Local Ecological Knowledge in South Sudan Can Help Conservation and Management of Cyclanorbis elegans

Demaya, Gift Simon; Benansio, John Sebit; Lado, Thomas Francis; Jubarah, Salah K; Ladu, John Leju Celestino; Luiselli, Luca

doi:10.2744/ccb-1377.1

Cited by 13 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Cyclanorbis elegans, was historically known to occur in the Guinean savannah rivers of Ghana and one of the most threatened species in the world (Gramentz, 2008;Baker et al, 2015). This species has been recently rediscovered in South Sudan (Demaya et al, 2019a(Demaya et al, , 2019b, whereas no individual has been observed in Ghana (and in the rest of West Africa) since several decades (Stanford et al, 2018). Thus, our surveys were also important in order to con rm the likely extinction of West African populations of this Critically Endangered species (IUCN, 2020;Luiselli et al, 2021).Trionyx triunguis populations are threatened in West Africa (Segniagbeto et al, 2014;IUCN, 2020), and the fact that we captured 15 different individuals of this species, from four distinct localities, suggests that this species is still relatively widespread in Ghana.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles From Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

Gbewaa

Oppong

Horne

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Despite increasing pressures on freshwater resources worldwide, and the threatened status of most freshwater turtles, there is still limited knowledge of habitat use and niche partitioning in Afrotropical freshwater turtle communities. In this study, we describe habitat associations, community diversity, and temporal patterns of occurrence of freshwater turtle species in the Dahomey Gap ecoregion of Ghana (West Africa). We gathered data from 13 sites in central Ghana and along the Sene Arm of Lake Volta in the Digya National Park (Bono East Region). We employed opportunistic short-term surveys (at seven sites) together with longer-term (six-months duration) standardized evaluations of turtle presence and numbers in different habitats (at six sites). In addition, we interviewed fishers in the Lake Volta area to explore their perception about turtle abundance trends. Overall, 210 turtle individuals belonging to four species (Trionyx triunguis, Cyclanorbis senegalensis, Pelomedusa sp. and Pelusios castaneus) were recorded; for 139 individuals the precise capture sites and habitat type were recorded, whereas 71 individuals were observed in market places and were not considered in our analyses. We observed three sympatric species at the local scale of the various study sites. In each site, the dominant species was either C. senegalensis or Pelomedusa sp. However, Pelomedusa sp. was the most abundant species in temporary waterbodies whereas C. senegalensis was more numerous in permanent ones. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis visualized that, in permanent waterbodies all species were associated with similar physical habitat variables. C. senegalensis and T. triunguis were more abundant in localities containing woody emergent vegetation and inorganic substrate. In a Canonical Correspondence Analysis, we show that the density of herbaceous emergent vegetation was more important for P. castaneus than for C. senegalensis. Interviews with local people suggested that freshwater turtles do not have any special marketing interest for them, but that overfishing may have considerably affected the population density of these semiaquatic reptiles. Overall, Comparisons of diversity metrics between our study areas and previous literature revealed that turtle community composition was substantially the same, both qualitatively and quantitatively, all throughout the savannahs of West Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles From Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

Gbewaa

Oppong

Horne

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles from Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite increasing pressures on freshwater resources worldwide, and the threatened status of most freshwater turtles, there is still limited knowledge of habitat use and niche partitioning in Afrotropical freshwater turtle communities. In this study, we describe habitat associations, community diversity, and temporal patterns of occurrence of freshwater turtle species in the Dahomey Gap ecoregion of Ghana (West Africa). We gathered data from 13 sites in central Ghana and along the Sene Arm of Lake Volta in the Digya National Park (Bono East Region). We employed opportunistic short-term surveys (at seven sites) together with longer-term (six-months duration) standardized evaluations of turtle presence and numbers in different habitats (at six sites). In addition, we interviewed shers in the Lake Volta area to explore their perception about turtle abundance trends. Overall, 210 turtle individuals belonging to four species (Trionyx triunguis, Cyclanorbis senegalensis, Pelomedusa sp. and Pelusios castaneus) were recorded; for 139 individuals the precise capture sites and habitat type were recorded, whereas 71 individuals were observed in market places and were not considered in our analyses. We observed three sympatric species at the local scale of the various study sites. In each site, the dominant species was either C. senegalensis or Pelomedusa sp. However, Pelomedusa sp. was the most abundant species in temporary waterbodies whereas C. senegalensis was more numerous in permanent ones. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis visualized that, in permanent waterbodies all species were associated with similar physical habitat variables. C. senegalensis and T. triunguis were more abundant in localities containing woody emergent vegetation and inorganic substrate. In a Canonical Correspondence Analysis, we show that the density of herbaceous emergent vegetation was more important for P. castaneus than for C. senegalensis. Interviews with local people suggested that freshwater turtles do not have any special marketing interest for them, but that over shing may have considerably affected the population density of these semiaquatic reptiles. Overall, Comparisons of diversity metrics between our study areas and previous literature revealed that turtle community composition was substantially the same, both qualitatively and quantitatively, all throughout the savannahs of West Africa.

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“…Our approach could be applied in other areas where field surveys of chelonians are logistically difficult or time-consuming. For example, our method could be used to study species such as Erymnochelys madagascariensis in Madagascar, Cyclanorbis elegans in continental Africa (Demaya et al, 2019a,b), and Chitra chitra , Chitra vandjiki , Chitra indica , Nilssonia formosa , Nilssonia nigricans , Pelochelys cantorii , Batagur affinis , Batagur kachuga and Batagur borneoensis in Asia. The method could also be used to study other threatened freshwater animals for which habitat loss and overfishing/overhunting are drivers of population declines (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female wanted for the world's rarest turtle: prioritizing areas where Rafetus swinhoei may persist in the wild

Pham,

Le Duc,

Bordes

et al. 2021

Oryx

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The Yangtze giant softshell turtle Rafetus swinhoei is the rarest turtle species, with just two individuals known to be surviving, one male in a zoo in China and one individual recently identified as a female in the wild in Viet Nam. As the species is on the brink of extinction, it is an urgent priority to search for additional individuals in the wild, and for areas where it may still be present. Here, we analysed areas where the species may still occur, identified through interview surveys in Viet Nam. In addition, we introduced a novel system for evaluating the potential for occurrence of this rare and elusive freshwater turtle, using a conservation priority index. This index was based on three recorded variables: (1) probability of the species' presence based on interviews with local fishers, (2) degree of habitat alteration, and (3) fishing intensity, with the latter two based on experts’ evaluation of the sites where the species could potentially be present. There were at least 13 independent, reliable sightings in the 2010s, seven of which were in 2018–2019, indicating that R. swinhoei potentially persists in the wild. Although the species was confirmed at only one site, there are at least three more sites where it is likely to be present, and 13 sites of conservation interest. We provide a description of all sites where the species is potentially present, and a summary of relevant interviews. The Da River system has the highest number of recent sightings. We recommend that a research and conservation project be initiated urgently, and outline how such a project could be implemented.

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Local Ecological Knowledge in South Sudan Can Help Conservation and Management of Cyclanorbis elegans

Cited by 13 publications

References 4 publications

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles From Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles From Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles from Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

Female wanted for the world's rarest turtle: prioritizing areas where Rafetus swinhoei may persist in the wild

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