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Effects of elephant browsing on Acacia seyal in Waza National Park, Cameroon
Author(s) -
OKULA J. P.,
SISE W. R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - French
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1986.tb00335.x
Subject(s) - acacia , forestry , national park , geography , transect , horticulture , biology , botany , archaeology , ecology
Summary Four areas of the Acacia seyal zone of the Waza National Park, Cameroon, were sampled by means of line transects to assess damage to trees caused by elephants. A total of 1742 trees was examined of which 72% were undamaged, 17% less than three‐quarters damaged and 11% were dead. Most of the damaged and dead trees were mature. Of the living trees, 42% were in the recruitment class, 34% were mature and 23% were in the regeneration class. It is concluded that elephant damage to Acacia trees is not serious enough to warrant management interference. Résumé Les effets du broutage par les éléphants de l'Acacia seyal dans le Parc National Waza, au Cameroun. Quatre parcelles de la zone à Acacia seyal du Parc National Waza, au Cameroun furent échantillonnées par ratissage afin d'évaluer les dégâts causés aux arbres par les éléphants. Un total de 1742 arbres furent examinés dont 73%étaient indemnes 16% endommagés à moins de trois‐quarts et 11%, morts. La plupart des arbres atteints et morts étaient adultes. Parmi les arbres vivants, 42% appartenaient à la classe de recrutement, 34%étaient adultes et 23% appartenaient à la classe de régénération. On aboutit à la conclusion que les dégâts causés aux Acacia par les éléphants ne sont pas suffisamment graves pour justifier une intervention.