Emmanuel Danquah

Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology | KNUST · Department of Wildlife and Range Management

How populations adapt to their environment is a fundamental question in biology. Yet, we know surprisingly little about this process, especially for endangered species, such as nonhuman great apes. Chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, are particularly notable because they inhabit diverse habitats, from rainforest to woodland-savannah. Whether...

How populations adapt to their environment is a fundamental question in biology. Yet we know surprisingly little about this process, especially for endangered species such as non-human great apes. Chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, are particularly interesting because they inhabit diverse habitats, from rainforest to woodland-savannah. Whet...

Conservation funding is currently limited; cost-effective conservation solutions are essential. We suggest that the thousands of field stations worldwide can play key roles at the frontline of biodiversity conservation and have high intrinsic value. We assessed field stations’ conservation return on investment and explored the impact of COVID-19. W...

During the last 40 years, the volumes of African pangolins feeding the illegal wildlife trade have dramatically increased. We conducted a conservation genetics survey of the most traded African species, the white bellied pangolin (WBP; Phataginus tricuspis ), across three West African countries including Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. Our study...

Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species’ population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate ‘intactness scores’: the remaining proportion of...

It is an undeniable fact that climate change has negative effects on cocoa production and has thus led to reduced yields in Ghana. This has affected cocoa farmers living standards due to their high dependency on income from sales of cocoa dry beans. The study determined the causes, indicators, effects and mitigative strategies of climate change on...

The current knowledge of Ghanaian as apparent from literature, is very imperfect as the status and identification of most of the species reported from Ghana are very uncertain. Since 2009, exploratory surveys in a few forest reserves in Ghana suggest that Atewa Range Forest Reserve (ATWR) alone supports one of the richest land-snail faunas in West...

The question of how behavioural diversity in humans and other animals is shaped by the combined influence of demography, genetics, culture, and the environment receives much research attention. We take a macro-ecological approach to evaluate how chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ) behavioural diversity is spatially structured and associated with genetic...

During the last 40 years, the volumes of African pangolins feeding the illegal wildlife trade have dramatically increased. We conducted a conservation genetics survey of the most traded African species, the white bellied pangolin (WBP; Phataginus tricuspis), across three West African countries including Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Our study co...

We examined the effects of habitat types (farmlands, open forests and closed forests) and seasons on the population demography and reproduction of small terrestrial mammals in two tropical evergreen forests [Atewa Range Forest Reserve (ARFR) and Bimpong Forest Reserve (BFR)] environments in 2018 and 2019. Small mammals were trapped with Sherman's c...

Context Globally, an estimated 1.3% of the bird species have gone extinct over the past millennia, largely owing to habitat loss. Aims This study investigated bird–habitat associations and assemblages in the Owabi Ramsar wetland. Methods The study was conducted over 5 months (May–September 2019) in four habitat types (agricultural land, built-up, f...

We relied on local knowledge of fishers in five coastal communities in Ghana to investigate ecological factors that affect fishing for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and the changes in the abundance of sharks and rays from 1980 to 2020. We gathered data using participant observation, interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural app...

This study provides first-hand information on how the changing microhabitat in evergreen forests influences the assemblage of small terrestrial mammals. 30 plots of 100 × 50 metres were randomly sampled in the closed forest, open forest and farmlands habitats. Four transects, 100 m in length, spaced at 10 m, were established in each plot. Ten traps...

This study compared the forage quality of Cajanus cajan, Stylosanthes mucronata, Tephrosia purpurea, and Securinega virosa in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The shrubs were cultivated using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and their growth were monitored. Leaf samples were hand-harvested at 7, 10, and 13 weeks after establishment, air...

This study compared the forage quality of Cajanus cajan, Stylosanthes mucronata, Tephrosia purpurea, and Securinega virosa in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The shrubs were cultivated using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and their growth were monitored. Leaf samples were hand-harvested at 7, 10, and 13 weeks after establishment, air...

Knowledge on the population history of endangered species is critical for conservation, but whole-genome data on chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) is geographically sparse. Here, we produced the first non-invasive geolocalized catalog of genomic diversity by capturing chromosome 21 from 828 non-invasive samples collected at 48 sampling sites across Afr...

Despite the fact that elasmobranchs are now targeted in artisanal fisheries in the wake of continuous declines of teleosts in Ghana, data on any aspects of these fisheries are poor. This study aims to document the spatial and temporal variation, and biological composition of elasmobranchs in five key elasmobranch-dominated fishing communities in We...

Small-scale shark fisheries support the livelihoods of a large number of coastal communities in developing countries. Shark meat comprises a cheap source of protein and is traded locally in many parts in developing countries, while the skins, oil, and fins are exported to the international market. This study addresses a gap in literature regarding...

Discussions of how animal culture can aid the conservation crisis are burgeoning. As scientists and conservationists working to protect endangered species, we call for reflection on how the culture concept may be applied in practice. Here, we discuss both the potential benefits and potential shortcomings of applying the animal culture concept, and...

Discussions of how animal culture can aid the conservation crisis are burgeoning. As scientists and conservationists working to protect endangered species, we call for reflection on how the culture concept may be applied in practice. Here, we discuss both the potential benefits and potential shortcomings of applying the animal culture concept and p...

