% pubman genre = article @article{item_2583490, title = {{Guns, germs, and trees determine density and distribution of gorillas and chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa}}, author = {Strindberg, Samantha and Maisels, Fiona and Williamson, Elizabeth A. and Blake, Stephen and Stokes, Emma J. and Aba{\textquoteright}a, Rostand and Abitsi, Gaspard and Agbor, Anthony and Ambahe, Ruffin D. and Bakabana, Parfait C. and Bechem, Martha and Berlemont, Antoine and Semboli, Bruno Bokoto de and Boundja, Patrick R. and Bout, Nicolas and Breuer, Thomas and Campbell, Genevieve and Wachter, Pauwel De and Akou, Marc Ella and Mba, Fidel Esono and Feistner, Anna T. C. and Fosso, Bernard and Fotso, Roger and Greer, David and Inkamba-Nkulu, Clement and Iyenguet, Calixte F. and Jeffery, Kathryn J. and Kokangoye, Max and K{\"u}hl, Hjalmar S. and Latour, Stephanie and Madzoke, Bola and Makoumbou, Calixte and Malanda, Guy-Aim{\'e} F. and Malonga, Richard and Mbolo, Victor and Morgan, David B. and Motsaba, Prosper and Moukala, Gabin and Mowawa, Brice S. and Murai, Mizuki and Ndzai, Christian and Nishihara, Tomoaki and Nzooh, Zacharie and Pintea, Lilian and Pokempner, Amy and Rainey, Hugo J. and Rayden, Tim and Ruffler, Heidi and Sanz, Crickette M. and Todd, Angelique and Vanleeuwe, Hilde and Vosper, Ashley and Warren, Ymke and Wilkie, David S.}, language = {eng}, issn = {2375-2548}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aar2964}, year = {2018}, abstract = {{We present a range-wide assessment of sympatric western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla and central chimpanzees Pan troglodytes troglodytes using the largest survey data set ever assembled for these taxa: 59 sites in five countries surveyed between 2003 and 2013, totaling 61,000 person-days of fieldwork. We used spatial modeling to investigate major drivers of great ape distribution and population trends. We predicted density across each taxon{\textquoteright}s geographic range, allowing us to estimate overall abundance: 361,900 gorillas and 128,700 chimpanzees in Western Equatorial Africa{\textemdash}substantially higher than previous estimates. These two subspecies represent close to 99{\textpercent} of all gorillas and one-third of all chimpanzees. Annual population decline of gorillas was estimated at 2.7{\textpercent}, maintaining them as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List. We quantified the threats to each taxon, of which the three greatest were poaching, disease, and habitat degradation. Gorillas and chimpanzees are found at higher densities where forest is intact, wildlife laws are enforced, human influence is low, and disease impacts have been low. Strategic use of the results of these analyses could conserve the majority of gorillas and chimpanzees. With around 80{\textpercent} of both subspecies occurring outside protected areas, their conservation requires reinforcement of anti-poaching efforts both inside and outside protected areas (particularly where habitat quality is high and human impact is low), diligent disease control measures (including training, advocacy, and research into Ebola virus disease), and the preservation of high-quality habitat through integrated land-use planning and implementation of best practices by the extractive and agricultural industries.{\textless}br{\textgreater}We quantify the impacts of poaching, Ebola, and habitat degradation on western lowland gorillas and central chimpanzees.{\textless}br{\textgreater}We quantify the impacts of poaching, Ebola, and habitat degradation on western lowland gorillas and central chimpanzees.}}, journal = {{Science Advances}}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, eid = {eaar2964}, }