An empirical evaluation of the African elephant as a focal species for connectivity planning in East Africa

Abstract

Aim Large, charismatic and wide‐ranging animals are often employed as focal species for prioritizing landscape linkages in threatened ecosystems (i.e. ‘connectivity conservation’), but there have been few efforts to assess empirically whether focal species co‐occur with other species of conservation interest within potential linkages. We evaluated whether the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), a world‐recognized flagship species, would serve as an appropriate focal species for other large mammals in a potential linkage between two major protected area complexes.Location A 15,400 km2 area between the Ruaha and Selous ecosystems in central Tanzania, East Africa.Methods We used walking transects to assess habitat, human activity and co‐occurrence of elephants and 48 other large mammal species (> 1 kg) at 63 sites using animal sign and direct sightings. We repeated a subset of transects to estimate species detectability using occupancy modelling. We used logistic regression and AIC model selection to characterize patterns of elephant occurrence and assessed correlation of elephant presence with richness of large mammals and subgroups. We considered other possible focal species, compared habitat‐based linear regression models of large mammal richness and used circuit theory to examine potential connectivity spatially.Results Elephants were detected in many locations across the potential linkage. Elephant presence was highly positively correlated with the richness of large mammals, as well as ungulates, carnivores, large carnivores and species > 45 kg in body mass (‘megafauna’). Outside of protected areas, both mammal richness and elephant presence were negatively correlated with human population density and distance from water. Only one other potential focal species was more strongly correlated with species richness than elephants, but detectability was highest for elephants.Main conclusions Although African elephants have dispersal abilities that exceed most other terrestrial mammals, conserving elephant movement corridors may effectively preserve habitat and potential landscape linkages for other large mammal species among Tanzanian reserves.

Vanishing Wildlife Corridors and Options for Restoration: A Case Study from Tanzania

“…1), with the UdzungwaSelous connection as a vital link in this network. Moreover, recent work in southern Tanzania has revealed a highly positive correlation between the presence of elephants outside of protected areas and large mammal diversity [20,21], confirming the wider benefits for biodiversity conservation of planning for and protecting elephant corridors.…”

“…The 2009 Wildlife Act of Tanzania states that "The Minister may, in consultation with relevant local authorities and by order in the Gazette, designate wildlife corridors, dispersal areas, buffer zones and migratory routes" [46]. Moreover, the 2010-15 National Elephant Management Plan of Tanzania [18] names Elephant Corridors as its second Strategic Objective, providing a positive conservation agenda for other large mammal species [20]. Figure 6 describes the institutional and operational options that may be considered to protect corridors.…”

Using camera trapping and hierarchical occupancy modelling to evaluate the spatial ecology of an African mammal community

“…We hypothesized (i) species richness, group richness and species‐specific occupancy would be inversely related to human disturbance with large‐bodied wildlife and carnivores expected to show the strongest relationships (Epps et al . ; Hopcraft et al . ; Schuette et al .…”

Habitat biophysical and spatial patterns assessment within Oti-Keran-Mandouri protected area network in Togo

“…Planning for and protecting elephant corridors have been shown to have large benefits for biodiversity conservation by many authors in East Africa especially in Tanzania (Epps et al, 2011;Jones et al, 2012). Furthermore, the African elephant remains a good candidate as a surrogate species for conservation planning.…”