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The spatial distribution of bats in Burkina Faso is little-known. Previous studies have only described the bat species’ richness in Burkina Faso. This study was conducted to highlight bat species’ richness distribution within Burkina Faso and environmental variables that influence this distribution with the aim to give support for protection and further sampling for biodiversity. The Species Distribution Models (SDMs) were used to perform this study. To do that, species occurrences were collected throughout literature and field sampling and correlated to environmental variables through the Maxent software (Maximum Entropy). Our modeling variables included climate, vegetation cover, topography and hydrography data. The Jackknife test was performed to determine the importance of environmental variables that influence the species distribution model. The results showed that bats are present in all areas of vegetation in Burkina Faso. Species richness varies across the country. The species richness for major families increases from North to South. The total annual precipitation and topography are the main variables that positively influence bats distribution in Burkina Faso but the bare ground cover and standard deviation of the maximum temperature negatively influence this distribution. This modeling approach of bat species richness is important for policies makers and represents an invaluable tool in ecological management, particularly in the current context of climate change.

In West Africa, whether in forests or savannahs, most of the large mammal species have a scattered spatial distribution. Monitoring their population size represents a logistic, financial, theoretical challenge because counting of transects is not appropriate, unlike elsewhere in Africa. In this study, we (i) analyse the patterns of interannual (2006–2008) changes in population density of seven sympatric species of savannah herbivores in a protected area of Burkina Faso with two alternative methods: dung counts versus direct counts and (ii) quantify the economic costs for these two methods. The seven species of mammals we considered are the following: Hippotragus equinus, Alcelaphus busephalus, Sylvicapra grimmia, Tragelaphus scriptus, Ourebia ourebi, Kobus ellipsiprymnus and Phacochoerus africanus. A distance methodology was used to generate estimates with both methods. There were significant correlations between estimates of mammal density obtained using dung counts and direct counts, and an analysis of covariance revealed that the interannual trends in population densities were consistently detected with both methods. In addition, the dung count method costs 55% less. Thus, our study documents that dung counts can be used as a proxy of population size fluctuations for the seven studied species, offering a methodological alternative that is much less expensive, less sophisticated in terms of equipment compared to other methods and that can be performed by field staff with moderate professional qualification. We suggest that standardized campaigns of dung count surveys may be applied to all protected areas and savannah in Burkina Faso, West Africa, in order to improve evidence-based, large-scale conservation and management planning in the region.

To explore the patterns of bushmeat trade in the Sahel we carried out a multidisciplinary study, focusing on Burkina Faso. We conducted baseline interview surveys to examine the variation in people's perceptions of bushmeat in relation to their place of residence (urban vs rural), sex and age. We also analysed the long-term (1985–2010) population dynamics of two ungulate species, the oribi Ourebia ourebi and the common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, known to be among the main targets of the bushmeat trade locally. For the antelopes we chose as our study area a protected area (Nazinga Game Ranch) where poaching activities occur and are likely to represent a threat to the local wildlife. The results of the interviews underlined significant differences in bushmeat consumption between rural and urban areas. In particular, the probability of finding people who did not consume bushmeat increased in the urban area, where bushmeat is less available than in the rural areas. Sex and age did not have any effect on people's perceptions of bushmeat. In Burkina Faso bushmeat is still widely consumed, and this could be because the bushmeat trade is poorly controlled, with a lack of enforcement of the legislation. Long-term field surveys revealed that the oribi and the common duiker have declined significantly in Nazinga Game Ranch, suggesting that the bushmeat trade in Burkina Faso may have negative consequences in terms of the conservation outlook for these species.

1. An age and sex structure study of the West African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) population of the Nazinga Game ranch (Burkina Faso) was carried out using direct sightings of individuals near water points, where they group during hot periods of the day, and droppings circumference measurements of dung pile along line transects, during the dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. The age structure, from direct observation data, was estimated by classifying the individuals into 9 age-class-categories based on body size and eruption (length) of tusks.2. The frequency distribution of number of individuals into the age-class-categories showed high similarity with the distribution of circumference measurements of dung-piles that the individuals were seen depositing. Fifty dung-piles measured soon after they were deposited (Class A) and after they dried (to class C) showed a significant difference between the circumference measurements in relation to the time elapsed between the measurements.3. The frequency distribution of dung circumference classes of the observed elephants was similar to that of the dung-piles measured along the transects in 2008. Therefore, dung-piles measurements were used to estimate the Nazinga Game Ranch savanna elephant population’s age and sex structures at the end of dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. We advocated that the Nazinga elephant population consisted mainly of sub-adults.4. The sex ratio was estimated to be in favour of females (1/2). The age-class-specific sex ratio was uneven for calves and young individuals, while being in favour of females with adults. Individuals of less than 1 year represented 6% of the population during the study period.

