Landscape Characteristics Influence Ranging Behavior of Asian Elephants at The Human-Wildlands Interface in Myanmar

ContextAsian elephant numbers are declining across much of their range driven largely by serious threats from land use change resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation. Myanmar, holding critical range for the species, is undergoing major developments due to recent sociopolitical changes. To effectively manage and conserve the remaining populations of endangered elephants in the country, it is crucial to understand their ranging behavior.ObjectivesOur objectives were to (1) estimate the sizes of dry, wet and annual ranges of free ranging elephants in Myanmar; and quantify the relationship between dry season (the period when human-elephant interactions are the most likely to occur) range size and configurations of agriculture and natural vegetation within the range, and 2) evaluate how percentage of agriculture within dry core range (50% AKDE range) of elephants relates to their daily distance traveled.MethodsWe used autocorrelated kernel density estimator (AKDE) based on a continuous-time movement modeling (ctmm) framework to estimate dry season (26 ranges from 22 different individuals), wet season (12 ranges from 10 different individuals), and annual range sizes (8 individuals), and reported the 95%, 50% AKDE, and 95% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) range sizes. We assessed how landscape characteristics influenced range size based on a broad array of 48 landscape metrics characterizing aspects of vegetation, water, and human features and their juxtaposition in the study areas. To identify the most relevant landscape metrics and simplify our candidate set of informative metrics, we relied on exploratory factor analysis and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Based on this analysis we adopted a final set of metrics into our regression analysis. In a multiple regression framework, we developed candidate models to explain the variation in AKDE dry season range sizes based on the previously identified, salient metrics of landscape composition. ResultsElephant dry season ranges were highly variable averaging 792.0 km2 and 184.2 km2 for the 95% and 50% AKDE home ranges, respectively. We found both the shape and spatial configuration of agriculture and natural vegetation patches within an individual elephant’s range play a significant role in determining the size of its range. We also found that elephants are moving more (larger energy expenditure) in ranges with higher percentages of agricultural area.ConclusionOur results provide baseline information on elephant spatial requirements and the factors affecting them in Myanmar. This information is important for advancing future land use planning that takes into account space-use requirements for elephants. Failing to do so may further endanger already declining elephant populations in Myanmar and across the species’ range.

Home range size in central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) from Loango National Park, Gabon

Ranging behavior has been studied extensively in eastern (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) and western (P. t. verus) chimpanzees, but relatively little is known regarding home ranges of the other two subspecies (P. t. ellioti; P. t. troglodytes). In this study, we determined the home range size and space use of a habituated community (Rekambo) of central chimpanzees living in a habitat mosaic in Loango National Park, Gabon. Data on travel routes were collected during follows between January 2017 and April 2019 (N = 670,616 relocations, collected over 640 days and 5690 h of observation). We used three methods for calculating home range size (minimum convex polygon, kernel density estimation, and biased random bridges). We compare our estimates to those obtained from prior genetic and camera trap studies of the Rekambo community and contrast them with estimates from other chimpanzee communities of the four chimpanzee subspecies. Depending on the methodology used, the home range size of the Rekambo community ranged between 27.64 and 59.03 km2. The location of the center of the home range remained relatively stable over the last decade, while the overall size decreased. The Rekambo home range is, therefore, one of the largest documented so far for chimpanzees outside savannah-woodland habitats. We discuss several explanations, including the presence of savannah, interspecies competition, and intercommunity interactions.

Where to go when all options are terrible: Ranging behavior of sloths in central Amazonian flooded igapó forests

Ranging behaviors performed by animals are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. For herbivorous mammals, seasonality in forage production is considered to be the main driver of movement patterns. Here, we investigated the home range and movement in one of the most abundant herbivores in the Americas, and their relationship with plant phenology in an Amazon igapó - a seasonally-flooded riverine forests with strongly-pulsed leaf-production phenology. Using a combination of telemetry and phenological analysis, the study recorded movement patterns of five brown throated three toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825) over a six months period, and related these to seasonal and within-forest differences in food availability via monitoring young leaf production of 570 trees. All monitored animals were shown to be permanently resident within igapó flooded forest, maintaining their home range even during flood periods when most trees lacked leaves. We found that seasonal variation in leaf production had no effect on the extent of displacement of the sloths. Accordingly, for herbivores with low metabolism, variation in young leaves availability may not be the main driver of their ranging behavior. In addition, an arboreal habit and well-developed swimming capacity allow igapó sloths to occupy a niche ecologically inaccessible to other mammals.

