Using camera trap data to characterise terrestrial larger‐bodied mammal communities in different management sectors of the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon

A camera trap survey in the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, revealed significant differences in mammal communities between two sites 32 km apart. One site exhibited lower species richness, the absence of disturbance-sensitive felids and white-bellied duikers, higher abundance of disturbance-tolerant species, and reduced presence of larger-bodied mammals. These patterns suggest elevated hunting pressure at this site, potentially driving shifts in community structure. The study employed two 40-trap grids over a minimum of 100 days to assess mammal richness, diversity, guild structure, body-size patterns, and relative abundance, providing critical insights into the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on Central African forest ecosystems.

Bruce, T., Amin, R., Wacher, T., Fankem, O., Ndjassi, C., Ngo Bata, M., Fowler, A., Ndinga, H., & Olson, D. (2018). Using camera trap data to characterise terrestrial larger‐bodied mammal communities in different management sectors of the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon. African Journal of Ecology, 56(4), 759–776. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12574