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are ecosystem engineers in African savannahs, but their role in the modifications of the populations of trees by means of their browsing activities has been poorly studied so far in West Africa. We studied the disturbance of elephants to eight selected species of trees in the Nazinga Game Ranch (Burkina Faso), in 54 transects at the end of dry season 2008. We fitted simple models describing the number of dead individuals for each tree species in relation to their initial population density, and in relation to dung-pile density, in the assumption that there should be a positive relationship between elephant density and dung-pile density. Generalized Linear Model analyses and regression analyses showed that the more dense the woodland cover, the least the percentage of damaged plants by elephants. For each plant species, the initial density and density of elephant dung-piles explained a high proportion of the variance in the density of dead individuals. Stochastic models, generated by a purposely created simple computer program written in GW-BASIC programming language, predicted changes in tree and shrub abundance under different assumptions about elephant numbers. The models suggested that elephant browsing may cause considerable change in the selected plant populations, especially with regard to such species as Acacia gourmaensis, Vitellaria paradoxa and Maytenus senegalensis. These changes may possibly increase the meat harvest from controlled hunting activities, thus improving the income for surrounding communities.

The meat of wild animals (bushmeat) is consumed extensively in many tropical regions. Over the past few decades bushmeat consumption has greatly increased, threatening the survival of some hunted species and the supply of animal protein to countless numbers of people. Understanding patterns of bushmeat consumption is thus vital to ensure the sustainable use of this resource. Although the economic drivers of bushmeat consumption have been well studied, non-wealth correlates have been poorly considered. Here, we analyse how variables such as age and gender may influence bushmeat consumption in four West African countries, within the Guinean forests (Togo and Nigeria) and Sahel (Burkina Faso and Niger). We interviewed a total of 2453 persons (1253 urban, 1200 in rural areas) to determine frequency of consumption of bushmeat as well as the main species eaten. We found significant differences in bushmeat consumption between rural and urban areas in all four countries. In particular, the proportion of persons not consuming any bushmeat was highest in urban areas. Gender differences in bushmeat consumption were not generally important but young people consistently avoided eating bushmeat, especially in Togo and Nigeria, and in urban areas. The complicated interplay between tradition and evolution of social systems (especially the trends towards westernization) may explain the different perceptions that people may have towards consuming bushmeat in the four studied countries. In addition, we found considerable variation in types of bushmeat eaten, with antelopes and large rodents eaten by the great majority of interviewees, but bats, monkeys, and snakes being avoided, especially in urban settlements.

During the last decades, the critically endangered Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus has strongly declined across its African range. Although direct persecution has been suggested as a major cause of this decline, little is known about the impact of humans on reproductive output in West Africa. We studied the impact of human activities on the reproductive output of Hooded Vultures in the Garango area of Burkina Faso. Twenty and 56 nesting attempts were monitored, respectively, during the breeding season in 2013/14 and 2014/15, to determine reproductive success and identify causes of nest failure. Annual breeding success varied between 0.68 and 0.71 chicks fledged per breeding pair per year and productivity was assessed at 0.57 chicks fledged per territorial pair in 2014/15. The main threats imposed by humans were poaching of eggs, chicks and collection of nest materials, leading to 20% (13 out of 64 breeding attempts) of nest failures over the two years. An additional important reason for nest failure was the pruning and (partial) cutting of nest trees. Despite this high level of human interference, we found that Hooded Vulture nest success increased with proximity to human settlements, probably because breeding vultures benefit from protection by people against persecution and disturbance.Keywords: Burkina Faso, conservation, Hooded Vulture, human impact, reproduction

The use of multimetric indices as tools for assessing aquatic ecosystem health in most of the developing countries such as Togo is still lacking. To fill this gap, we developed a macroinvertebrates-based multimetric index for the Zio river basin of Togo. Forty-two sites were assessed for the development and the validation of the Multimetric Index of Zio River Basin (MMIZB). Thirty-nine candidate metrics belonging to four categories (composition metrics, functional feeding metrics, diversity metrics and tolerance measure metrics) were evaluated. After comprehensive multiple selection procedure, six core metrics were retained to provide the final MMIZB. The results showed that the MMIZB responded to a set of organic pollution (chemical oxygen demand, ammonium, total suspended solid) and hydromorphological alterations, which corresponded to a set of gradients of human pressures affecting the ecological integrity of Zio river basin water bodies (r = 0.78, p

