# Impact of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) Occupancy and Habitat Use in Monte Alén National Park, Equatorial Guinea

## TL;DR

This study explores how mandrills in a national park are affected by water sources and hunting, showing they avoid hunting areas and prefer riparian habitats.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into mandrill habitat use influenced by both environmental and anthropogenic factors in a protected area.

## Key findings

- Mandrill occupancy was significantly higher near water sources, emphasizing riparian habitat importance.
- Mandrills were more likely to occupy areas farther from hunting camps, indicating avoidance behavior.
- Occupancy showed a patchy distribution, with most detections in the northeast of the park.

## Abstract

Understanding the ecological and anthropogenic factors shaping primate distribution is critical for effective conservation, particularly for species threatened by habitat loss and hunting. This study investigates factors influencing mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) occupancy in Monte Alén National Park (MANP), Equatorial Guinea, a protected area with diverse habitats. Using 35 camera traps over 10,858 trap‐days, we recorded 79 mandrill detections (48 in the wet season, 31 in the dry season) and estimated naïve occupancy at 24%. We applied single‐species, single‐season occupancy models to evaluate the effects of environmental and anthropogenic factors, including proximity to water bodies, hunting camps, villages, park boundaries, and terrain slope. Occupancy probability decreased with distance from water, indicating dependence on riparian habitats, while slope had no major effect. Proximity to hunting camps also influenced mandrill distribution, with higher occupancy observed farther from these areas. Seasonal analysis suggested that mandrills concentrated in resource‐rich areas during the wet season, highlighting flexible, site‐specific habitat use. These results emphasize the combined influence of environmental resources and human pressures on mandrill space use. Effective conservation should focus on protecting critical habitats near water sources and regulating human activity around hunting areas. More broadly, our findings improve understanding of how ecological, anthropogenic, and socioeconomic factors shape primate distribution, offering insights relevant for the conservation of other vulnerable species across Central Africa.

Camera trap data showed that mandrills were not found evenly distributed across MANP. Mandrill occupancy decreased when distance to water bodies increased. Whereas, when distance to hunting camps increased, mandrill occupancy decreased.

Mandrill occupancy in Monte Alén National Park was significantly higher near to water sources, highlighting the ecological importance of riparian zones.Mandrills were more likely to occupy areas farther from hunting camps, suggesting avoidance behavior in response to hunting pressure.No significant seasonal variation in occupancy was detected, likely due to the region's consistently high rainfall and year‐round fruit availability.Mandrills exhibited a patchy distribution across the park, with most detections in the northeast, suggesting localized environmental or anthropogenic influences.

Mandrill occupancy in Monte Alén National Park was significantly higher near to water sources, highlighting the ecological importance of riparian zones.

Mandrills were more likely to occupy areas farther from hunting camps, suggesting avoidance behavior in response to hunting pressure.

No significant seasonal variation in occupancy was detected, likely due to the region's consistently high rainfall and year‐round fruit availability.

Mandrills exhibited a patchy distribution across the park, with most detections in the northeast, suggesting localized environmental or anthropogenic influences.