relation to nesting site selection, nest types, and nesting materials. We collected data from January 2013 to November 2017 along reconnaissance tracks (recce, hereafter) using the marked nest counting method. We recorded 0.16 nesting sites per km as an encounter rate, with an average number of four nests per gorilla group. The mean nest diameter was 90.33 ± 23.92 cm (n = 640, range 25–199 cm). Ebo gorillas preferred nesting sites at high altitude located in the grassland areas with open canopy, ligneous undergrowth composition and very closed visibility. Ebo gorillas used more than 281 plant species as materials for nesting with Marantaceae and Zingiberaceae species being the most common material used. Terrestrial herbaceous nests were the most common nest type (55%). During the dry season, gorillas visited more often the mature forest habitat and mostly constructed arboreal nests. Finally, reuse of nesting sites by Ebo gorillas was minimal (16%), and visitation period occurred from 3 days to 33 months. Our study provides the first systematic investigation of gorilla nesting behavior within the Ebo forest constituting therefore an essential starting point for the long-term conservation planning of this little-known population.
Great apes are threatened by many factors including habitat loss, forest degradation and disease. Despite the improved understanding of the distribution of gorillas in Cameroon, there is a lack of fine-scale knowledge about their habitat use. We used the Kernel Density Estimate method combined with grid cell counting to assess gorilla distribution, habitat use and human disturbance on one of the least studied gorilla populations in Cameroon. Proportions of different habitat types in the landscape were quantified using classification and regression tree approach applied to Landsat-8 and digital elevation model data. We found that the distribution of gorillas was restricted to the central band of the site (~22 km 2 ). Although the area was dominated by mature forest, the goodness-of-fit test showed that gorillas used grassland areas more frequently. Intensive human activities were noted across the gorilla range, with used cartridge shells being the most evidence hunting sign. Our results can be used to guide conservation and sustainable development stakeholder decisions in the area.With increasing anthropogenic threats throughout the landscape, we recommend the implementation of noninvasive research activities focusing on threat monitoring, nesting and dietary ecology, and the promotion of community-led conservation initiatives to reduce pressure on the gorilla habitat.
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