Effectiveness of Protected Areas in Conserving the Highly Hunted Mammal Species as Bushmeat in Southern Benin

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24
Author(s):  
Chabi A.M.S. Djagoun ◽  
Etotépé A. Sogbohossou ◽  
Barthélémy Kassa ◽  
Christian B. Ahouandjinou ◽  
Hugues A. Akpona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Occupancy Model ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
Anthropogenic Habitat ◽  
Lama Forest

Background: The habitat degradation together with fragmentation and illegal hunting represent a major threat for biodiversity conservation in Lama protected areas. Method: We used a combination of questionnaire survey with local communities for ranking the hunted mammal species as bushmeat and track surveys in gridded-cell system of 500x500 m2 (n=268) to assess at what extend the management design, the anthropogenic factors and habitat type affect the occupancy model of those mammal species. Results: Twenty mammal species have been predominantly reported by the local inhabitants to consume bushmeat species and 5 of them have been identified as the most preferable as hunted game mammals. The selection of the preferred habitat among the swampy forest, the dense forest, the tree plantations and cropland for the prioritized game species varies between species but looks similar when grouping in different orders. Some bushmeat species were found to select the more secure habitat (natural forest); suggesting the zoning system in the Lama forest can passively protect those species. However, some species such as T. swinderianus although highly hunted showed preference to anthropogenic habitat, avoiding the well secured core zone in Lama Forest. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the importance of the zoning system with different management objectives in the habitat occupancy model of the highly hunted wildlife species.

scholarly journals Monitoring invasive mammalian predator populations sharing habitat with the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrot Amazona vittata

Oryx ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Engeman ◽  
Desley Whisson ◽  
Jessica Quinn ◽  
Felipe Cano ◽  
Pedro Quiñones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
The World ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Amazona Vittata ◽  
Black Rats

Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrots Amazona vittata are one of the rarest birds in the world. Several exotic mammal species capable of preying on Puerto Rican parrots cohabit the Caribbean National Forest with the only wild population of these parrots. We used tracking plates, monitoring blocks and trapping to index black rats, small Indian mongooses and feral cats in parrot habitat and in public-use areas in the same habitat type. We had high trap success for black rats at all sites (42% of all sites combined), among the highest reported in the world. Rat response to monitoring (nontoxic bait) blocks was universally high, regardless of ground or tree placement. Mongooses were present at all sites, with a greater proportion of plates tracked within the forest than at public-use sites. Cats were present at all forest sites and one of the public-use sites. Presence of the three species did not appear to be linked to human disturbance. Because only 30–40 Puerto Rican parrots survive in the wild, with as few as three pairs nesting in 2002, we concluded that the abundance and pervasiveness of exotic mammalian predators poses a greater threat to the parrots than has been generally acknowledged. This is evidenced by mammalian predation during recent parrot breeding seasons, including six fledglings taken by mongooses and one nest failure from rats during 2000–2003.

scholarly journals Population status of Heptner's markhor Capra falconeri heptneri in Tajikistan: challenges for conservation

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Michel ◽  
Tatjana Rosen Michel ◽  
Abdusattor Saidov ◽  
Khalil Karimov ◽  
Munavvar Alidodov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Population Status ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Illegal Hunting ◽  
Trophy Hunting ◽  
Disjunct Populations

AbstractHeptner's markhor Capra falconeri heptneri is an Endangered wild goat occurring in disjunct populations in southern Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Surveys to determine the total population in Tajikistan were conducted during February–April 2012. A total of 1,018 animals were observed. In most areas, which include state protected areas and family- and community-based conservancies, markhor populations are stable or increasing. Threats include illegal hunting, habitat degradation, competition with livestock and disease transmission. To motivate conservancies economically to protect markhor populations, trophy hunting should be permitted to accommodate the sustainable use of markhor, with revenues distributed in a transparent and equitably shared manner.

scholarly journals Non-volant mammals from the protected areas associated to hydroelectric projects on the eastern slope of the northern Cordillera Central, Colombia

Check List ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 2098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo Sánchez-Giraldo ◽  
Juan M. Daza
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Eastern Slope ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Cordillera Central ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Mammal Conservation ◽  
Voucher Specimens ◽  
Hydroelectric Projects ◽  
San Carlos ◽  
Ongoing Monitoring

The northern part of the Cordillera Central in Colombia has been recognized as a region of particular relevancy in vertebrates biodiversity. We provide a list of non-volant mammal species in Jaguas and San Carlos, two protected areas around hydroelectric projects on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Central in Antioquia. As part of an ongoing monitoring project, we obtained records from a standardized survey in 2011 and sporadic surveys in 2014–2015 (capture and non-invasive methods), and from the revision of voucher specimens. From 132 records we generated a list of 34 species, 22 species in Jaguas and 27 in San Carlos, belonging to 20 families and seven orders. We record the occurrence of four endemic and four threatened species, including the endemic and Endangered Tamarin, Saguinus leucopus, highlighting the importance of these protected areas for mammal conservation in this highly diverse region. 