Paleoclimate reconstructions have enhanced our understanding of how past climates have shaped present-day biodiversity. We hypothesize that the geographic extent of Pleistocene forest refugia and suitable habitat fluctuated significantly in time during the late Quaternary for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Using bioclimatic variables representing m...

West African dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus sp. nov. cf. tetraspis) are among the most threatened crocodilians in the world due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss-related population decline. Despite this, many questions about their basic ecology remain unanswered and this inadequate data hampers effective dwarf crocodile management. We describe...

Aim: Modelling African great ape distribution has until now focused on current or past conditions, while future scenarios remain scarcely explored. Using an ensemble forecasting approach, we predicted changes in taxon-specific distribution under future scenarios of climate, land use and human populations for (1) areas outside protected areas (PAs)...

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21010-z.

Small-scale shark fisheries support a large number of coastal community livelihoods in developing countries. Shark meat comprises a cheap source of protein and is traded locally in many parts in developing countries, while the skins, oil, fins and gill rakers are exported to the international market. This study addresses a gap in literature regardi...

Local Ecological Knowledge has the potential to improve fishery management by providing new data on the fishing efforts, behavior, and abundance trends of fish and other aquatic animals. Here, we relied on local knowledge of fishers to investigate ecological factors that affect elasmobranch fishers operations and the changes in stock status of shar...

Large brains and behavioural innovation are positively correlated, species-specific traits, associated with the behavioural flexibility animals need for adapting to seasonal and unpredictable habitats. Similar ecological challenges would have been important drivers throughout human evolution. However, studies examining the influence of environmenta...

Aim Modelling African great ape distribution has until now focused on current or past conditions, whilst future scenarios remain scarcely explored. Using an ensemble forecasting approach, we predicted changes in taxon-specific distribution under future scenarios of climate, land-use and human population changes. Location Sub-Saharan Africa Method...

This study assessed invertebrate response to disturbances in the riparian zone of the Wewe river, using geometric series, rarefaction, Renyi diversity, and CCA models. We sampled 2,077 individuals (dry season) and 2,282 (wet season) belonging to 16 invertebrate orders. The severely disturbed habitat registered the highest individuals ( n = 1,999),...

Even though information on global biodiversity trends becomes increasingly available, large taxonomic and spatial data gaps persist at the scale relevant to planning conservation interventions. This is because data collectors are hesitant to share data with global repositories due to workload, lack of incentives, and perceived risk of losing intell...

Floodplains are among the most productive and highly diverse ecosystems that serve as a source of feed, shelter and breeding ground for wildlife, as well as protect neighbouring settlements from flush floods. Nonetheless, they are among the most threatened habitats on earth. The study quantified factors that accounted for floodplain vegetation chan...

More than just numbers We often frame negative human impacts on animal species in terms of numbers of individuals reduced or numbers of regions from which species are absent. However, human activities are likely affecting species in more complex ways than these figures can capture. Kühl et al. studied behavioral and cultural diversity in our closes...

With continued expansion of anthropogenically modified landscapes, the proximity between humans and wildlife is continuing to increase, frequently resulting in species decline. Occasionally however, species are able to persist and there is an increased interest in understanding such positive outliers and underlying mechanisms. Eventually, such insi...

With continued expansion of anthropogenically modified landscapes, the proximity between humans and wildlife is continuing to increase, frequently resulting in species decline. Occasionally however, species are able to persist and there is an increased interest in understanding such positive outliers and underlying mechanisms. Eventually, such insi...

Our study examined Odonata assemblages distribution pattern and the predictive factors that accounted for this in the lotic and lentic water systems within the Ankasa Conservation Area (Ghana). A total of 23 sites with sampling protocol of 2 researchers per hour per sampling site were used to survey Odonata species over two seasons in the three wat...

We assessed the effects of different levels of anthropogenic disturbance on Odonata species richness and assemblage composition in four different habitats in Ghana: mining sites, agricultural fields, human settlements, and primary forest habitat. A total of 992 individual adult Odonata representing 51 species (20 Zygoptera, 31 Anisoptera) in six fa...

Pangolins, considered the most-trafficked mammals on Earth, are rapidly heading to extinction. Eight extant species of these African and Asian scale-bodied anteaters are commonly recognized, but their evolutionary relationships remain largely unexplored. Here we present the most comprehensive phylogenetic assessment of pangolins, based on genetic v...

Knowledge on density trends and habitat use of wildlife species is vital for the development of conservation and management plans. By comparing density estimates for the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and lion (Panthera leo) over a ten-year period (2009-2018) in the Mole National Park (Mole) in northern Ghana, we show that hyena density and distri...

Sub-Saharan Africa is the leading producer of Theobroma cacao (cocoa) in the world and this agro-ecosystem continues to replace the natural forest ecosystem in the region. These anthropogenic perturbations have particularly disturbed the tropical rainforests of the Upper Guinean area. Currently, we do not understand how bats are responding to this...

