Understanding how carnivores coexist is central to ecological theory and conservation. Coexistence among sympatric species arises through niche partitioning across spatial, temporal, and trophic dimensions, yet these mechanisms remain poorly explored in Central African forests where leopards (Panthera pardus) and African golden cats (Caracal aurata) act as dominant and subordinate carnivores. Using camera trap data and molecular scat analyses from two sites in northern Congo, we provided the first robust leopard density estimates for the region (i.e., semideciduous forests in Central Africa) and assessed coexistence mechanisms between the two felids across spatial, temporal, and trophic axes. Spatially explicit capture-recapture models revealed comparable leopard densities across sites (5-6 individuals/100 km2), exceeding the regional average for Central and East Africa. Spatiotemporal occupancy models indicated spatial and temporal overlap, with no evidence of predictive or reactive temporal avoidance, though fine-scale co-occurrence declined near linear forest features (i.e., main rivers and roads) where both species' marginal occupancy was highest. Conversely, dietary analyses showed trophic segregation: leopards consumed medium- to large-sized ungulates (>20 kg), whereas golden cats relied on smaller prey (≤5 kg), identifying trophic partitioning as the main axis facilitating coexistence in this prey-rich system. Maintaining prey diversity and minimizing disturbance are key to sustaining both species and their coexistence mechanisms. Such multidimensional approaches are essential to understand intraguild interactions and anticipate community shifts under increasing pressure.

Land-use change is accelerating worldwide and is one of the strongest predictors of emerging zoonotic disease. These ecological transitions can disrupt host microbiomes, change pathogen carriage, and create novel opportunities for spillover at wildlife-livestock-human interfaces. Yet, little is known about how reforested landscapes influence microbiome diversity and the distribution of zoonotic bacteria in key reservoir hosts such as bats, rodents, treeshrews, and domestic dogs. We characterized the rectal microbiome of bats, rodents, and domestic dogs sampled across a land-use gradient in Nan Province, Thailand, spanning caves, forests, reforested zones, plantations, and village habitats. Full-length 16S rRNA sequencing was used to assess host- and habitat-specific patterns at the bacteria species level. Pathogen-associated taxa were identified, and their potential transmission pathways were explored using network analysis and qPCR validation targeting Salmonella spp. From 102 samples, 1816 taxa were identified, including 354 documented human pathogens. Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities models confirmed that host species explained far more variation in pathogen occurrences than habitat type, with dogs, Menetes berdmorei, and Scotophilus heathii exhibiting particularly high pathogen diversity. Domestic dogs also displayed high network centrality and move freely across habitats, positioning them as a key bridging host. Salmonella screening detected both Salmonella enterica (serovars Newport/Typhimurium) and the reptile-associated Salmonella bongori, the latter unexpectedly in bats and rodents, with variable concordance between metabarcoding and qPCR results. Our findings demonstrate that host identity, more than habitat type, structures pathogen-associated microbiomes across a reforested landscape. Understanding these dynamics is essential to anticipate pathogen flow and strengthen One Health surveillance.

Face aux multiples menaces pesant sur le Chat forestier d’Europe (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777), notamment l’hybridation avec le chat domestique, la fragmentation de l’habitat, le braconnage et les collisions routières, ainsi qu’à ses faibles capacités de développement dans la zone étudiée par manque de milieux favorables, il est essentiel d’actualiser les connaissances génétiques sur ses populations du département du Nord (59) afin de mettre en place des stratégies de conservation adaptées. Pour cela, un échantillonnage génétique non invasif a été réalisé en 2022-2023 à l’aide de leurres olfactifs à base de Valériane officinale (Valeriana officinalis L.), associés à des pièges à poils et au ­piégeage photographique, au sein des forêts domaniales de Mormal et de l’Abbé-Val-Joly. D’après nos connaissances, ces forêts accueillent le plus de Chats forestiers d’Europe du département. ­Malgré des aprioris sur son efficacité, cette méthode a permis d’obtenir un taux de capture supérieur à d’autres études européennes. De plus, 51 échantillons de poils ont été collectés et analysés. Les résultats génétiques confirment la présence de Chats forestiers « purs » au sein des forêts étudiées, ainsi que celle d’un individu hybride de deuxième génération et de trois chats domestiques. Par ailleurs, l’analyse suggère l’existence d’un flux génétique entre les deux sites étudiés. Ces résultats soulignent l’importance de localiser et d’améliorer les corridors écologiques, dans un contexte de modification et de simplification des milieux, afin de restaurer la connectivité entre les différentes sous-populations. Une meilleure connexion entre les habitats permettrait d’assurer des niveaux suffisants d’immigration et de flux génétique au sein de la population régionale, garantissant ainsi sa viabilité à long terme.

