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Kiffner C, Foley CAH, Lee DE, Bond ML, Kioko J, Kissui BM, Lobora AL, Foley LS, Nelson F. The contribution of community-based conservation models to conserving large herbivore populations. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16221. [PMID: 39003385 PMCID: PMC11246445 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66517-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In East Africa, community-based conservation models (CBCMs) have been established to support the conservation of wildlife in fragmented landscapes like the Tarangire Ecosystem, Tanzania. To assess how different management approaches maintained large herbivore populations, we conducted line distance surveys and estimated seasonal densities of elephant, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest in six management units, including three CBCMs, two national parks (positive controls), and one area with little conservation interventions (negative control). Using a Monte-Carlo approach to propagate uncertainties from the density estimates and trend analysis, we analyzed the resulting time series (2011-2019). Densities of the target species were consistently low in the site with little conservation interventions. In contrast, densities of zebra and wildebeest in CBCMs were similar to national parks, providing evidence that CBCMs contributed to the stabilization of these migratory populations in the central part of the ecosystem. CBCMs also supported giraffe and elephant densities similar to those found in national parks. In contrast, the functional connectivity of Lake Manyara National Park has not been augmented by CBCMs. Our analysis suggests that CBCMs can effectively conserve large herbivores, and that maintaining connectivity through CBCMs should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- Junior Research Group Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany.
- The School for Field Studies, Centre For Wildlife Management Studies, PO Box 304, Karatu, Tanzania.
- Department of Land Use & Governance, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Charles A H Foley
- Tanzania Conservation Research Program, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Monica L Bond
- Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John Kioko
- The School for Field Studies, Centre For Wildlife Management Studies, PO Box 304, Karatu, Tanzania
| | - Bernard M Kissui
- The School for Field Studies, Centre For Wildlife Management Studies, PO Box 304, Karatu, Tanzania
| | - Alex L Lobora
- Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Lara S Foley
- Tanzania Conservation Research Program, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, USA
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de Jonge IK, Olff H, Wormmeester R, Veldhuis MP. Spatiotemporal habitat use of large African herbivores across a conservation border. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Inger K. de Jonge
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Remo Wormmeester
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Michiel P. Veldhuis
- Department of Environmental Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Kiffner C, Kioko J, Baylis J, Beckwith C, Brunner C, Burns C, Chavez‐Molina V, Cotton S, Glazik L, Loftis E, Moran M, O'Neill C, Theisinger O, Kissui B. Long-term persistence of wildlife populations in a pastoral area. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10000-10016. [PMID: 33005359 PMCID: PMC7520174 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Facilitating coexistence between people and wildlife is a major conservation challenge in East Africa. Some conservation models aim to balance the needs of people and wildlife, but the effectiveness of these models is rarely assessed. Using a case-study approach, we assessed the ecological performance of a pastoral area in northern Tanzania (Manyara Ranch) and established a long-term wildlife population monitoring program (carried out intermittently from 2003 to 2008 and regularly from 2011 to 2019) embedded in a distance sampling framework. By comparing density estimates of the road transect-based long-term monitoring to estimates derived from systematically distributed transects, we found that the bias associated with nonrandom placement of transects was nonsignificant. Overall, cattle and sheep and goat reached the greatest densities and several wildlife species occurred at densities similar (zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, Kirk's dik-dik) or possibly even greater (giraffe, eland, lesser kudu, Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle) than in adjacent national parks in the same ecosystem. Generalized linear mixed models suggested that most wildlife species (8 out of 14) reached greatest densities during the dry season, that wildlife population densities either remained constant or increased over the 17-year period, and that herbivorous livestock species remained constant, while domestic dog population decreased over time. Cross-species correlations did not provide evidence for interference competition between grazing or mixed livestock species and wildlife species but indicate possible negative relationships between domestic dog and warthog populations. Overall, wildlife and livestock populations in Manyara Ranch appear to coexist over the 17-year span. Most likely, this is facilitated by existing connectivity to adjacent protected areas, effective anti-poaching efforts, spatio-temporal grazing restrictions, favorable environmental conditions of the ranch, and spatial heterogeneity of surface water and habitats. This long-term case study illustrates the potential of rangelands to simultaneously support wildlife conservation and human livelihood goals if livestock grazing is restricted in space, time, and numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - John Kioko
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - Jack Baylis
- Department of Environmental Studies and SciencesSanta Clara UniversitySanta ClaraCAUSA
| | | | - Craig Brunner
- Psychology DepartmentWhitman CollegeWalla WallaWAUSA
| | - Christine Burns
- Department of Environmental ScienceDickinson CollegeCarlislePAUSA
| | | | - Sara Cotton
- Neuroscience and Behavior DepartmentVassar CollegePoughkeepsieNYUSA
| | - Laura Glazik
- Department of Animal ScienceUniversity of Illinois, Urbana‐ChampaignChampaignILUSA
| | - Ellen Loftis
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of VermontBurlingtonVTUSA
| | - Megan Moran
- Biology DepartmentCollege of the Holy CrossWorcesterMAUSA
| | - Caitlin O'Neill
- Department of BiologySt. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's CityMDUSA
| | - Ole Theisinger
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - Bernard Kissui
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
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Mandinyenya B, Monks N, Mundy PJ, Sebata A, Chirima A. Habitat choices of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and plains zebra (Equus quagga) in a heterogeneous protected area. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/wr18201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextAn understanding of large herbivore habitat choices in heterogeneous African protected areas is important for the better management of these key ecosystems.
