Romaric Vihotogbé

• PhD
• Associate Professor at National University of Agriculture

This study investigated whether increasing the normality of an attribute using Box-Cox transformation improves Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) prediction accuracy. Furthermore, we examined if BME accuracy is affected by sample size or spatial dependence. For hard data, the unconditional sequential approach was used to simulate symmetric data (skewne...

This study empirically tested the robustness of Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) in predicting spatiotemporal data, with an emphasis on skewness, sample size, and spatial dependency level. Simulated data, both Gaussian and non-Gaussian, were generated using the unconditional sequential simulation method, with sample sizes ranging from 100 to 500 at t...

Objective: It is well known that some data features (sample size, skewness, among others) may determine method performance. The choice of those features depends on the researcher's level of awareness on the statistical method. In this study, the level of awareness on the influence of spatial data key characteristics (sample size, skewness, spatial...

Description of the subject. Irvingia gabonensis and I. wombolu produce edible kernels, with their fruit pulp tasting sweet and bitter, respectively. The overlap of their morphological and ecological traits creates taxonomic uncertainty. Objectives. This study assessed the efficiency of folk classification system for the separation between I. gabone...

In tropical Africa, domestication mostly happens across to traditional agroforestry systems, in which natural variations of plants species are constantly manipulated to induce new and more socioeconomically profitable other ones. Irvingia gabonensis (Irvingiaceae) is one of the most valuable sub-Saharan bioresources that widely grow across West and...

Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) is increasingly used in predicting and mapping spatio-temporal data. However, studies that have fully evaluated its robustness empirically are rare. Therefore, this research examined empirically the effect of skewness, sample size and spatial dependency level using simulated data. We considered symmetric data, data po...

African healthcare system depends upon indigenous medicinal plants, harvested wild and traded for significant income generation. Mondia whitei , one of these plants, is threatened by over‐exploitation, climate change and unsustainable land use management. Detailed knowledge is lacking regarding the species' conservation—driving forces and preservat...

Detarium microcarpum (Fabaceae) is a priority, multipurpose, and indigenous food tree species in West Africa. However, data related to its efficient conservation and sustainable use, through changing ecological environments, are still lacking. Thus, species occurrence records were combined with climatic and soil data in Maximum Entropy (Maxent), a...

Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a priority food tree species in West Africa, but its use pattern and conservation is little known across different sociocultural areas of Benin. In this study, we analyse the determinants of D. microcarpum traditional uses pattern and how these determinants influence the species’ conservation in Benin. Thus, 7...

African bush mango trees (Irvingiaceae) are priority food trees in West and Central Africa. There are bitter-and sweet-fruited species, which are difficult to distinguish based on morphological characters. This has led to a debate about their correct taxonomic status. Furthermore, it is unclear whether they are native to the Dahomey Gap, the dry an...

Predicted effects of climate change (CC) on plant species distribution have raised concerns on their conservation and domestication. Appropriate stand density may enhance species ability to adapt to CC. Therefore, combining species distribution modeling (SDM) and spatial pattern of density should provide insightful information for setting conservat...

Cultivation of priority plant species ensures their sustainable management. African bush mango trees (Irvingia gabonensis and I. wombolu) are the most exploited Irvingiaceae species. Experts disagree on the status of these very similar taxa, as taste remains the only character by which they can be distinguished in the field. We combined occurrences...

Detarium microcarpum (Caesalpiniaceae) is a priority, multipurpose, and indigenous food tree species in West Africa. However, data related to its efficient conservation and sustainable use, through changing ecological environments, are still lacking. Thus, species occurrence records were combined with climatic and soil data in Maximum Entropy (Maxe...

Abstract- Introduction. This study was set-up to assess the local perception on morphological differentiation within sweet African bush mango tree (Irvingia gabonensis) in southwestern Benin. Materials and methods. Locally acknowledged morphotypes (LAM) and local differentiation criteria were determined, using group discussions with 60 farmers. A t...

