Publication:
Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa

dc.contributor.authorStrindberg, S.
dc.contributor.authorMaisels, F.
dc.contributor.authorWilliamson, E.A.
dc.contributor.authorBlake, S.
dc.contributor.authorStokes, E.J.
dc.contributor.authorAba'a, R.
dc.contributor.authorAbitsi, G.
dc.contributor.authorAgbor, A.
dc.contributor.authorAmbahe, R.D.
dc.contributor.authorBakabana, P.C.
dc.contributor.authorBechem, M.
dc.contributor.authorBerlemont, A.
dc.contributor.authorSemboli, B.B. de
dc.contributor.authorBoundja, P.R.
dc.contributor.authorBout, N.
dc.contributor.authorBreuer, T.
dc.contributor.authorCampbell, G.
dc.contributor.authorWachter, P. de
dc.contributor.authorAkou, M.E.
dc.contributor.authorMba, F.E.
dc.contributor.authorFeistner, A.T.C.
dc.contributor.authorFosso, B.
dc.contributor.authorFotso, R.
dc.contributor.authorGreer, D.
dc.contributor.authorInkamba-Nkulu, C.
dc.contributor.authorIyenguet, F.C.
dc.contributor.authorJeffery, K.J.
dc.contributor.authorKokangoye, M.
dc.contributor.authorKühl, Hjalmar S.
dc.contributor.authorLatour, S.
dc.contributor.authorMadzoke, B.
dc.contributor.authorMakoumbou, C.
dc.contributor.authorMalanda, G.A.F.
dc.contributor.authorMalonga, R.
dc.contributor.authorMbolo, V.
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, D.B.
dc.contributor.authorMotsaba, P.
dc.contributor.authorMoukala, G.
dc.contributor.authorMowawa, B.S.
dc.contributor.authorMurai, M.
dc.contributor.authorNdzai, C.
dc.contributor.authorNishihara, T.
dc.contributor.authorNzooh, Z.
dc.contributor.authorPintea, L.
dc.contributor.authorPokempner, A.
dc.contributor.authorRainey, H.J.
dc.contributor.authorRayden, T.
dc.contributor.authorRuffler, H.
dc.contributor.authorSanz, C.M.
dc.contributor.authorTodd, A.
dc.contributor.authorVanleeuwe, H.
dc.contributor.authorVosper, A.
dc.contributor.authorWarren, Y.
dc.contributor.authorWilkie, D.S.
dc.date.accessioned2022-01-23T18:58:20Z
dc.date.available2022-01-23T18:58:20Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://open.fsc.org/handle/resource/1056
dc.titleGuns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africaen
dcterms.abstractWe present a range-wide assessment of sympatric western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla and central chimpanzees Pan troglodytes troglodytes using the largest survey data set ever assembled for these taxa: 59 sites in five countries surveyed between 2003 and 2013, totaling 61,000 person-days of fieldwork. We used spatial modeling to investigate major drivers of great ape distribution and population trends. We predicted density across each taxon's geographic range, allowing us to estimate overall abundance: 361,900 gorillas and 128,700 chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa—substantially higher than previous estimates. These two subspecies represent close to 99% of all gorillas and one-third of all chimpanzees. Annual population decline of gorillas was estimated at 2.7%, maintaining them as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List. We quantified the threats to each taxon, of which the three greatest were poaching, disease, and habitat degradation. Gorillas and chimpanzees are found at higher den- sities where forest is intact, wildlife laws are enforced, human influence is low, and disease impacts have been low. Strategic use of the results of these analyses could conserve the majority of gorillas and chimpanzees. With around 80% of both subspecies occurring outside protected areas, their conservation requires reinforcement of anti-poaching efforts both inside and outside protected areas (particularly where habitat quality is high and human impact is low), diligent disease control measures (including training, advocacy, and research into Ebola virus dis- ease), and the preservation of high-quality habitat through integrated land-use planning and implementation of best practices by the extractive and agricultural industries.en
dcterms.accessRightsPublic
dcterms.accessRightsOpen access
dcterms.bibliographicCitationStrindberg, S., Maisels, F., Williamson, E.A., Blake, S., Stokes, E.J., Aba'a, R., Abitsi, G., Agbor, A., Ambahe, R.D., Bakabana, P.C. and Bechem, M., 2018. Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa. Science advances, 4(4), p.eaar2964.en
dcterms.issued2018
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-NC-4.0en
dcterms.typeJournal Article
dspace.entity.typePublication
fsc.evidenceCategoryFSC impact-related
fsc.focus.sustainDimensionEnvironmental
fsc.issue.environmentalBiodiversity
fsc.issue.environmentalAnimal biodiversity
fsc.subjectForests
fsc.subjectCertification
is.availability.fullTextFull text available
is.contributor.funderTypePublic funds (government, EU funding, public research grants)
is.contributor.memberForest Stewardship Council
is.coverage.countryCameroon
is.coverage.countryCentral African Republic
is.coverage.countryCongo
is.coverage.countryEquatorial Guinea
is.coverage.countryGabon
is.coverage.countryAngola
is.coverage.geographicLevelCountry
is.coverage.latitude7.369722
is.coverage.latitude6.611111
is.coverage.latitude-0.228021
is.coverage.latitude1.650801
is.coverage.latitude-0.803689
is.coverage.latitude-11.202692
is.coverage.longitude12.354722
is.coverage.longitude20.939444
is.coverage.longitude15.827659
is.coverage.longitude10.267895
is.coverage.longitude11.609444
is.coverage.longitude17.873887
is.coverage.regionAfrica
is.evaluation.collectionSurveys
is.evaluation.collectionField measurement
is.evaluation.dataSourceIndependent researcher data
is.evaluation.outcomeyes
is.evidenceSubTypeModeling study - patterns at a large scale using context variables
is.evidenceTypeModeling study
is.extent.number4
is.extent.volume4
is.focus.productsOther forestry and logging
is.focus.sdgSDG 15 - Life on Land
is.focus.sectorsForestry
is.focus.sustainDimensionEnvironmental
is.focus.sustainIssuePlant and wildlife conservation
is.focus.sustainLensEcosystem
is.focus.sustainOutcomeRare, threatened and endangered species
is.focus.systemElementMandE outcomes and impacts
is.focus.systemElementMandE performance monitoring
is.identifier.codeImpacts
is.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aar2964
is.identifier.fscdoihttp://dx.doi.org/10.34800/fsc-international819
is.identifier.schemeNameForest Stewardship Council
is.identifier.schemeTypeVoluntary Sustainability Standards
is.item.reviewStatusPeer reviewed
is.journalNameScience Advances
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