Efficient monitoring tools for the assessment of stream ecosystem response to urbanization and agricultural land use are urgently needed but still lacking in West Africa. This study investigated taxonomic and functional composition of macroinvertebrate communities at 29 sites, each exhibiting one of four disturbance levels [‘protected’ (P), ‘extensive agriculture’, ‘intensive agriculture’ (IA) and ‘urban’ (U)] in Burkina Faso and explored their potential for bioassessment. We recorded a total of 100 taxa belonging to 58 families, with the highest richness (16.9 taxa per site) observed in the sites with IA and lowest (3.4 taxa) in U sites. We found a gradual decrease of sensitive Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera taxa and of collector-filterers feeding guild between P, agricultural and U sites accompanied by an increase in the relative abundance of tolerant dipteran taxa. Measures of overall taxonomic richness and diversity were mostly efficient in detecting the high impoverishment of the U sites, while FFG ratios did not deliver consistent results. Finally, all four land use types were successfully distinguished by identifying indicator taxa through hierarchical clustering and indicator value index. This work produced an unprecedented faunal inventory of Burkina Faso streams and laid the basis for the development of urgently needed stream assessment tools.

We tested the hypothesis that elephant distribution inside the Nazinga Game Ranch (Southern Burkina Faso) during the wet season is influenced by villages outside, while in the dry season elephants are restricted only by water. Occupancy was evaluated by recording elephant dung-piles on 54 line transects in each of three seasons: wet 2006, dry 2007 and dry 2008. We measured the distance of each transect from nearest villages, nearest permanent water sources, nearest guard posts and tourist camps. The results were unexpected: elephant occupancy in the wet season was independent of villages but influenced by poaching, while their occupancy in both dry seasons was determined by the proximity of villages as well as water. In the dry season, elephants were attracted to villages by grain stores and fruiting trees. There has been a dramatic shift in the dry season distribution of elephants, and consequently in browsing pressure, over the last two decades. We suggest that this change is a consequence of the expansion of human activities outside the ranch. This study shows that the effects of growing human disturbance on elephant populations in small protected areas are not predictable. Correcting for spatial autocorrelation had a negligible effect upon the models. Resume Nous avons teste l’hypothese selon laquelle la distribution des elephants dans le Ranch de Gibier de Nazinga (dans le sud du Burkina Faso) etait influencee, durant la saison des pluies, par des villages situes a l’exterieur, tandis que, en saison seche, les elephants ne sont limites que par l’eau. On a evalue l’occupation en enregistrant les tas de crottes d’elephant sur 54 transects lineaires pendant trois saisons: saison pluvieuse 2006, saison seche 2007 et saison seche 2008. Nous avons mesure la distance entre chaque transect par rapport aux villages les plus proches, les points d’eau les plus proches, les postes de gardes et les camps de touristes les plus proches. Les resultats furent inattendus : l’occupation des elephants en saison des pluies ne dependait pas des villages mais plutot du braconnage alors que pendant les deux saisons seches, leur taux d’occupation etait determine par la proximite des villages et de l’eau. En saison seche, les elephants etaient attires vers les villages par les stocks de grain et les arbres qui fructifiaient. Il y a eu un spectaculaire changement de la distribution saisonniere des elephants, et par consequent la pression de broutage en saison seche, au cours des deux dernieres decennies. Nous suggerons que ce changement est une consequence de l’expansion des activites humaines hors du ranch. Cette etude montre que les effets des croissantes perturbations humaines sur les populations d’elephants dans de petites aires protegees ne sont pas previsibles. Le fait d’apporter une correction pour l'autocorrelation spatiale n’avait qu’un effet negligeable sur les modeles.

L'étude de l'effectif, de la structure en classes d'âges et des mouvements de Hippopotamus amphibius a été conduite dans la Réserve de Biosphère de la Mare aux Hippopotames au Burkina Faso. Pendant 3 années d'affilée (2006, 2007 et 2008), des prospections et des inventaires de terrain ont été menés à l'intérieur et à la lisière de la réserve. Les résultats des inventaires ont permis de dénombrer 41 hippopotames en 2008 contre 35 tětes en 2006, répartis en 3 troupeaux distincts. La structure en classes d'âges de cette population était de 32 adultes, 5 subadultes et 4 juvéniles. L'emplacement de leurs aires de repos dans la mare variait suivant le niveau de l'eau. L'inventaire a identifié 8 sites de sorties, sur chaque rive de la mare, utilisées par les hippopotames pour se rendre dans les gagnages. De měme, la prospection de la réserve a identifié 4 mares temporaires situées à proximité des prairies aquatiques qui constituaient des zones de migration où les hippopotames se réfugiaient pendant la saison pluvieuse. Ces zones étaient entourées par des champs qui étaient souvent saccagés par ces mammifères pour leur alimentation. Il est urgent de négocier un zonage de l'activité agricole et de conférer un statut particulier de conservation à ces 4 sites afin de minimiser les conflits homme-hippopotame. Les récentes actions de surveillance menées en partenariat avec les communautés locales ont probablement permis l'accroissement de l'effectif de 6 hippopotames en 3 ans.