AimsTo determine habitat use of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and plains zebra (Equus quagga) in a heterogeneous protected area.
MethodsZambezi National Park (ZNP), Zimbabwe, was divided into five vegetation types using an unsupervised classification on a Landsat satellite image that was classified into five land cover classes, using the K-means classification algorithm. African buffalo and plains zebra densities were then determined in each vegetation type using road transect surveys monthly between January 2013 and December 2015. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), grass biomass, grass height and grass quality (nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and acid detergent fibre content) were determined in each vegetation type during the wet (November to April) and dry (August to October) seasons to establish their quality as habitats for African buffalo and plains zebra.
Key resultsBoth African buffalo and plains zebra mostly foraged in mixed and grassland areas, and avoided Zambezi teak vegetation type. Zambezi teak vegetation type had high NDVI due to the dense tree cover. Both African buffalo and plains zebra preferred vegetation types with intermediate grass biomass (approximately 300gm−2) and grass height (approximately 16cm). Grass nutritive value (in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and acid detergent fibre) declined from wet to dry season in all vegetation types.
ConclusionsAfrican buffalo and plains zebra in the ZNP confined their habitat use mostly to two vegetation types (mixed and grassland), which together covered 25% of the protected area.
ImplicationsTeak (Baikiaea plurijuga) vegetation, which accounted for about 60% of the ZNP, was avoided by both African buffalo and plains zebra, suggesting that a significant part of the protected area was not used by the two herbivores.
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Kiffner C, Thomas S, Speaker T, O'Connor V, Schwarz P, Kioko J, Kissui B. Community-based wildlife management area supports similar mammal species richness and densities compared to a national park. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:480-492. [PMID: 31993122 PMCID: PMC6972838 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Community-based conservation models have been widely implemented across Africa to improve wildlife conservation and livelihoods of rural communities. In Tanzania, communities can set aside land and formally register it as Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which allows them to generate revenue via consumptive or nonconsumptive utilization of wildlife. The key, yet often untested, assumption of this model is that economic benefits accrued from wildlife motivate sustainable management of wildlife. To test the ecological effectiveness (here defined as persistence of wildlife populations) of Burunge Wildlife Management Area (BWMA), we employed a participatory monitoring approach involving WMA personnel. At intermittent intervals between 2011 and 2018, we estimated mammal species richness and population densities of ten mammal species (African elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, warthog, impala, Kirk's dik-dik, and vervet monkey) along line transects. We compared mammal species accumulation curves and density estimates with those of time-matched road transect surveys conducted in adjacent Tarangire National Park (TNP). Mammal species richness estimates were similar in both areas, yet observed species richness per transect was greater in TNP compared to BWMA. Species-specific density estimates of time-matched surveys were mostly not significantly different between BWMA and TNP, but elephants occasionally reached greater densities in TNP compared to BWMA. In BWMA, elephant, wildebeest, and impala populations showed significant increases from 2011 to 2018. These results suggest that community-based conservation models can support mammal communities and densities that are similar to national park baselines. In light of the ecological success of this case study, we emphasize the need for continued efforts to ensure that the BWMA is effective. This will require adaptive management to counteract potential negative repercussions of wildlife populations on peoples' livelihoods. This study can be used as a model to evaluate the effectiveness of wildlife management areas across Tanzania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - Seth Thomas
- Department of Integrative Biology & The Department of Environmental SciencesOregon State UniversityCorvallisORUSA
| | - Talia Speaker
- Human Dimensions of Natural ResourcesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCOUSA
| | | | - Paige Schwarz
- Warner College of Natural ResourcesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - John Kioko
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - Bernard Kissui
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
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Oster KW, Barboza PS, Gustine DD, Joly K, Shively RD. Mineral constraints on arctic caribou (
Rangifer tarandus
): a spatial and phenological perspective. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- K. W. Oster
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | - P. S. Barboza
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | - D. D. Gustine
- Alaska Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 4210 University Drive Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - K. Joly
- National Park Sejrvice Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Fairbanks Alaska 99709 USA
| | - R. D. Shively
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
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Selebatso M, Bennitt E, Maude G, Fynn RWS. Water provision alters wildebeest adaptive habitat selection and resilience in the Central Kalahari. Afr J Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Moses Selebatso
- Okavango Research Institute; University of Botswana; Maun Botswana
- Kalahari Research & Conservation; Maun Botswana
| | - Emily Bennitt
- Okavango Research Institute; University of Botswana; Maun Botswana
| | - Glyn Maude
- Kalahari Research & Conservation; Maun Botswana
- Department of Conservation & Research; Denver Zoological Foundation; Denver CO USA
