OO God! Thank you very much for your assistance and grace i received.
This research was financially supported by the BIOTA (Biodiversity
Monitoring Transect Analysis) project. We thank the donors for funding this
project.
I am grateful to my supervisor, Professor Brice Sinsin who has guided the
research impulsively despite his multiple academic occupations.
I would like to thank Doctors Achille Assogbadjo and Valentin Kindomihou
for their contributions to improve the scientific value of this dissertation
during its active research phase.
I thank deeply Professors Moses Adedire, Romain Glèlè Kakaï and Rüdiger
Wittig who reviewed this thesis
I am grateful to Professor Marcel Houinato, Doctors Orou Gaoue, Bruno
Djossa, Brice Tenté, Ismaïl Toko, Julien Djègo, Roland Holou and Simon
Ahouansou for their assistance.
I would like to thank all the members of the Laboratory of Applied Ecology
and specially Sylvain Gboyahida. My special thanks also go to the managers
of Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, particularly Mr. Aristide Tèhou who
facilitated my field integration.
I thank Doctors Flora Josiane Chadare, Aida Cuní Sanchez, Emmy De
Caluwé, Steven Runo, Peter Neuenschwander and Tina Kyndt for their
assistance in manuscripts reading.
I thank my colleges Laurent Houessou and Doctors A. Belarmain Fandohan
and Gérard N. Gouwakinnou with who several discussions have been
undertaken; those discussions were insightful and very useful.
I would like to seize this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to my
others colleagues, Julien Avakoudjo, Emeline Assédé, Inès Déléké Koko,
Hypolite Agadjihouédé, Alice Bonou, Christian Toudonou, Solange Edon,
Mérias Kouton, Sylvestre Djagoun, Fortuné Azihou, David Akélé, Wilfried
Bonou and François Adjallala for their regular warm-hearted support.
I am indebted to my parents and particularly my uncle Maxime Yétondji for
his encouragement and moral support in the fulfilment of this dissertation.
I thank sincerely all the members and diacons of the church Assemblies of
God of Mondocomey, and especially my Reverend Pastor François
Aholoukpè and his wife, for their spiritual support. That support has played a
vital role in the fulfilment of this dissertation.
My thanks also go to Godfried Koukoubou, Christian Adjahossou, Odone
Lifam, Linoce Fagnissey, Gratien Tiando and Alfred Oritori who assisted me
during field data collection. I also thank the people living around Pendjari
Biosphere Reserve who participated in this research.