The urban reservoirs n° 2 and n°3 of Ouagadougou, located in the middle of the city are subject to multiple anthropogenic pressures which threaten the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates community group like molluscs. This study was initiated to assess the diversity and distribution of benthic molluscs in these reservoirs. Molluscs samples were collected monthly using an Eckman grab (12 x 20 cm2) between September 2011 and February 2012 in 24 sampling points defined on each reservoir. In parallel, physicochemical variables and water colon depth were measured. After sampling, molluscs were transported to the laboratory for identification. A total of 328 specimens were collected of which 5 species were identified: three species of Gastropods (Bellamya unicolor, Cleopatra bulimoides, Lanistes ovum) and two species of Bivalves (Coelatura aegyptiaca, Mutela rostrata). B. unicolor was the most abundant species with 71% of the collected molluscs and preferentially occupied the edges of the reservoir. It was followed by C. aegyptiaca (27%) which was abundant in the central axis of the reservoir. Physicochemical variables influence the distribution of species. For all measured physicochemical factors, B. unicolor was more tolerant than C. aegyptiaca on the occupation of available habitat.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Bivalves, Gastropods, available habitat, physicochemical variables, anthropogenic pressures

From May 2004 to April 2005, the zooplankton of the Loumbila reservoir was subject to a 14 days periodicity follow-up. This study attempt to describe the diversity, abundance and seasonal dynamic of zooplankton community in a south-saharian reservoir. Plankton community was sampled with horizontal tows of a plankton net of 100 AŽÂ¼m mesh size. The samples analysis permitted to identify 7 species of Cladocera and 2 species of the Copepoda. The overall Rotifers observed belong to 14 genera. The Cochran`s Q-test together with various methods of variance analyses and the Redundancy Analysis (RDA) allowed to highlight the seasonal dynamics of zooplankton settlement. The most significant factor in this dynamics is water movement i.e., water gain or loss in the reservoir. This factor evolves together with some physicochemical parameters favourable to plankton development and simultaneously opposes some other unfavourable factors such as high conductivity. Crustaceans are more sensitive to the season impacts than Rotifers. Besides this seasonal variability the zooplankton community of Loumbila reservoir also shows variability according to depth.

Few studies are available on the population dynamics of medium and large mammals in gallery forests of the Sudan and Sahel regions of West Africa. Line-transect studies of the abundance (estimated by KIA) of nine species of ungulates and three species of primates were carried out between 2004 and 2013 in the Comoé-Leraba protected area of Burkina Faso, West Africa. No peer-reviewed study of population sizes of mammals in this protected area has been published, making the data presented of special relevance. Population size trends varied significantly across years in both primates and ungulates, with some species (Papio anubis, Phacochoerus africanus, Alcelaphus busephalus and Tragelaphus scriptus) decreasing consistently. Significant relationships were observed between poaching intensity and population oscillations in Erythrocebus patas, Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Kobus kob, Ourebia ourebi and Cephalophus rufilatus.

The benthic macroinvertebrates communities dynamic were investigated in rivers from Burkina Faso in the purpose to analyze the taxonomic composition, the structure of benthic macroinvertebrates community and the composite environmental variables that correspond to the major distribution patterns of this community. The results showed that a total of 132 taxa was recorded and the large majority of these (103 taxa) belonged to 57 families from 8 orders of insects that represent 95% of relative abundance. We also observed some distinct differences relative to the spatial and temporal variation in the taxonomic composition. The canonical correspondance analysis (CCA) revealed a strong correlationship between Chironomidae, Syrphidae, Culicidae, Psychodidae, as well as the Pulmonates molluscs and organic nutriments feeding dynamics. These findings showed the sensitivity of benthic macroinvertebrates at different level: sensitivity which could be attributable to man-induced activities. © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Benthic macroinvertebrates, enviromental variables, dynamic, Burkina Faso

