Geo-Spatial Modelling of Habitat Suitability of wildlife species of Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary

SUMMARYThe brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata), or woylie, is a medium-sized macropod marsupial that has undergone a rapid and substantial decline throughout its home range in the Upper Warren region of Western Australia over a period of approximately 5 years. As part of an investigation into possible causes of the decline a morphologically distinct Trypanosoma sp. was discovered by light microscopy in the declining population but was absent in a stable population within the Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary. Further investigations employing molecular methods targeting variations in the 18s rRNA gene determined that the trypanosome was novel and was also present within the Karakamia population albeit at a much lower overall prevalence and individual parasitaemia levels. Phylogenetic analysis suggests the novel Trypanosoma sp. to be closely related to other trypanosomes isolated from native Australian wildlife species. Although it appears unlikely that the parasite is solely responsible for the decline in woylie population size, it may (singularly or in conjunction with other infectious agents) predispose woylies to increased mortality.

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An Analysis of Insectivory in Cross River Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) in the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Cameroon

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.5296/emsd.v8i2.12807 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Efuetlancha T. Atem ◽

Tchamba N. Martin ◽

Enowkewan T. Allen ◽

Mbunya F. Nkemnyi

Keyword(s):

Food Availability ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Cross River ◽

Musa Sp ◽

Wide Range ◽

Significant Difference

Gorillas have a wide range of food items in their diet; fruits, leaves, shoot, roots, piths, and insects hence are considered as generalists (Caldecott & Ferris, 2005; Inskipp, 2005). There exists some wide dietary flexibility between gorilla species (western and eastern gorillas). The main focus of the study was investigating on Cross River gorilla (CRG) insectivory and its influence on habitat range suitability at the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary (THWS). This was based on the hypothesis that insectivory is a determinant to habitat suitability in Cross River gorillas. Reconnaissance survey conducted resulted to 115 gorilla signs recorded amongst which were 19 gorilla dung samples. CRG habitat was characterized by indirect signs recorded within various vegetation type, canopy cover, slope and elevation. This was in order to understand and relate habitat range and food availability. Insect food availability was assessed based on the number of insect/ant mount recorded along CRG trails. Data analysis included Kolmogorov sminorv normality test and non-parametric Spearman’s Rho correlation test to measure relationships between variables and Kruskal-Wallis test to compare groups for significant difference. Cross tabulations were accompanied with Cramers’ V-test in order to measure the level of association between 2 categorical variables most especially in cases where they were nominal. Statistical observations were discussed at the 95% Confidence Level (Alpha=0.05). Fecal analysis revealed insect foods amongst fruits (Afromomum sp., Musa sp., Marantacae sp. etc.), and leaves in THWS CRG. Results showed that insect consumption seemed to decrease with increased altitude. The weak and negative relation in number of insect parts and altitude range permits that the hypothesis of this study be accepted. Concurrently, abundance of insect parts in feces was not necessarily dependent on altitude but dependent on age, hence adopting the hypothesis that insectivory is a determinant to habitat suitability in Cross River gorillas. This study is the very first confirmation that CRGs feed on insects; Dorylus ant and Macrotermes sp. and Cubitermes sp.

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Spatial modelling of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani s.l. (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) habitat suitability in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz ◽

10.1590/s0074-02762008000700005 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 103 (7) ◽

pp. 653-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Peter Zeilhofer ◽

Olga Patrícia Kummer ◽

Emerson Soares dos Santos ◽

Ana Lúcia Maria Ribeiro ◽

Nanci Akemi Missawa

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Spatial Modelling ◽

The State ◽

Mato Grosso

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Development of tiger habitat suitability model using geospatial tools—a case study in Achankmar Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWLS), Chhattisgarh India

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-008-0455-7 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 155 (1-4) ◽

pp. 555-567 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. Singh ◽

P. K. Joshi ◽

M. Kumar ◽

P. P. Dash ◽

B. D. Joshi

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Habitat Suitability Model ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Geospatial Tools

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Predicted declines in suitable habitat for greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) under future climate and land use change scenarios

10.22541/au.162261636.63962130/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ganesh Pant ◽

Tek Maraseni ◽

Armando Apan ◽

Benjamin Allen

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

R Package ◽

Species Distribution Modelling ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Wildlife Species

