Using fruiting Ape food trees (Myrianthus holstii) to count sympatric mammals at Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

A novel approach using fruiting Myrianthus holstii trees as bait for camera traps successfully documented 23 mammal species, including the endangered Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. This cost-effective method revealed that ripe fruits attract a diverse range of mammals with no significant correlation to tree size, suggesting fruiting trees as reliable sampling points for biodiversity assessments. The study also highlighted distinct activity patterns, with 60% of species being diurnal and 30% nocturnal. These findings demonstrate the potential of this technique for large-scale mammal censuses in protected areas.

Augustin, K. B., Eric, M. M., Michael, B. N., Moon, M. M., Marcel, K. B., Conscient, N. O., & Salomon, M. B. (2024). Using fruiting Ape food trees (Myrianthus holstii) to count sympatric mammals at Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 16(4), 173–182. https://doi.org/10.5897/ijbc2023.1610