For the past 20 years, we have been conducting research in the Dja Biosphere Reserve and adjacent areas. The Dja Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in South Central Cameroon. The reserve comprises over 500,000 hectares, making it one of Central Africa’s largest protected areas. Our research began in 1993 with the establishment of the Bouamir research camp and 25-square-kilometer study site located near the center of the reserve. Since that time, research has focused on the role of vertebrate seed dispersers-particularly birds and primates, the impacts of hunting on vertebrate populations and on the genetics of the trees they disperse, conservation genetics, mechanisms of speciation, and disease research, both in the reserve and in adjacent areas. CTR also used the Dja as a base for groundbreaking work on the long distance movement and resource use of hornbills. We work closely with indigenous tribes who live in and around the Dja Biosphere Reserve as part of our research. Community members act as guides, and share their extraordinary wealth of knowledge about the ecology of the forest.
Tracking Hornbill Movements in Cameroon
Related Publications
Avian influenza surveillance in Central and West Africa, 2010-2014
Fuller, T. L.; Ducatez, M. F.; Njabo, K. Y.; Couancy-Hymann, E.; Chasar, T.; Aplogan, G. L.; Lao, S.; Awoume, F.; Tehou, A.; Langeois, Q.; Krauss, S.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2014 | Epidemiology and Infection 143(10), 2205-2212
Evolution and conservation of Central African biodiversity: priorities for future research and education in the Congo Basin and Gulf of Guinea
Anthony, N. M.; Atteke, C.; Bruford, M. W.; Dallmeier, F.; Freedman, A.; Hardy, O.; Ibrahim, B.; Jeffery, K. J.; Johnson, M.; Lahm, S. A.; Lepengue, N.; Lowenstein, J. H.; Maisels, F.; Mboumba, J.; Mickala, P.; Morgan, K.; Ntie, S.; Smith, T. B.; Sullivan, J. P.; Verheyen, E.; Gonder, M. K.
Published Work | 2014 | Biotropica 47(1), 6–17
Spatial and temporal patterns of frugivorous hornbill movements in Central Africa and their implications for rain forest conservation
Chasar, A.; Harrigan, R. J.; Holbrook, K. M.; Dietsch, T. V.; Fuller, T. L.; Wikelski, M.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2014 | Biotropica 46(6), 763–770
Diet selection is related to breeding status in two frugivorous hornbill species of Central Africa
Lamperti, A. M.; French, A. R.; Dierenfeld, E. S.; Fogiel, M. K.; Whitney, K. D.; Stauffer, D. J.; Stouffer, K. M.; Hardesty, B. D.; Clark, C. J.; Poulsen, J. R.; Wang, B.; Smith, T. B.; Parker, V. T.
Published Work | 2014 | Journal of Tropical Ecology 30(4), 273–290
Seed dispersal and movement patterns in two species of Ceratogymna hornbills in a West African tropical lowland forest
Holbrook, K. M.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2014 | Oecologia 125, 249–257
Predicting bird song from space
Smith, T. B.; Harrigan, R. J.; Kirschel, A. N.; Buermann, W.; Saatchi, S.; Blumstein, D. T.; de Kort, S. R.; Slabbekoorn, H.
Published Work | 2013 | Evolutionary Applications 6(6), 865–874
Feeding habits of culicine mosquitos in the Cameroon lowland forests based on stable isotopes and blood meal analyses
Njabo, K. Y.; Smith, T. B.; Yohannes, E.
Published Work | 2013 | Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology 5, 6–12
Nonspecific patterns of vector, host and avian malaria parasite associations in a Central African rainforest
Njabo, K. Y.; Cornel, A. J.; Bonneaud, C.; Toffelmier, E.; Sehgal, R. N.; Valkiunas, G.; Russell, A. F.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2010 | Molecular Ecology 20(5), 1049–1061
Human impacts flatten rainforest-savanna gradient and reduce adaptive diversity in a rainforest bird
Freedman, A. H.; Buermann, W.; Mitchard, E. T.; DeFries, R. S.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2010 | PLoS ONE 5(9)
Spatially explicit predictions of blood parasites in a widely distributed African rainforest bird
Sehgal, R. N.; Buermann, W.; Harrigan, R. J.; Bonneaud, C.; Loiseau, C.; Chasar, A.; Sepil, I.; Valkiunas, G.; Iezhova, T.; Saatchi, S.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2010 | Procedings of the Royal Society B 278, 1025–1033
Genomic signals of diversification along ecological gradients in a tropical lizard
Freedman, A. H.; Thomassen, H. A.; Buermann, W.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2010 | Molecular Ecology 19(17), 3773–3788
Breeding and nest site characteristics of the Black-casqued Ceratogymna atrata and White-thighed Ceratogymna cylindricus Hornbill in south-central Cameroon
Stauffer, D.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2009 | Ostrich 2004, 75(3), 79–88
Prevalence and diversity patterns of avian blood parasites in degraded African rainforest habitats
Chasar, A.; Loiseau, C.; Valkiūnas, G.; Iezhova, T.; Smith, T. B.; Sehgal, R. N.
