Are mammal communities occurring at a regional scale reliably represented in “hub” bushmeat markets? A case study with Bayelsa State (Niger Delta, Nigeria)

摘要: Monitoring of bushmeat markets has traditionally been seen as a source faunistic and ecological data on mammal communities in West Africa. Nonetheless, it is largely unexplored whether datasets coming from monitoring large “hub” towns can reliably picture the faunas community compositions at local level. Here, Swali market Bayelsa State, Nigeria, that one largest Niger Delta, was monitored for six months 2013–2014. Data were compared with those collected during regular field surveys five protected forests situated within 15 km radius market. A total 21 species recorded versus 29 forests. The trade more intense by wet season. There statistically significant linear relationship between mean weight sold its price. considerable portion occur did not samples, including very rare smallsized species. However, abundance common positively related to their apparent forest reserves. Therefore, concluded large-sized depict whole faunal composition structure mammals Africa, although these types are sufficient characterize distribution regional scale.