Wild palms contribute significantly to food security and local economy in tropical areas, and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In light of this importance, eight palm species were explored [Borassus aethiopum (L.) Mart, Eremospatha macrocarpa (G. Mann et H. Wendl.) H. Wendl., Laccosperma opacum (G. Mann et H. Wendl.) Drude, Hyphaene thebaica (L....

Detarium microcarpum (Caesalpiniaceae) est un fruitier de grande importance socio-économique en Afrique de l’Ouest. Au Bénin, l’espèce est surexploitée dans plusieurs régions alors que peu de recherches se sont intéressées à sa viabilité et la conservation de sa diversité génétique. L’objectif de cette étude est de déterminer la valeur d’usage de d...

Ecophysiological traits determining the occurrence and cultivability of Irvingia gabonensis are not fully understood. We evaluated the impact of salinity (30, 60 and 120mmol NaCl) on seedling emergence (rate and speed) and seedling vigour in greenhouse conditions. Vegetative responses of seedlings were also assessed. Salinity levels up to 60 mmol h...

Tél : (+229) 95022469 / 67891649 / 98989493 REMERCIEMENTS Les auteurs disent leur reconnaissance au Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (MESRS) de la République du Bénin pour avoir octroyé la bourse qui a permis la réalisation de ce travail qui entre dans le cadre d'un projet de thèse de Doctorat du premier auteur....

Economically important food tree species in sub-Saharan Africa should be domesticated to enhance their production within agro forestry systems. The African bush mango trees (Irvingia species) are highly preserved and integrated in agro forestry systems in tropical Africa. However, the taxonomic debate related to the species or varietal status of th...

Economically important food tree species in sub-Saharan Africa should be domesticated to enhance their production within agro forestry systems. The African bush mango trees (Irvingia species) are highly preserved and integrated in agro forestry systems in tropical Africa. However, the taxonomic debate related to the species or varietal status of th...

Plant species are basic component of agro-biodiversity and a complex situation created by their own ability to disperse; and the rapid changes of land use and climate is endangering their efficient conservation and use. In order to increase knowledge of bitter and sweet African bush mango trees (ABMTs) (Irvingia spp.: Irvingiaceae) and support smal...

Key message This phenological analysis of bitter and sweet bush mango trees is part of their biosystematics. It supports the species distinction hypothesis postulated by Harris (Bull J Bot Nat Belg 65(1–2): Abstract African Bush Mango trees are priority food trees in Sub-Saharan Africa. The unclear distinction between bitter and sweet fruited trees...

Biological diversity, with its key role in ecology, culture, agriculture, nutrition and healthcare, remains the most valuable heritage for humans. In healthcare, there are three main ways in which plants are valued: foods, drugs and cosmetics. Fruits, leaves, roots and sap, with their nutrients and secondary metabolites (e.g. proteins, carbohydrate...

Background and aims – Bitter and sweet African bush mango trees belong to the family Irvingiaceae and produce valuable non-timber forest products in humid lowland areas of West and Central Africa. The bitter and sweet types are treated as distinct taxa at the variety or species level. They have not been studied in the western part of their distribu...

The variation of the morphological characters of bitter and sweet African bush mango trees (Irvingia species) was investigated in the Dahomey Gap which is the West African savannah woodland area separating the Upper and the Lower Guinean rain forest blocks. African bush mangoes have been rated as the highest priority multi-purpose food trees specie...

RESUME Dans le cadre de la mise en place d'une banque de données fiables propre aux ressources alimentaires locales, la région de Pobè au sud-est du Bénin a été prospectée par l'équipe de recherche du Laboratoire de Gestion des Produits Forestiers Non ligneux de la Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques (PFNLs-Labo/FSA) de l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi d...

The bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) is a multipurpose species Dahomey gap. Its fruits (even nonmatured) are systematically gathered for consumption and marketing. Few studies have been done on the ethnobotany and endogenous practices determining its conservation of the species in Benin. This study aims to produce a database on those aspects in Ben...