In many rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, domestic pigs (DPs, Sus scrofa domesticus) can coexist in sympatry, with species of the genus Potamochoerus spp. (P. larvatus or P. porcus). Reports of hybridization between domestic pigs and these two wild suid species are common in these areas. However, the existence and level of genetic introgression of those hybrids has never been sufficiently investigated to date to provide tangible conclusions on the occurrence of such interspecific hybridizations. The aim of our research was to investigate the genomic introgression of suspected hybrids following reported cross breeding events between DPs and P. porcus and P. larvatus in Benin and Madagascar, respectively. A total of 75 samples of individuals representing Sus scrofa domesticus (n = 32), P. larvatus (n = 7), P. porcus (n = 17) and putative hybrids (n = 19) were collected from the field and from European zoos. After filtering, 55 samples passed quality control and were retained for subsequent genotype analysis using 70K SNPs chip. The resulting genomic data was compared by principal component and admixture analysis. Our results revealed the absence of genetic introgression of Potamochoerus spp. in the selected putative hybrids. To further investigate these findings, we expanded our analyses to a global population of Sus scrofa, with the aim of identifying variations in their ancestral origins (Asian or European). These analyses revealed that the suspected hybrids from Madagascar and local DPs are derived from crosses between European and Asian DP populations, with proportions of 34% and 66%, respectively. In contrast, Beninese hybrids derived exclusively from European suids. This study provides, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive assessment to date of potential hybridization between DP and Potamochoerus spp. in sub-Saharan Africa. The great variability of local DP populations (European and Asian) may explain the presence of unique phenotypes when these distinct lineages are crossed, which may be falsely identified as hybrids between DP and Potamochoerus spp., if based on phenotypic data alone.

Abstract Sarbecoviruses, a subgenus of Betacoronavirus , display both respiratory and gastrointestinal tropism, suggesting potential interactions with host gut microbial communities. However, ecological signatures of infection in wild bats remain poorly understood. We investigated associations between Sarbecovirus infection status, gut microbiome structure, and diet composition in Rhinolophus shameli roosting in northeastern Cambodia. Fecal samples collected across dry and wet seasons (2023–2024) were subject to full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and arthropod DNA metabarcoding. Sarbecovirus– positive bats exhibited stable alpha diversity but consistent shifts in gut community composition and increased interindividual variability consistent with the Anna Karenina Principle, suggesting infection–associated destabilization of community assembly rather than diversity erosion. Infection status was associated with enrichment of Shigella and Escherichia species, taxa linked to inflammatory or epithelial stress states in bats. In contrast, dietary composition showed no strong global structuring by infection status and weak coupling with bacterial community structure, suggesting that trophic ecology is unlikely to be the main driver of the infection–associated microbiome signal. Although causal directionality cannot be inferred, our results reveal measurable and consistent microbiome restructuring associated with Sarbecovirus detection in a natural reservoir host and highlight the potential of microbiome profiling for monitoring wildlife disease processes.

Climate change, and habitat loss and degradation are driving unprecedented biodiversity loss globally, with large carnivores particularly affected due to their extensive spatial requirements and sensitivity to human disturbance. Understanding how these pressures interact to shape species distributions is fundamental for effective conservation planning. The African lion (Panthera leo) has experienced catastrophic range contraction, with West and Central Africa suffering a 93% population decline and lions now occupying just 1.1% of their historical West African range. We investigated how climatic and anthropogenic factors shape lion distribution, hypothesizing that climate change would drive habitat contraction while human-modified landscapes would further reduce remaining suitable habitat. Using an ensemble modeling approach, we identified climatic characteristics that historically shaped lion habitat (1900-1990), then projected potential distributions under current (1981-2010) and future (2041-2070) climate scenarios, overlaying these with land-use projections (2050). Contrary to our initial hypothesis, our models revealed an unexpected expansion of climatically suitable areas under current and future climatic conditions. However, anthropogenic pressures severely constrain actual lion distribution. Our study suggests that, rather than climate, non-climatic factors (prey depletion, livestock encroachment, poaching, and habitat conversion) primarily limit lion distribution in these regions. Regional conservation priorities differ between Central Africa, where protecting large remaining habitat patches is crucial, and West Africa, where strengthening existing protected areas, addressing the impact of regional insecurity on key populations, and exploring restoration opportunities are priorities. Successful conservation will require innovative funding mechanisms, transboundary cooperation, and substantial investment in both protected area management and addressing the socioeconomic drivers of habitat degradation.