Recent studies have indicated that frequent anthropogenic disturbances in tropical developing countries are primary drivers of reduction in community diversity and local extinction of many arthropods, including dragonflies. We assessed the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on odonate assemblages across three different land use types, in a biodiv...

The global population of the critically endangered western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) has dramatically declined by more than 80% over the last three generations (i.e. 69 years) (Humle et al., 2016). In Ghana, the species was thought to be locally extinct or nearly extinct (Caldecott & Miles, 2005), until their continuous presence was docume...

Managers of Protected Areas (PAs) require dependable monitoring programs to better understand the extent and factors contributing to wildlife declines and illegal activity observation, however the success of these national parks and resource reserves in adequately conserving species and ecosystems are increasingly being questioned. Data needed for...

African large mammals are under extreme pressure from unsustainable hunting and habitat loss. Certain traits make large mammals particularly vulnerable. These include late age at first reproduction, long inter-birth intervals, and low population density. Great apes are a prime example of such vulnerability, exhibiting all of these traits. Here we a...

A survey of birds in Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana between February and May 2016 to identify and determine the diversity and abundance of bird species. Using Point Count Method, all birds were observed at fixed locations using an Opticron Polarex 8×40 field binocular and identification of birds’ species were confirmed by Birds...

A survey of birds in Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana between February and May 2016 to identify and determine the diversity and abundance of bird species. Using Point Count Method, all birds were observed at fixed locations using an Opticron Polarex 8×40 field binocular and identification of birds’ species were confirmed by Birds...

The study sought to train farmers to use the chilli (hot pepper) grease method for mitigating elephant crop raiding in Bia Conservation Area. This adaptive form of managing crop raids involved field trials in five affected communities to demonstrate the efficacy of the mitigation strategy. Participants were supported with start-up materials to appl...

Managers of Protected Areas (PAs) require dependable monitoring programs to better understand the extent and factors contributing to wildlife decline and observation of illegal activity. However, the success of these PAs in adequately conserving species and ecosystems are increasingly being questioned. Furthermore, data needed for assessment of the...

The Community Resources Management Area (CREMA) concept in Ghana is a Wildlife Division initiative that employs adaptive resources governance at the community level to reconcile the conflicting goals of conserving biodiversity whilst enhancing local livelihoods. Perceived advantages of CREMAs have not been tested in Ghana. By using field data from...

To avoid unnecessary waste of limited resources and to help prioritize areas for conservation efforts, this study aimed to provide information on habitat use by elephants between the wet and dry seasons in the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. We compiled coordinates of 516 locations of elephants' encounters, 256 for dry season and 260 for wet sea...

To avoid unnecessary waste of limited resources and to help prioritize areas for conservation efforts, this study aimed to provide information on habitat use by elephants between the wet and dry seasons in the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. We compiled coordinates of 516 locations of elephants' encounters, 256 for dry season and 260 for wet sea...

The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used t...

Figure S1: Database schema. Diversity data in yellow, GIS data in green and Catalogue of Life data in blue. The diversity tables datasource, study, site, measuredtaxon and diversitymeasurement follow the structure described in ‘Methods’ in the main text and in Hudson et al. (2014): a datasource is associated with one or more study records, each of...

The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used t...

The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used t...

The growth and long-lived growth patterns observed in many Savanna shrubs may be advantageous for survival in harsh physical environment. This study was conducted to estimate the growth potential and biomass yield of Securinega virosa, Cajanus cajan, Stylosanthes mucronata and Tephrosia purpurea in the northern region of Ghana. A total of 16 experi...

An elephant survey was conducted in the Bia-Goaso Forest Block in western Ghana during the wet season month of November, 2012 to determine the distribution of elephants and assess the human and ecological variables that affect them. One hundred and thirty 1-kilometre transects were systematically distributed in three strata (high, medium and low de...

The Community Resources Management Area (CREMA) concept in Ghana is a Wildlife Division initiative that devolves sustainable user rights of natural resources to rural communities in an attempt to reconcile the sometimes conflicting goals of conserving biodiversity and enhancing local livelihoods. Perceived advantages of CREMAs have not been tested...

Knowledge on faunal diversification in African rainforests remains scarce. We used phylogeography to assess (i) the role of Pleistocene climatic oscillations in the diversification of the African common pangolin (Manis tricuspis), and (ii) the utility of our multi-locus approach for taxonomic delineation and trade tracing of this heavily poached sp...

Abstract The dispersal ability of straw coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), was investigated on the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Campus in Sunyani from January 2013 to December 2014. A reconnaissance exercise was conducted in the UENR in order to stratify the campus into bat-occupied and unoccupied zones (strata) based on th...

Knowledge on the impacts of logging activity on inhabitant primate species in Kwabre Rainforest, Ghana, is vital for the development of a comprehensive conservation and management plan. With this background, primate density and diversity were recorded along line transects in logged and unlogged areas (strata) to assess the impact of logging activit...

Abstract Four sample plots, each of size 20m by 20m were systematically distributed in two strata (i.e. two plots in bat-occupied zone and the remaining two plots in bat-unoccupied zone, to serve as control units). Using six (20m x 20m) sample plots each, basal area, canopy, and heights of trees with DBH ≤ 1m were measured. Fourteen individual tree...