Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (34)
- Contribution to a Periodical (1)
Has Fulltext
- yes (35)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (35)
Keywords
- West Africa (6)
- Westafrika (6)
- Savanne (4)
- Afrique de l'Ouest (3)
- Burkina Faso (3)
- Ethnobotanik (3)
- Biodiversität (2)
- Ethnobotany (2)
- NTFPs (2)
- Sudanian zone (2)
- biodiversity (2)
- essbare Wildpflanzen (2)
- grass savanna (2)
- hardpan (2)
- savane (2)
- termitaria (2)
- traditionelle Medizin (2)
- ANOSIM (1)
- ATP synthase (1)
- Abundanz (1)
- Afrique de l’Ouest (1)
- Andropogon pseudapricus (1)
- Anti-seizure medication (1)
- Artenrückgang (1)
- Artenvielfalt (1)
- Atakora (1)
- Atakora mountain chain (1)
- Benin (1)
- Beta-diversity (1)
- Bodenbedingungen (1)
- Bodenkrusten (1)
- Brennholz (1)
- Bénin (1)
- Cyanotis lanata (1)
- Datenarchivierung (1)
- Ditamari (1)
- Economic botany (1)
- Einkommen (1)
- Epilepsy (1)
- Everolimus (1)
- Forest resources (1)
- Gulimanceba (1)
- Heilpflanzen (1)
- Holznutzung (1)
- Keimfähigkeit (1)
- Klimagradient (1)
- Lepidagathis anobrya (1)
- Loudetia togoensis (1)
- MAP (1)
- Macrotermes (1)
- Medicinal plants (1)
- Miombo woodland (1)
- Nachhaltige Nutzung (1)
- Nachhaltigkeit (1)
- Nicht-Holz-Waldprodukte (1)
- Nichtholzprodukte (1)
- Nischenmodellierung (1)
- Ouagadougou (1)
- PFNL (1)
- PFNLx (1)
- Pendjari National Park (1)
- Pharmazie (1)
- Protected Areas (1)
- Relative importance index (1)
- Rhabdomyoma (1)
- Schutzgebiete (1)
- Seizure (1)
- Socio-cultural factors (1)
- Spermacoce filifolia (1)
- Structure (1)
- Substitute (1)
- Sudanzone (1)
- Terminalia laxiflora (1)
- Traditional medicine (1)
- Traditionelles Wissen (1)
- Usefulness (1)
- Vallerani-System (1)
- Vegetation (1)
- Vegetationsbedeckung (1)
- Vegetationshöhe (1)
- W National Park (1)
- Wald als Lebensgrundlage (1)
- Wama (1)
- Weideland-Regeneration (1)
- West African plants (1)
- West-Africa (1)
- Wildpflanzennutzung (1)
- Woody communities (1)
- abondance (1)
- abundance (1)
- aliment sauvage (1)
- annual species (1)
- annuelle Arten (1)
- archivage des données (1)
- biological spectrum (1)
- bush encroachment (1)
- capacité de germination (1)
- climatic gradient (1)
- colonisation (1)
- conditions du sol (1)
- conservation (1)
- couverture végétale (1)
- data archiving (1)
- data base tool (1)
- données écologiques (1)
- déclin d’espèce revenu (1)
- dépendance des forêts (1)
- ecological data (1)
- edible plant parts (1)
- electron cryotomography (1)
- espèces annuelles (1)
- essbare Pflanzenteile (1)
- ethnobotany (1)
- flora (1)
- forest dependency (1)
- geophytes (1)
- germinability (1)
- gradient climatique (1)
- habitat heterogeneity (1)
- hauteur de végétation (1)
- herbaceous layer (1)
- human impact (1)
- impact humain (1)
- income (1)
- intraspecific trait variability (1)
- intraspezifische Merkalsvariabilität (1)
- krautige Schicht (1)
- livelihood (1)
- ländliche Einkommen (1)
- ländliche Entwicklung (1)
- ländlicher Lebensunterhalt (1)
- mTOR inhibitor (1)
- management (1)
- membrane curvature (1)
- menschlicher Einfluss (1)
- mitochondria (1)
- mortality (1)
- moyens de subsistance en milieu rural (1)
- non-timber forest products (1)
- parties de plantes comestibles (1)
- phytodiversity (1)
- plant communities (1)
- plant functional types (1)
- plantes alimentaires sauvages (1)
- populations rurales pauvres (1)
- produits forestiers non ligneux (1)
- relevés (1)
- ressources de base (1)
- revenu rural (1)
- rural income (1)
- rural livelihoods (1)
- rural poor (1)
- savanna (1)
- savanna ecosystem (1)
- savanna woodland (1)
- soil (1)
- soil conditions (1)
- species decline (1)
- stability (1)
- strate herbacée (1)
- substituts (1)
- subtomogram averaging (1)
- succulents (1)
- traditional medicine (1)
- urban park (1)
- variabilité intraspécifiques des traits (1)
- vegetation cover (1)
- vegetation height (1)
- wild food (1)
- wild food plants (1)
- woody plant community (1)
- zonation (1)
- ökologische Daten (1)
- β-diversity (1)
Institute
- Institut für Ökologie, Evolution und Diversität (11)
- Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (5)
- Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum (BiK-F) (4)
- Biowissenschaften (4)
- Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Afrikaforschung (ZIAF) (4)
- Medizin (2)
- SFB 268 (2)
- Biochemie und Chemie (1)
- Extern (1)
- Geowissenschaften (1)
Knowledge about the herbaceous layer in relation to environmental factors in West African savannas is still scarce. Early life-cycle events like germination of the herbaceous species are of special interest, as these stages can play critical roles in establishing of the plants and determine population and community dynamics. We aim to assess intraspecific differences in the germinability of herbaceous savanna species with respect to environmental conditions to reveal adaptations in this early life cycle stage. The study was conducted in the Sudanian savanna of Burkina Faso in West Africa. We collected seeds of two annual herbs (Chamaecrista mimosoides, Spermacoce stachydea) along a climatic gradient from different habitats and land use types and conducted germination experiments under equal conditions in climate chambers. For both species several environmental factors showed a significant impact on the germination rates. While higher precipitation caused an increase in the germination rate only for S. stachydea, habitat conditions had a significant influence for both species. Intermediate habitats with balanced soil moisture caused an enhancement of the germination success. Moreover shrub cover had a positive effect on the germinability of C. mimosoides, whereas the germinability of S. stachydea decreased due to an increasing herbaceous cover. The study showed that certain environmental factors are able to modify the intraspecific variability of the germinability trait, which might affect the establishment of the species populations.
Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a multisystem genetic disorder, affects many organs and systems, characterized by benign growths. This German multicenter study estimated the disease-specific costs and cost-driving factors associated with various organ manifestations in TSC patients. Methods: A validated, three-month, retrospective questionnaire was administered to assess the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, organ manifestations, direct, indirect, out-of-pocket, and nursing care-level costs, completed by caregivers of patients with TSC throughout Germany. Results: The caregivers of 184 patients (mean age 9.8 ± 5.3 years, range 0.7–21.8 years) submitted questionnaires. The reported TSC disease manifestations included epilepsy (92%), skin disorders (86%), structural brain disorders (83%), heart and circulatory system disorders (67%), kidney and urinary tract disorders (53%), and psychiatric disorders (51%). Genetic variations in TSC2 were reported in 46% of patients, whereas 14% were reported in TSC1. Mean total direct health care costs were EUR 4949 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) EUR 4088–5863, median EUR 2062] per patient over three months. Medication costs represented the largest direct cost category (54% of total direct costs, mean EUR 2658), with mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors representing the largest share (47%, EUR 2309). The cost of anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) accounted for a mean of only EUR 260 (5%). Inpatient costs (21%, EUR 1027) and ancillary therapy costs (8%, EUR 407) were also important direct cost components. The mean nursing care-level costs were EUR 1163 (95% CI EUR 1027–1314, median EUR 1635) over three months. Total indirect costs totaled a mean of EUR 2813 (95% CI EUR 2221–3394, median EUR 215) for mothers and EUR 372 (95% CI EUR 193–586, median EUR 0) for fathers. Multiple regression analyses revealed polytherapy with two or more ASDs and the use of mTOR inhibitors as independent cost-driving factors of total direct costs. Disability and psychiatric disease were independent cost-driving factors for total indirect costs as well as for nursing care-level costs. Conclusions: This study revealed substantial direct (including medication), nursing care-level, and indirect costs associated with TSC over three months, highlighting the spectrum of organ manifestations and their treatment needs in the German healthcare setting.