Aim Rapidly changing climate is likely to modify the spatial distribution of both flora and fauna. Land use change continues to alter the availability and quality of habitat and further intensifies the effects of climate change on wildlife species. We used an ensemble modelling approach to predict changes in habitat suitability for an iconic wildlife species, greater one-horned rhinoceros due to the combined effects of climate and land use changes. Location Nepal. Methods We compiled an extensive database on current rhinoceros distribution and selected nine ecologically meaningful environmental variables for developing ensemble models of habitat suitability using seven different species distribution modelling techniques in the BIOMOD2 R package; and we did this under current climatic conditions and then projected them onto two possible climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSp5-8.5) and two different time frames (2050 and 2070). Results Out of seven algorithms, random forest performed the best, and four environmental variables — distance from grasslands, distance from wetlands, annual precipitation, and slope, contributed the most in the model. The ensemble model estimated the current suitable habitat of rhinoceros to be 1,875 km2, about 1.3% of the total area of Nepal. The future habitat suitability under the lowest and highest emission scenarios was estimated to be: (1) 1,637 km2 and 1,417 km2 in 2050; and (2) 1,562 km2 and 1,301 km2 in 2070, respectively. Main conclusions Our results suggest that nearly one-third of the current rhinoceros habitat would become unsuitable within a period of 50 years, with the predicted declines being influenced to a greater degree by climatic changes than land use changes. We have recommended several measures to moderate these impacts, including relocation of the proposed Nijgad International Airport given that a considerable portion of potential rhinoceros habitat will be lost if the airport is constructed on the currently proposed site.

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Development of landscape-level habitat suitability models for ten wildlife species in the central hardwoods region

10.2737/nrs-gtr-4 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Chadwick D. Rittenhouse ◽

William D. Dijak ◽

Frank R. III Thompson ◽

Joshua J. Millspaugh

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

Central Hardwoods ◽

Landscape Level

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Wildlife and human use of buffer-zone areas in a wildlife sanctuary

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr09132 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 466 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sukanda Jotikapukkana ◽

Åke Berg ◽

Anak Pattanavibool

Keyword(s):

Human Activities ◽

Buffer Zone ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Buffer Zones ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

Human Use ◽

Sambar Deer ◽

Zone Edge

Context. Buffer zones are supposed to serve the dual purpose of ‘extension buffering’, or an extension of core habitat areas, and ‘socio buffering’ to provide goods and services to humans; however, few studies have evaluated both human use of buffer zones and the occurrence of wildlife. Aims. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of human disturbance on wildlife by recording the use of the 4-km-wide buffer zone of Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKKWS), Thailand, by humans and domestic animals. Methods. Occurrence of signs of large mammals were recorded along 37 transects and relationships among distance to settlements, human activities, occurrence of domestic animals and different wildlife species were analysed. Key results. In total, 210 interviewed respondents from adjacent villages all used the buffer zone, and the transect survey revealed that a large proportion of the plots (71%) were used by humans and/or domestic animals. The frequency of human use decreased linearly with distance from the buffers-zone edge, whereas the use by cattle decreased rapidly at a distance of 2000 m from the buffer-zone edge. In general, the HKKWS buffer zone was a suitable habitat for several wildlife species. Sambar deer and banteng occurred in >25% of the plots. The proportion of plots with signs of sambar deer, banteng and elephant was negatively associated with the proportion of plots with signs of domestic animals, whereas the proportion of plots with signs of common muntjac was negatively associated with the proportion of plots with signs of human activities. Conclusions. The results from the present study suggest that the 4-km buffer zone in HKKWS reduces the impact of both humans and domestic animals. Implications. The size of human populations, restrictions for grazing domestic animals and habitat quality are suggested to be factors of importance for establishment of well designed buffer zones.

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The Value of Private Non-Industrial Forestland for Wildlife Species Conservation

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-fr405-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Shelly A. Johnson ◽

Timm Kroeger ◽

Josh Horn ◽

Alison E. Adams ◽

Damian C. Adams

Keyword(s):

Animal Species ◽

Human Life ◽

Economic Value ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Fact Sheet ◽

Monetary Value ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

Wildlife Viewing ◽

Animal Habitat

Animals in Florida provide a variety of benefits to people, from recreation (fishing, hunting, or wildlife viewing) to protection of human life and property (oysters and corals provide reef structures that help protect coasts from erosion and flooding). By measuring the economic value of these benefits, we can assign a monetary value to the habitats that sustain these species and assess the value that is lost when development or other human-based activities degrade animal habitat. This 5-page fact sheet presents the results of a study that assessed the value of protecting five animal species in Florida and showed the economic value of protecting animal habitat.

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