scholarly journals Unfenced Borders Cause Differences in Vegetation and Fauna Between Protected and Unprotected Areas in a Tropical Savanna

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291987037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Nyamukuru ◽  
John-Arvid Grytnes ◽  
John R. S. Tabuti ◽  
Ørjan Totland
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
National Park ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Land Use Type ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Species Composition Of Vegetation ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Protected areas generally occur within a matrix of intensively human-modified landscapes. As a way to maintain the biodiversity in these areas, enclosure by fencing is often preferred. This strategy, however, is costly and little is known about the effectiveness of the alternative of unfenced borders on the vegetation and fauna. The objectives of this study are to assess whether there is a distinct difference in biodiversity and composition of plants and mammals between the protected Lake Mburo National Park and the adjacent ranchlands across an unfenced border and to determine the associations between vegetation and faunal species over the same border. We recorded herbaceous vegetation, woody vegetation, and mammal species composition in plots 300 to 500 m away from the border both inside the protected area and in the adjacent ranchlands. The species composition of herbs and mammals in the protected area differ from the adjacent ranchlands, but there is no difference for trees and shrubs. After accounting for land-use type, distance from the border did not significantly account for any additional variation. We also find a correlation between the species composition of vegetation and fauna. Our results suggest that unfenced borders around protected areas create a clear effect.

The Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Dartmouth Dam Inundation Area

1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Thomas ◽  
AM Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammal ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Vertebrate Fauna ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
Anuran Species ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽  
Inundation Area ◽  
Small Mammal Species

A survey of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the Dartmouth Dam inundation area has shown the presence of 24 mammal, 100 bird, 24 reptile, and 10 anuran species. Some aspects of their ecology, including habitat occupancy, are discussed, and the trapping success for eight small mammal species in different habitats is compared. A zoogeographic analysis of the fauna demonstrates its heterogeneous and transitional nature, and it is probable that the unique community will be totally lost from the Mitta Mitta River Valley.

The diet of the greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga) in Belarusian Polesie

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valery Dombrovski
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Weight Category ◽  
Arvicola Amphibius ◽  
Vipera Berus ◽  
Leading Position ◽  
Emberiza Schoeniclus

The diet of the greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga) in Belarusian PolesieDuring 1999-2009 the food remains from the nests of 43 breeding pairs of the greater spotted eagle in Belarusian Polesie (southern Belarus) were collected. 797 prey items were determined, including mammals (40%, 15 species andSylvaemussp., 4 orders), birds (36%, 35 species andPhylloscopussp., Corvidae sp., 11 orders), evertebrates (16%, Coleoptera, Odonatoptera, Gastropoda), reptiles (6%, 4 species andLacertasp.), amphibians (1%,Ranasp.) and fish (1%, 3 species). Small rodents from the genusMicrotus(M. arvalisandM. oeconomus) as well asArvicola amphibiuswere the most numerous mammal species, followed byErinaceus roumanicusandTalpa europaea.Rallidae (mostlyRallus aquaticus, Porzana porzanaandCrex crex), waders (mainlyGalinago gallinago), dabbling ducks (mainlyAnas platyrhynchosandAnas querquedula), Galliformes (Lyrurustetrix), Ciconiiformes (Ardea cinereaandBotaurus stellaris) were the most numerous bird prey species.Emberiza schoenicluswas predominated prey species among Passerines. Reptiles were frequently represented by snakes (mainlyNatrix natrix, but alsoVipera berusandCoronella austriaca). Biomass predominance in diet of the greater spotted eagles is as follows: birds (67.9%), mammals (25.3%), reptiles (3.4%), fish (3.0%) and amphibians (0.3%). Prey species with a body mass of 51-200 g (41.9%) and 11-50 g (38.3%) were predominant in the food spectrum of the greater spotted eagles. In the weight category of 1-50g, mammals were dominant, but from the categories of 51-200 g and heavier, birds occupied the leading position. The prey which made the largest contribution in total biomass of the greater spotted eagle were in the prey weight category from 601 to 1200 g (34%), then from 51 to 200 g (24%), from 11 to 50 g (16.6%) and more than 1200 g (16%). The species of the genusMicrotuswere equally represented in prey set of the greater spotted eagle in habitats with different degrees of anthropogenic transformation (24% in each habitat type). The share ofArvicola amphibiusin the diet of the greater spotted eagle decreased from 12% in natural habitats to 4% in transformed habitats; the share of birds decreased from 41% to 26% correspondingly. The share of Insectivora and Evertebrata, on the contrary, increased to 3% and 11% in natural habitats and to 6% and 27% in transformed habitats correspondingly.

scholarly journals Surveys of lions Panthera leo in protected areas in Zimbabwe yield disturbing results: what is driving the population collapse?