The recovery of the Eurasian beaver ( Castor fiber ) in Western Europe provides a prime model to study the genetic consequences of contrasting restoration paradigms. We conducted a large-scale genetic assessment across France, Belgium, and Luxembourg using mitochondrial DNA and 14 microsatellites to evaluate population structure and diversity. Our results identify a profound genetic dichotomy: a geographically expansive but genetically homogenous "French core" versus a diverse "northeastern contact zone." The French population, predominantly of the relict galliae lineage, exhibits significantly reduced allelic richness and heterozygosity, likely reflecting a severe historical bottleneck and subsequent founder effects. In contrast, northeastern populations show extensive admixture between multiple lineages ( albicus , fiber , galliae , lineage A), resulting in enhanced regional diversity. We also confirmed the absence of the invasive Castor canadensis , highlighting the efficacy of current transboundary biosecurity. High inbreeding risks in the French core support the hypothesis that long-term isolation may constrain adaptive potential. We argue that maintaining rigorous monitoring and fostering natural connectivity are critical to facilitate "genetic rescue" through admixture. These findings emphasize the importance of managing functional connectivity to ensure the evolutionary resilience of restored keystone species in fragmented landscapes.

BackgroundPlague, a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, is endemic in Madagascar but knowledge on the epidemiological situation in the northern focus remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulation of Y. pestis in terrestrial small mammals in north eastern Madagascar, where suspected plague outbreaks have been reported.MethodsSampling of terrestrial small mammals and their fleas was carried out in 22 trapping sites within 9 localities of the two sectors (1 and 3) of Makira Natural Park (MNP) and surroundings, from 2020 to 2022. Yersinia pestis was investigated in terrestrial small mammal spleen samples and their fleas using bacteriological, serological and molecular methods.ResultsA total of 614 terrestrial small mammals composed of eight species and 1,754 individual fleas were collected following 4,880 trap-nights. The black rat (Rattus rattus) represented the majority (87.8%) of the small mammal species caught. Flea infestation rate was higher in sector 3 compared to sector 1. In sector 3, Xenopsylla brasiliensis, a plague vector, represented 66.4% of fleas identified. Further, one plague seropositive R. rattus individual, captured inside a house, and one Ctenocephalides felis specimen, collected on another R. rattus, was positive on PCR in this sector.DiscussionDespite low detection rates, we confirmed the circulation of Y. pestis in our study area (one rat seropositive and one flea PCR positive) and highlight the risk of potential human transmission. Our results also suggest that R. rattus contributes to the maintenance and transmission of plague in MNP, as described for other areas in Madagascar. Further, these findings contribute to documentation of the known geographic distribution of the endemic plague vector S. fonquerniei and X. brasiliensis.ConclusionThe confirmation of the circulation of the Y. pestis through serological and molecular diagnostics in small mammals and fleas underscores the urgent need to assess awareness levels of risk factors and symptoms to monitor among local communities and health workers and ensure that trained rapid response teams are prepared to intervene promptly upon suspect case detection. The risk and epidemiology of plague circulation in remote rural areas of Madagascar remains insufficiently studied. Addressing this gap is crucial, as a more comprehensive understanding of the distribution and dynamics of the wild animal hosts, their vectors and host-vector interactions will enhance risk assessment and prevention for plague emergence and improve mitigation and early control of potential outbreaks.