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Paton DG, Ciuti S, Quinn M, Boyce MS. Hunting exacerbates the response to human disturbance in large herbivores while migrating through a road network. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dale G. Paton
- Anatum Ecological Ltd. Crowsnest Pass Alberta T0K 0E0 Canada
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Department of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis University of Freiburg Freiburg 79106 Germany
| | - Michael Quinn
- Research, Scholarship & Community Engagement Mount Royal University Calgary Alberta T3E 6K6 Canada
| | - Mark S. Boyce
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
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Courtemanch AB, Kauffman MJ, Kilpatrick S, Dewey SR. Alternative foraging strategies enable a mountain ungulate to persist after migration loss. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alyson B. Courtemanch
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department P.O. Box 67 Jackson Wyoming 83001 USA
| | - Matthew J. Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - Steve Kilpatrick
- Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation P.O. Box 666 Cody Wyoming 82414 USA
| | - Sarah R. Dewey
- Grand Teton National Park, Science and Resource Management National Park Service P.O. Box 170 Moose Wyoming 83012 USA
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Effects of divergent migratory strategies on access to resources for Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer). J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Schuette P, Creel S, Christianson D. Ungulate distributions in a rangeland with competitors, predators and pastoralists. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Schuette
- Department of Ecology Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman MT 59717 USA
- College of Environmental Science and ForestryState University of New York 1 Forestry Dr Syracuse NY 13210 USA
| | - Scott Creel
- Department of Ecology Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman MT 59717 USA
| | - Dave Christianson
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona 325 Biological Sciences East Tucson AZ 85721 USA
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Abstract
AbstractSurprisingly little is known about the spatial dimensions of most tropical ungulate migrations, including that of wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, a species famous for long-distance movements. Using non-invasive photographic identification of 834 adult wildebeest from 8,530 images collected over 4 years we characterize patterns of migratory connectivity throughout the northern Tarangire–Manyara Ecosystem, Tanzania. We document movements between Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks and northwards to the shore of Lake Natron, a straight-line distance of > 130 km. Fifty-six percent of observed movements occur outside the ecosystem's three main protected areas. We supplement photographic data with fine-scale movement data from two individuals with global positioning system collars, and identify three narrow bottlenecks, each vulnerable to human development. We discuss the possible consequences for the wildebeest population if these bottlenecks become impeded. Persistence of this migration alongside a growing human population and proposed road improvement will require additional measures to ensure that pathways remain open to wildlife movement and protected from illegal hunting.
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Bischof R, Loe LE, Meisingset EL, Zimmermann B, Van Moorter B, Mysterud A. A migratory northern ungulate in the pursuit of spring: jumping or surfing the green wave? Am Nat 2012; 180:407-24. [PMID: 22976006 DOI: 10.1086/667590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The forage-maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that herbivores migrate along a phenological gradient of plant development in order to maximize energy intake. Despite strong support for the FMH, the actual relationship between plant phenology and ungulate movement has remained enigmatic. We linked plant phenology (MODIS-normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI] data) and space use of 167 migratory and 78 resident red deer (Cervus elaphus), using a space-time-time matrix of "springness," defined as the instantaneous rate of green-up. Consistent with the FMH, migrants experienced substantially greater access to early plant phenology than did residents. Deer were also more likely to migrate in areas where migration led to greater gains in springness. Rather than "surfing the green wave" during migration, migratory red deer moved rapidly from the winter to the summer range, thereby "jumping the green wave." However, migrants and, to a lesser degree, residents did track phenological green-up through parts of the growing season by making smaller-scale adjustments in habitat use. Despite pronounced differences in their life histories, we found only marginal differences between male and female red deer in this study. Those differences that we did detect pointed toward additional constraints on female space-use tactics, such as those posed by calving and caring for dependent offspring. We conclude that whereas in some systems migration itself is a way to surf the green wave, in others it may simply be a means to reconnect with phenological spring at the summer range. In the light of ubiquitous anthropogenic environmental change, understanding the relationship between the green wave and ungulate space use has important consequences for the management and conservation of migratory ungulates and the phenomenon of migration itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Bischof
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway.
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Monteith KL, Bleich VC, Stephenson TR, Pierce BM, Conner MM, Klaver RW, Bowyer RT. Timing of seasonal migration in mule deer: effects of climate, plant phenology, and life-history characteristics. Ecosphere 2011. [DOI: 10.1890/es10-00096.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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