How important are forest elephants to the survival of woody plant species in Upper Guinean forests?
2000
Hawthorne, W. D. | Parren M. P. E.
Elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) populations have declined greatly in the rain forests of Upper Guinea and a study was conducted to investigate their influences on vegetation, both detrimental and beneficial using 4 sources of inventory and research data from Ghana, covering nearly all (more than 2000) species of forest plant. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that plant populations are collapsing without elephants is conspicuously absent in these datasets, although it is suggested that Balanites wilsoniana may suffer dramatically on a centennial scale in the absence of forest elephants. A few other species may decline, although at an even slower rate. In the context of other processes current in these forests, it is concluded that loss of elephants is an insignificant concern for plant biodiversity. Elephant damage of forests can be very significant in Africa, but loss of this influence is more than compensated for by human disturbance. Elephants have played a significant part in the shaping of West African rain forest vegetation it is suggested however, that the conservation of elephants should be of primary concern and that tree populations should be managed to promote them, rather than vice versa.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by Forestry Research Institute of Ghana