Camera trapping inventory of ungulates in human-exploited congolese rainforest

Alexandra Šimonová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis is focused on the monitoring of tropical ungulates in the broadleaved Congo Basin rainforest. It is the first study conducted in this particular area using camera traps. A total of 37 camera traps were located near the settlement of Megobe in the Republic of Congo on the territory of the TRIDOM complex. The cameras were installed in a grid with a span of 2 km. They were put in representative locations and covered an area of 148 km2. Simultaneous to the study period, logging and mining took place within the monitoring site. Camera traps recorded biodiversity in the area for approx. 90 days. The aim of the thesis was an inventory of ungulates occurring in the area. After evaluating the data, we identified an ungulate community of total nine species. The most commonly observed species were Peter’s duiker (Cephalophus callipygus) and Western blue duiker (Philantomba congica), which corresponds to similar studies conducted in other Central African countries. This work will help to raise awareness of the biodiversity value of the area draw attention to the unsustainable forms of activity that take place in it. The thesis can be used for further study and elaboration in a diploma thesis.

Keywords

ungulates, exploitation, Republic of Congo, monitoring

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 31. 3. 2021

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Pavla Jůnková Vymyslická, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Bachelor programme / field:
Environmental Sciences / Applied Ecology