Publications

The evolutionary history of a species is key for understanding the taxonomy and for the design of effective management strategies for species conservation. The knowledge about the phylogenetic position of the lion (Panthera leo) in West/Central Africa is largely based on mitochondrial markers. Previous studies using mtDNA only have shown this region to hold a distinct evolutionary lineage. In addition, anthropogenic factors have led to a strong ...

Aim  In recent decades there has been a marked decline in the numbers of African lions (Panthera leo), especially in West Africa where the species is regionally endangered. Based on the climatological history of western Africa, we hypothesize that West and Central African lions have a unique evolutionary history, which is reflected by their genetic makeup. Location  Sub-Saharan Africa and India, with special focus on West and Central Africa. ...

Abstract Unsustainable hunting threatens both biodiversity and local livelihoods. Despite high levels of research effort focused on understanding the dynamics of bushmeat trade and consumption, current research is largely site specific. Without synthesis and quantitative analysis of available case studies, the national and regional characteristics of bushmeat trade and consumption remain largely speculative, impeding efforts to inform national ...

The Mesoproterozoic Kibara belt (TUB) and the Karagwe-Ankole Belt (KAB) in Central Africa are characterized by the presence of numerous rare metal mineralized Sn-(Nb-Ta) pegmatites and Sn-W mineralised quartz veins that are related to a S-type granite generation formed at 986 +/- 10 Ma. Cassiterite concentrates have been studied by different petrographic and mineralogical techniques. The concentrates have been collected from the rock and mineral ...

In this study, we retrospectively analysed a total of 605 clinical isolates from six West or Central African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea-Conakry, Niger and Senegal). Besides spoligotyping to assign isolates to ancient and modern mycobacterial lineages, we conducted phenotypic drug-susceptibility-testing for each isolate for the four first-line drugs. We showed that phylogenetically modern Mycobacterium ...

Diatom research in southern and central Africa has a rich history spanning more than a century; however, much of this research was on marine environments and the African Great Lakes. In this paper we focus on the less studied riverine habitats. Research on riverine diatoms can be loosely grouped into taxonomic and ecological studies, although we will show in this paper that these two disciplines, of necessity, overlap. We briefly summarize ...

BACKGROUND: Understanding the patterns of biodiversity distribution and what influences them is a fundamental pre-requisite for effective conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity. Such knowledge is increasingly urgent as biodiversity responds to the ongoing effects of global climate change. Nowhere is this more acute than in species-rich tropical Africa, where so little is known about plant diversity and its distribution. In this ...

Fossil pollen and charcoal fragments are preserved in lake sediments, in forest soils and in ancient human settlements. As such, vegetation history is remarkably well archived. However, Central African vegetation history has been poorly documented. Central African palaeovegetation reconstructions are based mainly on pollen analysis, while the charcoal archive remains hardly explored. Nevertheless, ancient charcoal analysis has proven worthwhile ...