Title
Life-history patterns of the Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii) at Mbeli Bai, northern Congo
Author(s)
Manguette, Marie L.;Greenway, Kelly W.;Kandza, Vidrige H.;Breuer-Ndoundou Hockemba, Mireille;Mavinga, Franck B.;Parnell, Richard J.;Stokes, Emma J.;Breuer, Thomas
Published
2017
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Due to their elusive behaviour, there is a paucity of lifehistory
data on free-ranging rain forest ungulates (but see
Korte, 2008; Mockrin, 2010). This includes the Sitatunga
(Tragelaphus spekii), a large sexually dimorphic antelope
restricted to inundated habitats throughout Africa (May &
Lindholm, 2013). Previous reports on Sitatungas were
mostly based on opportunistic observations (Games, 1983;
Williamson, 1986; Starin, 2000), captive populations
(Densmore, 1980) or short-term studies (Owen, 1970;
Magliocca, Querouil & Gautier-Hion, 2002). Sitatungas
regularly visit forest clearings known as ‘bais’ (Vanleeuwe,
Cajani & Gautier-Hion, 1998; Parnell, 2002) permitting
direct observations of known individuals and the documentation
of their natural history and demography
(Magliocca, Querouil & Gautier-Hion, 2002). Here, we
provide the first long-term data set on life-history traits of a
Sitatunga population at Mbeli Bai in northern Congo.
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