The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians is caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and has resulted in dramatic declines and extinctions of amphibian populations worldwide. A hypervirulent, globally-dispersed pandemic lineage (Bd-GPL) is thought to be largely responsible for population declines and extinctions, although numerous endemic lineages have also been found. Recent reports of amphibian declines have been linked to the emergence of Bd in Cameroon, a major hotspot of African amphibian diversity. However, it is not known whether Bd-GPL or other lineages have been found in this region. This study therefore aims to examine Bd lineage diversity in the region and predict the distribution of this pathogen under current and future climate conditions using data from this study and from historical records. Almost 15% (52/360) of individuals tested positive for Bd using a standard quantitative PCR diagnostic. Infected amphibians were found at all eight sites sampled in this study. Species distribution models generated in BIOMOD2 indicate that areas with highest predicted environmental suitability occur in the Cameroon highlands and several protected areas throughout the country. These areas of high environmental suitability for Bd are projected to shift or decrease in size under future climate change. However, montane regions with high amphibian diversity are predicted to remain highly suitable. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS sequences obtained from a set of positive Bd samples indicate that most fall within the Bd-GPL lineage while the remainder group with isolates from either Brazil or South Korea. Although more in depth phylogenetic analyses are needed, identification of Bd-GPL lineages in areas of high amphibian diversity emphasizes the need to continue to monitor for Bd and develop appropriate conservation strategies to prevent its further spread.

One of the major impediments to studying wild pangolins has been the diffi culty in locating them. In many areas where biodiversity surveys have been conducted, no pangolins were recorded, despite extensive nocturnal searches. The main objective of this survey was to assess the role of ecological factors on the distribution of pangolins in deng-deng national park. The research data collection method used for this study constituted the laying of fi fteen 2-kilometre transects in the study area. The collection of relevant data such as pangolin feeding-material signs, burrows, trails, foot-prints together with ecological parameters such as vegetation type, weather conditions, landscape and forest canopy type. The survey revealed that weather conditions and Pangolin-sign encounter rate were signifi cant, χ 2 = 6.125df=9 P<0.05. Moreover, a signifi cant association was found between canopy-types and the animal species encounter rate, χ 2 = 27.006 df=8 P<0.05. There was also a signifi cant link between the age of pangolin-sign and the forest-type, χ 2 = 29.995 df=30 P<0.05. The recent pangolin-sign recorded the highest encounter rate frequency 42.67%, while the fresh-signs encounter rate recorded 34.67% in the survey. The gentle and steep slopes both recorded an animal occurrence frequency of 41.3%, as compared to the very steep slope landscape 17.3%. This study has revealed that the pangolin species in deng-deng national park have an ecological distribution infl uence. Hence, the protection of these pangolin species would be much enhanced by the proper conservation and national park management strategies put in place by the Cameroon government.

Study on poaching and bush meat off takes /harvest in the Ebo Forest Reserve was carried out in 2012 and 2016 to identify and quantify species poached, poaching methods and seasonal impact on harvest rates and quantity. To achieve this task, purposeful and random sampling methods were used for the selection of respondents for questionnaires administration. In all, 182 from a population of about 461 poachers were sampled for questionnaires administration. Besides the administration of questionnaires, some selected Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools were also employed for the triangulation of collected data. Biological data were collected using four line transects. Each transect was 1.8 m wide by 2 km long laid 200 m apart in each of the zones. Along each of the established transects within the range of 20 m on both sides, data on encounter rates and human presence were collected. A total of 3768 animals with biomass of 26039.5 kg was harvested from the Ebo Forest Reserve and associated forests areas by 461 poachers. The harvest was made up of 30 species from 17 families of wildlife dominated by blue duikers (19.59%), brush-tailed (18.10%) and red duikers (11.36%).Two main weapons, guns and wire snares were identified as the main poaching weapons in the EFR. Harvest was more in the wet season than in the dry season. Poaching was more intense in zones that were very accessible and close to the market centre of Douala. As income gain remained a driving force to poaching, there is need to check poaching activities in the study area against the present weekly off take rate of 2.87 animals per day.

In the next decade, urban sprawl might reach such a magnitude that several natural areas surrounding cities will give way to buildings and residential areas. Although some long-term efforts to understanding wildlife dynamics in cities are under way, very little has been done in understanding the influence of urban expansion on wildlife and developing a management strategies aimed at diminishing these impacts. There is a need to study urban biodiversity and include ecological knowledge in urban planning. However, this study was focused on assessing the environmental influence on the social activity of birds in Buea university campus. The data was collected on check-sheets for a period of 2 months, 6 days a week, from 7:00am-6:00pm. The spot-count data collection method used witnessed 616 bird observations during the study. Simultaneously, data was collected on environmental condition, day-period, bird species, bird location, and bird number. The results of this study showed a significant link between bird activity and bird species, χ 2 = 171.953 df=48 P=0.000. Similarly, activity of birds showed association on bird number, χ 2 = 120.254 df=40 P=0.000. The environmental conditions associated significantly with bird number, χ 2 = 35.669 df=30, P<0.05. Also, bird species associated significantly with the dayperiod, χ 2 = 171.953 df=48, P=0.000. Additionally, environmental conditions associated with bird location, χ 2 = 7.921 df=6 P<0.05. Moreover, the environmental condition associated significantly with bird activity, χ 2 = 28.925 df=12 P=0.004. All the bird species observed during the survey displayed a significant activity state, however, species such as village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), little weaver (Ploceus luteolus), and black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), recorded 17.86%, 11.36%, and 7.31% respectively, and were observed with a higher activity frequency as compared to other bird species. The environmental role on wildlife species such as birds significantly determines their geographical distribution and endemism on the earth planet.

A hunting survey was conducted in the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary and support zones to estimate bushmeat off-take as a means to understand the current conservation status of protected species in that important area of biodiversity in Cameroon. A total of 756 protected animal carcasses with a total biomass of 6,815 kg, in six taxonomic groups constituted 24% of the total off-take of animals killed or captured by two adjacent ethnic groups of Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary. Hunters caught more than 30 individuals of each of the red eared monkey (Cercopithecus erythrotis camerunensis), squirrel sp. (Protexerus stangeri, Funisciurus pyrropus), brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus), Water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus) African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), red river hog (Potamoschus porcus) and bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis) which together accounted for 75% of all protected species captures and 89% of the biomass. There was significant variation in the number of protected species exploited with the most captured taxonomic group, the rodents, comprising 37% of the kills or captures and 13% of the total biomass. The ungulates followed with 28% of the captures and 68% of total biomass. Proportionately, the much larger-bodied ungulates contributed more to biomass off-take than the comparatively smaller primates, reptiles and rodents. Carnivores and birds were least harvested taxonomic groups of protected species accounting for 9 and 4% of total protected species off-take respectively. Final results indicate that threatened animals do not have enough protection within BMWS and the conservation value of the sanctuary is highly compromised.