Light trap samples taken until 1990 to 1995 on the main stream of the River Mouhoun (formerly Black Volta River) led to capture seven species of Insect genus Catoxyethira Ulmer (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae). One species is already known : C. pinheyi Kimmins, but the other six species are observed for the first time and described : C. fonensis n. sp., C. djenebae n. sp., C. vanandeli n. sp., C. giudicellii n. sp., C. botosaneanui n. sp. et C. kourinioni n. sp., Les captures d'Insectes réalisées à la lumière sur le cours principal du Mouhoun (ex Volta noire) entre 1990 et 1995 ont permis de mettre en évidence la présence de sept espèces appartenant au genre Catoxyethira Ulmer (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae). Une espèce est connue : C. pinheyi Kimmins, tandis que les six autres sont nouvelles : C. fonensis n. sp., C. djenebae n. sp., C. vanandeli n. sp., C. giudicellii n. sp., C. botosaneanui n. sp. et C. kourinioni n. sp., Guenda Wendengoudi. Nouvelles espèces du genre Catoxyethira Ulmer du Burkina Fasso (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 102 (3), août 1997. pp. 217-224.

Statistical power is the key issue when evaluating wildlife trends. Wildlife managers in West Africa lack light aeroplanes and must often estimate wildlife trends on foot, either by counting the animals themselves or by counting their dung. We compared direct ground counts of elephants and dung counts in two consecutive years in Nazinga Game Ranch in southern Burkina Faso, an area of savanna woodland and shrub savanna. Our purpose was to determine which method was most likely to detect a trend in elephant numbers. The direct ground counts each covered 680 km of transect but sightings were too few to give good estimates of elephant numbers. The dung counts each covered 54 km of transect recorded very large numbers of dung-piles and returned estimates with smaller coefficients of variation. Consequently dung counts had greater statistical power for detecting trends. Although dung counts have been mostly applied in forests, they should also be used in open habitats where information on long-term trends is sought.

La faune sauvage dans la Réserve de Biosphère de la Mare aux Hippopotames du Burkina Faso est très peu connue. Cette étude vise à inventorier les différentes espèces de mammifères sauvages et à recenser les activités de braconnage rencontrées dans cette réserve. Des dénombrements pédestres ont été réalisés en 2004, 2005, 2006 et 2007 suivant la méthode de transect linéaire à largeur variable. Ils ont consisté à suivre l’évolution de l’effectif des mammifères sauvages selon les contacts et les indices de présence ainsi que les activités de braconnage dans la réserve. 24 espèces de mammifères dont les patas (Erythrocebus patas), les babouins (Papio anubis), les éléphants (Loxodonta africana), les hippotragues (Hippotragus equinus), les phacochères (Phacochoerus africanus) et les civettes (Civettictis civetta) ont été recensées dans la réserve. Les contacts avec ces mammifères sont passés de 17 en 2004 à 28 contacts en 2007 pour un effectif de 94 individus toutes espèces confondues. Les activités de braconnage ont connu une baisse d’intensité entre 2005 et 2007 car le taux de braconnage s’est réduit de 58,4%. L’accroissement de l’effectif des espèces de mammifères et la diminution du braconnage peuvent s’expliquer par la surveillance continue de la réserve.Mots clés : Mammifères sauvages, Indices de présence, Dénombrements pédestres, Réserve de Biosphère, Burkina Faso

L’etude de la caracterisation de l’hippopotame par les populations villageoises a vise a inventorier les savoirs endogenes sur l’espece dans la Reserve de Biosphere de la Mare aux Hippopotames du Burkina Faso. L’inventaire de ces savoirs a porte sur l’effectif des populations d’hippopotames, la differenciation sexuelle, le regime alimentaire, les valeurs socioeconomiques et culturelles ainsi que les degâts dus a cette espece. L’enquete a ete conduite dans six villages de l’ethnie Bobo et a concerne un echantillon de 77 personnes. Les personnes enquetees savent que les hippopotames sont presents dans la reserve et estiment leur effectif a environ 33 individus. A l’aide de criteres morphologiques et ethologiques, les villageois operent une differenciation sexuelle chez ces animaux. Le regime alimentaire est connu et comprendrait selon eux une quarantaine d’especes vegetales. Outre les valeurs socioeconomiques, culturelles et touristiques que la presence des hippopotames procure, les populations savent aussi que ces animaux participent au maintien de la biodiversite et a la fertilisation de la mare pour la production de poissons. Toutefois, l’espece serait egalement a l’origine de la destruction des filets de peche, de degâts sur les cultures cerealieres et de quelques accidents mortels.