The application of Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) approaches is often restricted in wildlife monitoring and conservation genetics, as those fields often rely on noninvasively collected samples with low DNA content. Here we selected a subset of informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genome-wide data for lineage discrimination of a locally endangered Eurasian rodent, the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), and designed a microfluidic 96 SNP genotyping assay suitable for noninvasively collected samples. Analyses of 43 samples from different European countries confirmed successful discrimination of the Eastern and Western lineage and local substructure within those lineages, proving the suitability of the developed panel for identifying evolutionary significant units and conservation units. Application with 94 hair and scat samples collected in a recent monitoring study on the hazel dormouse in Southern Germany resulted in >99.5% amplification success showing the applicability of the new tool in genetic wildlife monitoring and conservation studies.

Host’s fitness can be affected by its genotype and gut microbiota, defined as the microbes living in the host’s intestinal tract. This study explored how the genetic diversity of the host influences its bacterial communities in the context of captive breeding programs, for the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola). As stated by the ecosystem on a leash model, mechanisms such as inbreeding depression may lead to changes in immunomodulation and will therefore induce modifications of the gut microbiota. We investigated variation in the gut bacteria through 16S rRNA metabarcoding, related to the genetic diversity of European mink held in captivity in two breeding centers representing separate breeding stocks originating from the western and eastern populations. The genetic diversity of the host was assessed through diversity analysis of the adaptive MHC class I and II genes as well as neutral microsatellite markers. Results indicate lower diversity in neutral and MHC class I genes for the western population, and the opposite for MHC class II. A lower MHC class II gene variability led to an increase in microbial phylogenetic diversity and in abundance depending on the presence of specific MHC-II motifs. This shows the importance of integrating both neutral and adaptive markers when investigating genetic variation in the context of ex situ conservation, as well as gut microbial community assessment. We advocate for more natural mating systems in captive breeding program to foster genetic diversity as a whole to mitigate the effects of genetic drift on those small, isolated populations.

The microbiome is an important consideration for the conservation of endangered species. Studies provided evidence of the effect of behavior and habitat change on the microbiota of wild animals and reported various inferences. It indicates the complexity of factors influencing microbiota diversity, including incomplete sampling procedures. Data abnormality may arise due to the procedures warranting preliminary analysis, such as rarefaction, before downstream analysis. This present study demonstrated the effect of data rarefaction and aggregation on the comparison of wild rusa deer’s gut microbial diversity. Eighty-five feces samples were collected from 11 deer populations inhabiting three national parks in Java and Bali islands. Using the Illumina Nova-Seq platform, fragments of 16s rRNA gene were sequenced, and raw data of 51,389 reads corresponding to 2 domains, 22 phyla, 45 classes, 83 orders, 182 families, and 460 genera of bacteria were obtained. Data rarefaction was applied at two different library sizes (minimum and fixed) and aggregation (11 populations into 3 research sites) to investigate its effect on the microbial diversity comparison. There are significant differences in alpha diversity between populations, but not research sites, at all library sizes of rarefaction. A similar finding is also found in beta diversity. Moreover, data rarefaction and aggregation result in different values of the diversity metrics. This present study shows that statistical analysis remains a substantial concern in microbiome studies applied to conservation biology. It suggests reporting a more detailed data normalization in microbiome studies as an inherent control of suboptimal sampling, particularly when involving feces.

Large tropical trees are rightly perceived as supporting a plethora of organisms. However, baseline data about the variety of taxa coexisting on single large tropical trees are lacking and prevent a full understanding of both the magnitude of biodiversity and the complexity of interactions among organisms in tropical rainforests. The two main aims of the research program “Life on Trees” (LOT) are (1) to establish baseline knowledge on the number of eukaryote species supported/hosted by the above-ground part of a single tropical tree and (2) to understand how these communities of organisms are assembled and distributed on or inside the tree. To achieve the first goal, we integrated a set of 36 methods for comprehensively sampling eukaryotes (plants, fungi, animals, protists) present on a tropical tree. The resulting LOT protocol was conceived and implemented during projects in the Andean Amazon region and is proposed here as a guideline for future projects of a similar nature. To address the second objective, we evaluated the microclimatic differences between tree zones and tested state-of-the-art terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and positioning technologies incorporating satellite and fixed base station signals (dGNSS). A marked variation in temperature and relative humidity was detected along a 6-zones Johansson scheme, a tree structure subdivision system commonly used to study the stratification of epiphytic plants. Samples were collected from these six zones, including three along the trunk and three in the canopy. To better understand how different tree components (e.g., bark, leaves, fruits, flowers, dead wood) contribute to overall tree biodiversity, we categorized observations into communities based on Johansson zones and microhabitats. TLS was an essential aid in understanding the complex tree architecture. By contrast, the accuracy of positioning samples in the tree with dGNSS was low. Comprehensively sampling the biota of individual trees offers an alternative to assessing the biodiversity of fewer groups of organisms at the forest scale. Large old tropical trees provide a wealth of microhabitats that encompass a wide range of ecological conditions, thereby capturing a broad spectrum of biodiversity.

