The Importance of Forest Elephants for Vegetation Structure Modification and Its Influence on the Bird Community of a Mid-Elevation Forest on Mount Cameroon, West-Central Africa

• Published in: Diversity (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 227
• Main Authors: Kamga, Solange Mekuate, Tamungang, Simon Awafor, Awa, Taku, Ewome, Francis Luma, Motombi, Francis Njie, Hořák, David, Riegert, Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Biodiversity; bird community; Birds; Cameroon; Cisticola chubbi; Clearings (openings); Community structure; diversity; ecosystems; Elephants; forest elephants; Forests; Habitats; Heterogeneity; Human influences; Influence; Loxodonta cyclotis; National parks; Natural disturbance; Pasture; pastures; Rainforests; species composition; Species richness; Tropical environments; Tropical forests; Vegetation; Vegetation cover; vegetation structure; Central Africa; Mount Cameroon; Cameroon

Most of the tropical rainforests are subject to both anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) cause forest clearings within the tropics. This study was conducted at mid-elevations (1100–1700 m a.s.l.) in Mount Cameroon National Park. We assessed the difference in...