Published Work | 2009 | Molecular Ecology 18(19), 4121–4133
Coquillettidia (Culicidae, Diptera) mosquitoes as new natural vectors of avian malaria in Africa
Njabo, K. Y.; Cornel, A. J.; Sehgal, R. N.; Loiseau, C.; Buermann, W.; Harrigan, R. J.; Pollinger, J.; Valkiūnas, G.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2009 | Malaria Journal 8
Birdsong tuned to the environment: green hylia song varies with elevation, tree cover, and noise
Kirschel, A. N.; Blumstein, D. T.; Cohen, R. E.; Buermann, W.; Smith, T. B.; Slabbekoorn, H.
Published Work | 2009 | Behavioral Ecology 29, 1089–1095
The prevalence of avian Plasmodium is higher in undisturbed tropical forests of Cameroon
Bonneaud, C.; Sepil, I.; Milá, B.; Buermann, W.; Pollinger, J.; Sehgal, R. N.; Valkiūnas, G.; Iezhova, T. A.; Saatchi, S.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2009 | Journal of Tropical Ecology 25, 439–447
Character displacement of song and morphology in African tinkerbirds
Kirschel, A. N.; Blumstein, D. T.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2009 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106, 8256–8261
Effects of deforestation on the prevalence and diversity of blood parasites in the two African rainforest birds
Chasar, A.
Thesis | 2009
Adaptive diversification and anthropogenic impacts on African rainforest biodiversity
Freedman, A.
Thesis | 2009
New malaria parasites of the subgenus Novyella in African rainforest birds, with remarks on their high prevalence, classification and diagnostics
Valkiūnas, G.; Iezhova, T. A.; Loiseau, C.; Chasar, A.; Smith, T. B.; Sehgal, R. N.
Published Work | 2008 | Parasitology Research 104, 1061–1077
Modeling the effects of anthropogenic habitat change on savanna snake invasions into African rainforest
Freedman, A. H.; Buermann, W.; LeBreton, M.; Chirio, L.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2008 | Conservation Biology 23(1), 81-92
New species of haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporidia) from African rainforest birds, with remarks on their classification
Valkiūnas, G.; Iezhova, T. A.; Loiseau, C.; Chasar, A.; Smith, T. B.; Sehgal, R. N.
Published Work | 2008 | Parasitology Research 103, 1213–1228
Hunting of mammals reduced seed removal and dispersal of the Afrotropical tree, Antrocaryon klaineanum (Anacardiaceae).
Wang, B. C.; Sork, V. L.; Leong, M. T.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2007 | Biotropica 39(3), 340–347
An evaluation of fruit availability theory and measurement in an afrotropical rainforest
Fogiel, M.
Thesis | 2007
Molecular evidence for host specificity of parasitic nematode microfilariae in some African rainforest birds
Sehgal, R. N.; Jones, H. I.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2005 | Molecular Ecology 14(13), 3977–3988
Comparative seed shadows of bird-, monkey-, and wind-dispersed trees in a central African tropical rain forest
Clark, C. J.; Poulsen, J. R.; Connor, E. F.; Bolker, B.; Parker, V. T.
Published Work | 2005 | Ecology 86(10), 2684–2694
Evaluating the divergence-with-gene-flow model in natural population: the importance of ecotones in rainforest speciation
Smith, T. B.; Wayne, R. K.; Girman, D.; Bruford, M. W.
Published Work | 2005 | University of Chicago Press: Chicago, Chicago, USA, 148–165
Blood parasites of some West African rainforest birds
Sehgal, R. N.; Jones, H. I.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2005 | Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 67(3), 295–301
Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Leucocytozoide) from West African birds, with descriptions of two species
Jones, H. I.; Sehgal, R. N.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2005 | Journal of Parasitology 91(2), 397–401
Importance of body size in determining dominance hierarchies among diverse tropical frugivores
French, A.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2005 | Biotropic 37(1), 95–100
Fruiting trees as dispersal foci in a semi-deciduous tropical forest
Clark, C. J.; Poulsen, J. R.; Connor, E. F.; Parker, V. T.