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary J. Groom ◽  
Paul J. Funston ◽  
Roseline Mandisodza
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Crocuta Crocuta ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Panthera Leo ◽  
Prey Biomass ◽  
African Lion ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Biomass Availability ◽  
Hunting Quotas

AbstractThe African lion Panthera leo is an iconic species but it has faced dramatic range reductions and possibly as few as 30,000 individuals remain in the wild. In the absence of detailed ground-based surveys, lion populations may be estimated using regression models based on prey biomass availability but these often overestimate lion densities as a result of a variety of compounding factors. Anthropogenic factors can be key drivers of lion population dynamics and in areas with high human impact lion numbers may be significantly lower than those predicted by prey biomass models. This was investigated in two protected areas in Zimbabwe, where lion population densities were found to be significantly lower than would have been predicted by prey-availability models. High hunting quotas either within or around the protected areas are the most likely cause of the low lion numbers, with quotas in some areas being as high as seven lions per 1,000 km2 in some years. Other factors, including persecution, poisoning and problem animal control, as well as disease and competition with spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta, are also discussed.

scholarly journals Protected areas in boreal Canada: a baseline and considerations for the continued development of a representative and effective reserve network

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Andrew ◽  
Michael A. Wulder ◽  
Jeffrey A. Cardille
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Boreal Zone ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Disturbance Regimes ◽  
Management Interventions

Boreal forests maintain regionally important biodiversity and globally important ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and freshwater resources. Many boreal systems have limited anthropogenic disturbances and are preserved, in effect, to date largely by their harsh climates and remoteness. As of 2011, almost 10% of Canada is subject to some manner of formal protection, with 4.5% of this protected area found within the boreal zone. The management of existing parks and protected areas (PPAs) is shared amongst many federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions. Although there are currently low levels of anthropogenic development in some portions of the boreal zone (especially the north), if expansion of protected areas is of interest, there are challenges to traditional PPA networks that may be more prominent in the boreal zone than elsewhere: (1) the boreal zone is home to charismatic mammal species with area requirements much larger than typical PPAs; (2) the boreal zone is characterized by natural disturbance regimes that impact large areas; and (3) projected changes to climate for the boreal zone are among the greatest in the world, creating temporal considerations for conservation planning exercises. There is currently no PPA assessment specific to boreal Canada. To address this lack of an assessment, we developed a conservation gap analysis of the current PPA system with respect to a variety of environmental surrogates (ecozones, land cover, vegetation productivity, and landscape structure). The amount of formally protected land varied within each surrogate, with few commonly reported features meeting national or international conservation targets. Furthermore, few reserves met the areal requirements that have been previously recommended to protect large mammals or accommodate the disturbance regimes present. We also discuss considerations and implications of area-based versus value-based protection objectives. While recognizing that there are still scientific challenges around understanding and evaluating the effectiveness of PPAs, based upon our review and assessment, the following considerations should inform conservation options for the boreal zone: (1) representation of the distribution of natural features within the PPA network; (2) effective maintenance of habitat requirements and spatial resilience to both cyclical and directional changes in spatial patterns through large, connected reserves; and (3) implementation of sustainable forest management practices (where applicable) throughout the broader landscape, as traditional on-reserve protection is unlikely to be sufficient to meet conservation goals. The Canadian boreal is unique in possessing large tracts of inaccessible forested lands that are not subject to management interventions, thereby offering functions similar to protected lands. The question of how to more formally integrate these lands into the existing PPA network requires further consideration. Further, the important temporal role of landscape dynamics in designing an effective PPA needs to be further studied as well as development of a better understanding of design needs in the context of a changing climate.

scholarly journals Habitat occupancy of sloth bear Melursus ursinus in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajan Paudel ◽  
Rabin Kadariya ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽  
Naresh Subedi ◽  
Mariko Sashika ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Geographic Ranges ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Sloth Bear ◽  
Conservation Threats

Mammals around the world face serious threats and experience massive decline in their populations and geographic ranges. The sloth bear has become extinct from two of five range countries and the existing population face serious conservation threats. Despite being endangered in Nepal, decades of conservation obliviousness have hindered their conservation and management. We assessed the distribution and habitat use by sloth bears in relation to landscape, environmental, and anthropogenic factors in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. We conducted a sign survey from March-June 2020 in 4*4 km2 grids (n=45) in a checkerboard approach. An observation was spatially replicated four times by recording information in four continuous search trails of 1 km each. We recorded presence/absence of sloth bears, termites, fruits and disturbance in the field and extracted information on tree cover, terrain ruggedness and vegetation index from remotely sensed image of the study area. The data was analyzed using single species-single season occupancy method in PRESENCE software. By using repeated observations these models account for imperfect detectability of species to provide robust estimates of species occupancy. Averaged habitat occupancy estimate obtained from the best models was Ѱ = 0.53 ± 0.04SE with detection probability p = 0.44 ± 0.1SE. Selection of variable based on summed AIC weight from the top models (AIC<2) showed that presence of termites (ƩWi=0.66) significantly influenced sloth bear habitat occupancy. Habitat occupancy was positively influenced by termites followed by fruits, disturbance, terrain ruggedness and vegetation productivity, whereas, it was negatively influenced by tree cover. We suggest that future conservation interventions and action plans aimed at sloth bear management must adequately consider these requirements and issues.

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