Home Range and Excursive Post-breeding Movements of Eurasian Eagle-Owls Revealed by GPS Satellite Transmitters

ABSTRACT Investigating space use of wild birds provides important knowledge of bird behavior and ecology, which is crucial in the management and conservation of threatened species. In the present study, we used GPS satellite telemetry to investigate space use and movements of seven adult Eurasian Eagle-Owls (Bubo bubo) in Norway during breeding and post-breeding seasons. Breeding adults had a mean home range size of 42.9 km2 (SD ± 35.1 km2; 95% kernel density estimation Had hoc), and five individuals performed long (>20 km) excursive movements away from their breeding territories during autumn. Such wide-ranging behavior has not previously been reported for adults of the nominate subspecies B. b. bubo. The study demonstrates the need to investigate seasonal movements of species, populations, and age groups even if they are considered residents, and provides valuable information for management and conservation of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

Activity and Ranging Behavior of Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in an Oil Palm Landscape

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is the most widespread feline in Asia. It has been recorded in a range of habitats, including monoculture landscapes, such as oil palm plantations. Here, we report on a study on the presence, home range, activity patterns and diet of the species in an oil palm landscape to assess their viability as biological pest controller of rats. The study took place in United Plantations/PT SSS estate in Central Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia. From July 2014 to March 2018, we captured 11 leopard cats in purpose-built cage-traps and fitted them with VHF radio-transmitters. They were tracked for a 44 months study period, during which we collected a total of 2.031 GPS locations used for estimating the respective cats’ activities and home-ranges. The cats are strictly nocturnal and prefer to hide and rest in thick bush, primarily consisting of sword-fern (Nephrolepis sp.) during day-time, but forage both on the ground and in the palm canopy at night. The average home range (95% FK) for male leopard cats is 1.47 km2 (n = 7; SD = 0.62 km2) with slightly smaller home range for females at 1.29 km2 (n = 4; SD = 0.28 km2). All individuals studied were recorded strictly within the oil palm plantation landscape, although mangrove forest habitat makes up 7% of the greater plantation landscape. In conclusion, leopard cats survive and reproduce well in oil palm habitats and are effective biological controllers of rats that can replace the traditionally used expensive and environmentally polluting chemical rat poisons.

Spatial ecology of lions in a small, semi-fenced park surrounded by dense human populations: the case study of Nairobi National Park, Kenya

Human population growth near protected areas often results in detrimental edge effects for apex carnivores, such as the African lion. Urbanization leads to new scenarios of the human–lion conflict, thus understanding ranging patterns close to urban environments is crucial to inform future management strategies. We collected GPS data from 12 collared lions between 2014 and 2018 in Nairobi National Park, which borders the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi city. We estimated home ranges, calculated daily distance traveled and tested for differences between sex, season and pride. Additionally, we investigated how disturbance from Nairobi and surrounding human settlements affected space-use of lions, and tested for differences between sex, season and time of day. Lions showed restricted movements (4.5 km/day) and had small home ranges (49 km2). Male lions had larger ranges than females, but avoidance behavior of disturbed areas was similar. Lions took advantage during times of low human activity, i.e., during the night, to extend ranging behavior in search for resources. Risk for livestock depredation also increased during the wet season when lions roamed longer, more frequently, and deeper into the community lands. We recommend the establishment of buffer zones to maintain a viable lion population and reduced risk for conflict.

Landscape Characteristics Influence Ranging Behavior of Asian Elephants at the Human-wildlands Interface in Myanmar

Context Asian elephant numbers are declining across much of their range, driven largely by serious threats from land use change resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation. Myanmar, holding critical range for the species, is undergoing major developments due to recent sociopolitical changes. To effectively manage and conserve the remaining populations of endangered elephants in the country, it is crucial to understand their ranging behavior.Objectives Our objectives were to (1) quantify dry season range sizes of elephants in Myanmar and assess how they vary with different configurations of agriculture and natural vegetation; and (2) evaluate how percentage of agriculture within dry core range of elephants relates to their daily distance travelled.Methods We estimated dry season, wet season, and annual range sizes with autocorrelated kernel density estimator (AKDE) using a continuous-time movement modeling (ctmm) framework and reported the 95% and 50% AKDE and 95% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) range sizes. In a multiple regression framework, we developed candidate model sets to explain the variation in AKDE range sizes during the better sampled dry season when human-elephant interactions are the most likely to occur.Results Elephant dry season ranges were highly variable averaging 792 km2 and 184.2 km2 for the 95% and 50% AKDE home ranges, respectively. We found both the shape and spatial configuration of agriculture and natural vegetation patches within an individual elephant’s home range play a significant role in determining the size of its range. We also found that elephants are moving more (larger energy expenditure) in ranges with higher percentages of agricultural area.Conclusion Our results provide baseline information for advancing future land use planning that takes into account space-use requirements for elephants. Failing to do so may seriously further endangered declining elephant populations in Myanmar and across the species’ range.