Published Work | 2004 | Oecologia 139(1), 66–75
Hornbills in a human-disturbed rainforest: seed dispersal, habitat suitability, and conservation
Wang, B. C.
Thesis | 2004
Aspects of the seed dispersal ecology of Ceratogymna hornbills in Central Africa
Lamperti, A. M.
Thesis | 2004
Community seed rain patterns and a comparison to adult community structure in a West African tropical forest
Hardesty, B. D.; Parker, V. T.
Published Work | 2003 | Plant Ecology 164(1), 49–64
Long-distance movements of frugivorous rainforest hornbills
Holbrook, K. M.; Smith, T. B.; Hardesty, B. D.
Published Work | 2002 | Ecography 25(6), 745–749
Closing the seed dispersal loop
Wang, B. C.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2002 | Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17(8), 379–386
A comparative analysis of PCR-based detection methods for avian malaria
Richard, F. A.; Sehgal, R. N.; Jones, H. I.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2002 | Journal of Parasitology 88(4), 819–822
Aspects of foraging in a diverse tropical frugivore guild: behavioral and nutritional patterns
French, A. R.
Thesis | 2002
Differential resource use by primates and hornbills: implications for seed dispersal
Poulsen, J. R.; Clark, C. J.; Conner, E. F.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2002 | Ecology 83(1), 228–240
The role of arboreal seed dispersal groups on the seed rain of a lowland tropical forest
Clark, C. J.; Poulsen, J. R.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2001 | Biotropica 33(4), 606–620
Seed dispersal by a primate community in the Dja Reserve, Cameroon
Poulsen, J. R.; Clark, C. J.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2001 | Journal of Tropical Ecology 17(6), 787–808
Host specificity and prevalence of Trypanosoma in the African avifauna: a molecular approach
Sehgal, R. N.; Jones, H. I.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2001 | Molecular Ecology 10(9), 2319–2327
Seasonal variation in the feeding ecology of the grey-cheeked mangabay (Lophecebus albigena) in Cameroon
Poulsen, J. R.; Clark, C. J.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 2001 | American Journal of Primatology 54(2), 91–105
Frugivore influence on patterns of seed rain, seed shadows, and forest structure
Clark, C. J.
Thesis | 2001 |
Resource use, seed dispersal, and feeding ecology of primates in Cameroon
Poulsen, J. R.
Thesis | 2000
A test of alternative models of diversification in tropical rainforest: ecological gradients vs. rainforest refugia
Schneider, C.; Smith, T. B.; Larison, B.; Moritz, C.
Published Work | 1999 | roceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 96(24), 13869–13873
Seed dispersal by Ceratogymna hornbills in the Dja Reserve of Cameroon
Whitney, K.; Fogiel, M.; Lamperti, A.; Holbrook, K.; Stauffer, D.; Hardesty, B.D.; Parker, V.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 1998 | Journal of Tropical Ecology 14(3), 351–371
Habitat use and resource tracking by African Ceratogymna hornbills: implications for seed dispersal and forest conservation
Whitney, K.; Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 1998 | American Conservation 1(2), 107–117
Dja Hornbill Project/Projet Calao, 1994-1998
Whitney, K.; Stauffer, D.; Holbrook, K.; French, A.; Poulsen, J.; Smith, T. B.; Fogiel, M.; Lamperti, A.; Hardesty, B.; Wang, B.; Clark, C.; Parker, V.T.
Progress Report | 1998
A role for ecotones in generating rainforest biodiversity
Smith, T. B.; Wayne, R. K.; Girman, D.; Bruford, M. W.
Published Work | 1997 | Science 276(5320), 1855–1857
Adaptive significance of the mega-billed form in the polymorphic finch Black-bellied Seedcracker Pyrenestes ostinus
Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 1997 | Ibis 139(2), 382–387
Ecology of Ceratogymna hornbills: seed dispersal, habitat use, and resource training.
Whitney, K. D.
Thesis | 1996
Comparative breeding biology of the two bill morphs of the Black-bellied Seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus)
Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 1990 | The Auk 107(1), 153–160
Bill size polymorphism and interspecific niche utilization in an African finch
Smith, T. B.
Published Work | 1987 | Nature 329, 717-719