Utility of Human Footprint Pressure Mapping for Large Carnivore Conservation: The Kafue-Zambezi Interface

Proxies and indicators to monitor cumulative human pressures provide useful tools to model change and understanding threshold pressures at which species can persist, are extirpated, or might recolonize human-impacted landscapes. We integrated modelling and field observations of human pressure variables to generate a site-specific, fine scale Human Footprint Pressure map for 39,000 km2 of rangelands at the Kafue–Zambezi interface—a key linkage in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. We then modelled Human Footprint Pressure against empirically derived occurrence data for lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) to generate Human Footprint Pressure threshold ranges at which each species were persisting or extirpated within ten wildlife managed areas linking Kafue National Park to the Zambezi River. Results overcame many limitations inherent in existing large-scale Human Footprint Pressure models, providing encouraging direction for this approach. Human Footprint Pressure thresholds were broadly similar to existing studies, indicating this approach is valid for site- and species-specific modelling. Model performance would improve as additional datasets become available and with improved understanding of how asymmetrical and nonlinear threshold responses to footprint pressure change across spatial-temporal scales. However, our approach has broader utility for local and region-wide conservation planning where mapping and managing human disturbance will help in managing carnivore species within and without protected area networks.

Chaos Control and Stabilization of a PID Controlled Buck Converter Using the Spotted Hyena Optimizer

The voltage controlled buck converter by constant-frequency pulse-width modulation in continuous conduction mode gives rise to a variety of nonlinear behaviors depending on the circuit parameters values, which complicate their analysis and control. In this paper, a description of the DC/DC buck converter and an overview of some of its chaotic dynamics is presented. A solution based on the optimized PID controller is suggested to eliminate the observed nonlinear phenomena and to enhance the dynamics of the converter. The parameters of the controller are optimized with the Spotted Hyena Optimizer (SHO) which uses the sum of the error between the reference voltage and the output voltage as well as the error between the values of the inductor current in every switch opening instant to determine the fitness of each solution. The simulations results in MATLAB proved the efficiency of the proposed solution.

A Novel MPPT Design for a Partially Shaded PV System Using Spotted Hyena Optimization Algorithm

Partial shading is a common problem in photovoltaic (PV) systems, known for its difficulty. Numerous attempts have been conducted to mitigate this problem. Some of these efforts deploy metaheuristic optimization with a view to tracking the multiple-peak P–V curve in a partial shading PV system. Hence, this paper proposes a novel metaheuristic algorithm to track the maximum power point of PV systems using the Spotted Hyena Optimization (SHO) algorithm. When evaluated, the SHO algorithm proved to be very fast, robust, and accurate in standard conditions, Partial Shading Conditions (PSCs), and irradiance variations. Also, the results reveal a remarkable improvement in the performance when we compare the SHO algorithm with the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) algorithm and the Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm.

Modelling Multi-Species Connectivity at the Kafue-Zambezi Interface: Implications for Transboundary Carnivore Conservation

Linking wildlife areas with corridors facilitating species dispersal between core habitats is a key intervention to reduce the deleterious effects of population isolation. Large heterogeneous networks of areas managed for wildlife protection present site- and species-scale complexity underpinning the scope and performance of proposed corridors. In Southern Africa, the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area seeks to link Kafue National Park to a cluster of wildlife areas centered in Namibia and Botswana. To assess and identify potential linkages on the Zambian side, we generated a high-resolution land cover map and combined empirical occurrence data for Lions (Panthera leo), Leopards (Panthera pardus) and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) to build habitat suitability maps. We then developed four connectivity models to map potential single and multi-species corridors between Kafue and the Zambezi River border with Namibia. Single and multi-species connectivity models selected corridors follow broadly similar pathways narrowing significantly in central-southern areas of the Kafue-Zambezi interface, indicating a potential connectivity bottleneck. Capturing the full extent of human disturbance and barriers to connectivity remains challenging, suggesting increased risk to corridor integrity than modelled here. Notwithstanding model limitations, these data provide important results for land use planners at the Kafue-Zambezi Interface, removing much speculations from existing connectivity narratives. Failure to control human disturbance and secure corridors will leave Kafue National Park, Zambia’s majority component in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, isolated.

Lion and spotted hyena distributions within a buffer area of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem

Most large carnivore populations are declining due to anthropogenic activities including direct persecution, prey depletion, habitat loss and degradation. protected areas (PAs) can help maintain viable large carnivore populations; however, anthropogenic activities occurring near and within PA borders or edges can reduce their effectiveness. We investigated the influence of edge effects on abundance of lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Maswa Game Reserve (MGR), a part of the Serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania. We conducted repeated call-ins to attract and enumerate lions and hyenas at 20 stations in MGR during June–July 2017. We used N-mixture models to estimate hyena and lion abundance in relation to land cover and distance from the south-western MGR borders which are adjacent to villages. We found lowest lion and hyena abundances by the south-western border, with abundance of both species increasing toward the eastern border adjacent to Serengeti National Park. Lions were uniformly distributed among land covers whereas hyenas were more abundant in woodlands. We suggest that reduced lion and hyena abundance near human settlements was in response to depleted prey, due to human actions. We recommend ecologically compatible land uses and effective border patrols to mitigate these adverse effects.

SHANN: an IoT and machine-learning-assisted edge cross-layered routing protocol using spotted hyena optimizer

In the case of new technology application, the cognitive radio network (CRN) addresses the bandwidth shortfall and the fixed spectrum problem. The method for CRN routing, however, often encounters issues with regard to road discovery, diversity of resources and mobility. In this paper, we present a reconfigurable CRN-based cross-layer routing protocol with the purpose of increasing routing performance and optimizing data transfer in reconfigurable networks. Recently developed spotted hyena optimizer (SHO) is used for tuning the hyperparameters of machine-learning models. The system produces a distributor built with a number of tasks, such as load balance, quarter sensing and the development path of machine learning. The proposed technique is sensitive to traffic and charges, as well as a series of other network metrics and interference (2bps/Hz/W average). The tests are performed with classic models that demonstrate the residual energy and strength of the resistant scalability and resource.