Determining the dietary spectrum of European insectivorous bats over time is the cornerstone of their conservation, as it will aid our understanding of foraging behavior plasticity in response to plummeting insect populations. Despite the global decline in insects, a restricted number of arthropod pest species thrive. Yet past research has overlooked the potential of European bats to suppress pests harmful to woodlands or livestock, in spite of their economic relevance. Here we investigated the diet composition, its breeding season variations and pest consumption of an insectivorous bat species (Myotis emarginatus), at the northern edge of its range (Wallonia, Belgium). We also explored the prey ecology to gain insight into the hunting strategies and foraging habitats of this bat species. We used DNA metabarcoding to amplify two COI markers within 195 bat droppings collected in June, July and August, thereby identifying 512 prey taxa predominated by Diptera, Araneae and Lepidoptera. Overall, in 97% of the samples we detected at least one of the 58 potential pest taxa, 41 of which targeting trees. The June samples were marked by a diet rich in orb-weaver spiders, in accordance with the archetypal diet of M. emarginatus bats. However, during the highly energy demanding July-August parturition and lactation period, roughly 55% of the dropping samples contained two cattle fly pests (Stomoxys calcitrans and Musca domestica). Moreover, among the 88 Diptera species preyed upon by M. emarginatus in July and August, these flies accounted for around 50% of the taxa occurrences. This plasticity—the switch from a spider-rich to a fly-rich diet—seems providential considering the dramatic ongoing drop in insect populations but this involves ensuring bat-friendly cattle farming. Our results revealed that bats widely consume pest entomofauna, thereby highlighting their potential role as allies of forest managers and farmers.

The American mink (Mustela vison) is known as a successful non-native species in Europe, impacting native species’ population sizes and habitats. This study investigates the genetic structure and diversity of American mink populations in France over two decades (1997–2016). The analysis involves feral and farmed mink sampled from various regions, using ten autosomal microsatellite loci for genotyping. The objective is to identify the putative existence of genetic lineages, especially between feral and farmed individuals, and to assess changes in genetic structure over time. Results reveal high genetic diversity and inbreeding within populations, with evidence of genetic structure influenced by both farm releases and feral colonization. The study highlights the reflection of the genetic structure in farm populations in the feral populations within the first period (1997–2007), and a decline of a lineage over time in the second period (2007–2016) with the emergence of a new genetic cluster, potentially influenced by factors such as selection, phenotypic changes, and interactions with pathogens. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of American mink populations in France and their genetic variability, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and management efforts to mitigate the impact of this invasive species, especially on endangered or/and endemic species such as European mink (Mustela lutreola) and Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has been introduced in Western Europe since 2006. Its occurrence has been recorded in Luxembourg, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) and Wallonia (Belgium). As Castor canadensis is a direct competitor of the Eurasian beaver, it is classified as an invasive species due to ecological niche overlap, with a notably higher reproduction rate. Its colonization is therefore a significant threat for our native Eurasian beavers and its populations should be eradicated. The origin of the North American beaver populations in Western Europe is also still unknown. The present study aimed at investigating the genetic structure and the putative origin of C. canadensis individuals collected in Western Europe. To achieve this goal, we compared their genetic characteristics with those of individuals coming from Finland, the USA and from the German zoo of Lünebach (Eifel). Our results revealed that all the individuals sampled in Western Europe show close relationships and belong to the same genetic cluster. Given their genetic link to the Eifel zoo beavers, the hypothesis of this zoo as the origin of wild C. canadensis populations in Western Europe seems the most probable. As no North American beavers have been detected in France, we can also conclude that the eradication measures implemented in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany since 2006 seem to have been relatively efficient, thus preventing the spread of this species to other countries. However, future monitoring still has to be performed in order to confirm the total eradication of this invasive species in Western Europe.

