Ecologie et connaissances ethnozoologiques de quelques espèces d'oiseaux gibiers menaces des ecosytèmes du Sud du Bénin | Ecology and ethnozoological knowledge of some hunted and threatened bird species in the southern ecosystem in Benin

The natural areas of the south of Benin under subequatorial climate are diversified in resident birds’ species as well as migratory one. Some of them are hunted for food and therapeutic purposes by grassroots communities. The most used are Guttera pucherani, Dendrocygna viduata, Egretta alba, Egretta ardesiaca, Porphyrio alleni et Porphyrio porphyrio. In order to reduce pressure on biodiversity in this part of Benin and to implement the sustainable conservation of birds’ species, this study on ecology and ethno-zoological knowledge of hunted bird species was carried out in the forest areas and the Ramsar sites 1017 and 1018. Field prospections were conducted from 2009 to 2012. The birds’ inventory method used was based on listening point techniques of 15 minutes. Data analysis were analyzed through the computation of bird species abundances, the establishment of maps distribution of the species, the habitat description and the modeling of the climatic niche of these species under climatic models CCCMA (Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis) and CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) using MAXENT3.3.2. The ethno-zoological knowledge of the birds species were assessed through individual and groups survey and allowed to calculate the use values of the different part of the birds’ species according to the socio-cultural groups, sex and age. Moreover a logistic binary regression was carried out to determine the socio-economic factors which affect bird species exploitation by the grassroots communities. Results of modeling showed that among the variables selected for the prediction of the climatic models, distance from river, altitude appeared as the environmental variable which more contributed to the prediction of the models (with an average of 74.32 % and 12.94%). Projection under CCCMA and CSIRO in 2050, showed a progression of the favorable areas to Dendrocygna viduata, Porphyrio alleni, Porphyrio alleni, Egretta ardesiaca while it showed a regression of the favorable areas to Egretta alba. The estimated uses values showed that the ethno-zoological knowledge on the bird species differed according to the ethnic groups. Birds are used for food, medicinal and magico-mystics purposes. The magico-mystics and food were the most frequent used categories. Homogeneity of knowledge was found among the informants regarding the ethnic group as well as for the sex with respectively 0.66 and 0.7 for the use diversity value (ID) and use equitability value (IE). No significant difference was found between the informant for the use diversity value (ID) and use equitability value (IE). This study helps to build a database on 6 birds’ species and can be used for bird game ranching and game farming in Benin.