The year 1989 represents the starting point of the cooperation between botanists of the Goethe-University in Frankfurt (Germany) and of the University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Some years later, the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin) joined the cooperation. This paper gives an overview on joint projects, resulting publications and theses, and on other achievements of this fruitful cooperation, which meanwhile also comprises partners of Ivory Coast, Niger and Senegal.
Background: Atakora mountains in Benin are a unique but fragile ecosystem, harboring many endemic plant species. The ecosystem is undergoing degradation, and the woody vegetation is dramatically declining due to high anthropogenic actions and recurrent drought. This study aimed to (i) assess the diversity of threatened woody species and (ii) identify their potential substitutes in the three regions of the Atakora mountains namely East Atakora, Central Atakora, and West Atakora.
Methods: The data were collected during expeditions on surveyed localities through semi-structured individual interviews. Free-listing was used to record threatened woody species and which were important and why. Alpha-diversity indices were used to assess diversity of threatened and important threatened woody species. A correspondence analysis was used to determine the reason supporting their importance. Differences in species composition were assessed using analysis of similarities. A number of potential substitutes were compared among species using generalized linear models.
Results: A total of 117 woody species (37 families and 92 genera) were identified. The most prominent families were Fabaceae (19.66%), Combretaceae (12.82%), and Moraceae (10.26%), and the richest genera were Ficus (10 species), Combretum (6), and Terminalia (5). Most threatened species differed across regions (East Atakora, Central Atakora, and West Atakora) and included Afzelia africana, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Borassus aethiopum, Diospyros mespiliformis, Khaya senegalensis, Milicia excelsa, and Pterocarpus erinaceus. Most socio-economically important species (K. senegalensis, Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria paradoxa, and V. doniana) were used mainly for food, timber, and fuelwood purposes. Old and adult people, and Dendi and Fulfulde sociolinguistic groups had greater knowledge of threatened woody plant species. High intercultural differentiations in species composition were detected between Bariba-Berba and Bariba-Natimba. Knowledge of substitutes also differed across regions with P. erinaceus, Isoberlinia spp., and A. africana being the most cited substitutes.
Conclusion: Basic data was provided here to inform decision and guide efficient management of woody resources. There was evidence that immediate conservation measures are required for some high economic value woody taxa which were critically threatened. Ex-situ conservation of these species while promoting their integration into agroforestry-based systems were recommended. Besides, community-based management programs and community-led initiatives involving knowledgeable people from different horizons will lead to a long-lasting conservation of these threatened resources.
Bare incrusted soils are a degradation stage often encountered in the Sahel zone. Our study documents the success of restoration (= regreening) experiments using deep ploughing in an experimental site south of Gorom-Gorom in the Oudalan province of Burkina Faso. We used phytosociological relevés and maximum likelihood classifications of digital photography to analyze changes in vegetation. Plant cover in treated plots was found to be about 20 times higher than in control plots, mean species richness more than twice as high. Therefore, this promising restoration method should be tested also in other Sahelian regions. Our approach to combine phytosociological relevés and maximum likelihood classifications of digital photography proved to be very useful.
Wo wächst die Palmyrapalme? : mit Satellitendaten praxistaugliche Verbreitungskarten erstellen
(2008)
Die äthiopische Palmyrapalme (Borassus aethiopum) mit einer Wuchshöhe von bis zu 30 Metern gehört zu den größten afrikanischen Palmenarten. Ihr Erhalt ist für die Menschen in Benin und Burkina Faso von großer Bedeutung, denn sie stellen aus den Blättern der Palme Matten, Körbe und Hüte her. Die melonengroßen, glänzend orangen Früchte sind essbar. Inzwischen geht das Verbreitungsgebiet dieser wichtigen Nutzart stark zurück. ...
Uses and Management Strategies of the Multipurpose Tree Anogeissus leiocarpa in Eastern Burkina Faso
(2011)
Many people in the semi-arid tropics strongly depend on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for livelihood. Increasing threats on NTFP-providing tree species, due to land-use intensification and over-harvesting, require ecological studies as well as additional information provided by local people. One important NTFP-providing tree in West Africa is Anogeissus leiocarpa. Even though this species is highly used, ethnobotanical studies on A. leiocarpa are scarce and address mainly qualitative aspects. Our study investigates uses, perceptions of the population development, and management strategies of A. leiocarpa among the Gulimanceba people in eastern Burkina Faso. We conducted a quantitative ethnobotanical survey and investigated distribution of traditional ecological knowledge related to the species on a local scale, i.e. difference in knowledge between villages, genders, and generations. Interviews reveal that A. leiocarpa is harvested by local people for 18 different uses and emphasize its high importance for local people. Ethnobotanical knowledge of A. leiocarpa was mostly evenly spread between genders and generations, while it slightly differed between villages. Although local people did not actively protect A. leiocarpa, current local harvesting modes and management resulted in sustainable use. However, ongoing land-use intensifications require adapted management strategies to guarantee the persistence of this important species. Our results provide, in combination with ecological results of our previous study, appropriate management recommendations. Our study emphasizes the importance of ethnobotanical studies on a local scale level in order to develop management strategies that are reliable in the specific area under the specific circumstances.