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a wild bovid with a historical distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Genomic analysis can provide insights into the evolutionary history of the species, and the key selective pressures shaping populations, including assessment of population level differentiation, population fragmentation, and population genetic structure. In this study we generated the highest quality de novo genome assembly (2.65 Gb, scaffold N50 69.17 Mb) of African buffalo to date, and sequenced a further 195 genomes from across the species distribution. Principal component and admixture analyses provided little support for the currently described four subspecies. Estimating Effective Migration Surfaces analysis suggested that geographical barriers have played a significant role in shaping gene flow and the population structure. Estimated effective population sizes indicated a substantial drop occurring in all populations 5-10,000 years ago, coinciding with the increase in human populations. Finally, signatures of selection were enriched for key genes associated with the immune response, suggesting infectious disease exert a substantial selective pressure upon the African buffalo. These findings have important implications for understanding bovid evolution, buffalo conservation and population management.

The development of genetic studies on the African buffalo helped: to delineate subspecies number based on restricted gene flow criteria to either two or maximally three; to define three Conservation Units requiring separate management efforts, namely: (1) Eastern–Southern Africa, (2) the West–Central African forests and (3) the West–Central African savannas; to uncover major evolutionary demographic events, with the earliest identified expansion occurring 500–1000 kya; to evidence a strong population decline in Eastern–Southern Africa starting around 5 kya, and proposed to result from both climatic factors and explosive growth of human populations and their cattle. However, buffalo populations still display high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation, and show primary sex-ratio distortion and high-frequency deleterious alleles in the buffalo genome and their potential effect on population demography and viability. Future management efforts are necessary to maintain gene flow, with the challenge that populations become more fragmented, distributed into a mosaic of conserved areas.

One of the threats that the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) faces throughout its relict range, including the occidental population, is the impact of the American mink (Mustela vison) invasion in its natural habitat. We aimed to explore the differences in microbiota and genetic diversity between European and American mink to test phylosymbiosis theory. We investigated the gut microbiota composition of European and American mink in controlled environments (captive breeding compounds and fur farms respectively) to account for the impact of the environment on gut bacterial composition. We compared them to the gut microbiota of both mink species in the natural environment across habitats. Our exploratory results showed differences between free-ranging and captive individuals, with more extreme changes in American mink compared to European mink. However, feral American mink from a long-established population exhibited gut bacterial composition closer to the free-ranging native species compared to more recently established feral populations. This result could be explained by dietary shifts in the area sampled based on prey availability through different landscape, but also to a lesser extent due to greater genetic differentiation. This exploratory work contributes to the scarce literature currently available on the dynamics between gut microbiota and mammal invasion.

Seed dispersal by frugivores is a key process which is necessary for the regeneration of plant communities. The decrease in the abundance of fruit-eating mammals due to anthropogenic pressures impacts on the proper functioning of forest ecosystems. In this study, for the first time we evaluate seed dispersal by duikers (Bovidae, frugivores and the most hunted animals of the rainforests of central Africa: Congo basin), using germination trials of seeds contained in their dung and rumen. The influence of selective timber harvesting on this dispersal was also examined by comparing duiker community occupancy between a logged and an unlogged site. Our results revealed a community of four duiker species Cephalophus silvicultor, Philantomba congica and two species of 'red' duiker (C. callipygus and C. castaneus). A total of 79 plant species (5481 seedlings) were found in the dungs of all duikers and a total of 37 species (5225 seedlings) were observed in the rumens of red duikers and P. congica. Phyllanthus sp. and Musanga cecropioides were the dominant taxa in dung and rumen contents respectively. Taxa of high commercial value such as Erythrophleum suaveolens, Milicia excelsa and Nauclea diderrichii were also observed. The lack of a clear difference between the plant communities dispersed by the duiker species (assessed by beta-diversity) showed that they play redundancy rather than complementary dispersal roles. Duikers play an underestimated role in the restoration of environments disturbed by logging or shifting cultivation as most of the species observed are pioneer colonizing species. Furthermore duiker communities appear to be affected little by selective logging.