Wild plant species are important nutritious supplements to otherwise nutrient poor diets of rural populations in West Africa. Consequently, a decline of wild food species has a direct negative impact on the nutritional status of local households. In this study, we firstly investigated the preferred wild food species in south-east Burkina Faso, their perceived change in abundance as well as their contribution to wild food income. Secondly, we studied how these species might be substituted in times of species shortfall. Thirdly, we investigated the impact of socio-economic variables on the substitution choice. We conducted 155 household interviews in two villages and found 21 wild food species. With a contribution of almost 70% to wild food income, Vitellaria paradoxa and Parkia biglobosa were economically most important. All species were considered declining to some degree. The wide range of cited substitutes for the ten most important wild food species indicates a great knowledge on alternative plant species in the area. For the majority, the substitution choice did not depend on socio-economic characteristics. Cited as surrogate for several important wild food species, the native tree Balanites aegyptiaca was the most important substitute species. Many valued wild food species were substituted with other highly valued wild food species and therefore the decline of one species can lead to a shortfall of another substitute. Thus, even though our results suggest that people are able to counteract the decrease or absence of wild food species, growing decline of one species would concurrently increase the pressure on other native food species.
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) make a major contribution to the livelihoods and diets of rural households in the savanna ecosystems of West Africa. However, land use change and climatic variability might affect their availability in the future. Based on a survey among 227 households in Northern Benin, we investigated local substitution patterns for the seeds of the three socio-economically most important NTFP-species in the region, Vitellaria paradoxa, Adansonia digitata and Parkia biglobosa, being major sources for protein, fat, and micronutrients in local daily diets. Our study compared substitution patterns between, firstly, three income groups, to assess whether a households’ socio-economic status has an influence on the choice of surrogates (low cost vs. more costly options). Secondly, we compared substitution patterns between the five major ethnic groups in the study region (the Fulani, the Bariba, the Ditammarie, the Kabiyé and the Yom). The choice of substitutes differed significantly across income groups. However, the poorest households clearly show to be the most vulnerable: up to 30 % of the sampled households stated they would lack an adequate replacement for the NTFPs in question. Furthermore, ethnic affiliation showed to have a considerable impact on the preferred alternative products due to underlying cultural traditions of plant use. Subsequently, aiming at maintaining – and enhancing – the local supply of V. paradoxa, P. biglobosa and A. digitata in order to secure their contributions to local diets, local land use policy should have a particular focus on their ethnic-conditioned use and particularly the specific requirements of the poorest community members.
Dynamics of juvenile woody plant communities on termite mounds in a West African savanna landscape
(2014)
Termites are keystone species in savanna ecology, and their mounds are thought to be an important source of habitat heterogeneity and structural complexity of the savanna. Macrotermes termitaria have been shown to allow woody plant colonisation of landscapes otherwise dominated by C4 grasses. In this study, we assess how resource-rich Macrotermes mounds affect juvenile woody plant and non-woody plant species diversity, community composition, biomass and population dynamics. We repeatedly sampled paired termite mound and savanna plots in Pendjari National Park (Sudanian vegetation zone, North Benin, West Africa) over the course of two years. Despite considerable overlap in their species pools, plant communities of mound and savanna plots were clearly separated in ordinations. Species richness and diversity of juvenile woody plants was consistently higher on termite mounds, while no differences could be detected for non-woody plants. Evenness of juvenile woody plants was generally lower on mounds, whereas density and basal area were higher on mounds. In contrast, we did not detect any influence of the mound microhabitat on colonisation, mortality and turnover of woody juveniles. Therefore, we suggest that differences in the communities on and off mounds should be strongly influenced by directed diaspore dispersal through zoochory.