Estimating population size and habitat suitability for mountain nyala in areas with different protection status

Atickem, Anagaw; Loe, Leif Egil; Langangen, Øystein; Rueness, Eli Knispel; Bekele, Afework; Stenseth, Nils Chr.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2011.00437.x

Cited by 28 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…While this is an important conservation area for the mountain nyala, Gaysay and the park headquarters covers only 34 km2 and 1.2 km2, respectively, and are surrounded by settlements and agriculture. Together, they harbor about 900 mountain nyala [9,11]. Both areas are popular with tourists and researchers because mountain nyala and other wildlife can be easily viewed and are habituated to people, livestock and vehicles.…”

Section: Biodiversity and Endangered Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic Observations of Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus Buxtoni in a Controlled Hunting Area, Ethiopia

Evangelista¹

2015

J Biodivers Endanger Species

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The highlands of Ethiopia are inhabited by the culturally and economically significant mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni, an endemic spiral horned antelope. The natural range of this species has become highly fragmented with increasing anthropogenic pressures; driving land conversion in areas previously considered critical mountain nyala habitat. Therefore, baseline demographic data on this species throughout its existing range are needed. Previous studies on mountain nyala demographics have primarily focused on a confined portion of its known range where trophy hunting is not practiced. Our objectives were to estimate group size, proportion of females, age class proportions, and calf and juvenile productivity for a sub-population of mountain nyala where trophy hunting is permitted and compare our results to recent and historical observations. We collected four years of demographic data using direct point counts in a controlled hunting area and summarized the data using the R statistical software. Our results show that estimated proportion of females (0.63; 0.56 -0.69) was similar to recent studies of non-hunted populations, but group size (3.74; 3.34 -4.13), juvenile productivity (0.47; 0.35 -0.62) and age class proportions (calves: 0.17 juveniles: 0.19 adults: 0.64) were considerably different. Our results are more similar to historical accounts than those in a national park. We demonstrate that the mountain nyala's population structure and health varies across its range and may relate to the different management strategies and policies. We recommend using similar methods for remaining under surveyed sub-populations of mountain nyala to inform conservation actions at the landscape scale.

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Section: Biodiversity and Endangered Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic Observations of Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus Buxtoni in a Controlled Hunting Area, Ethiopia

Evangelista¹

2015

J Biodivers Endanger Species

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“…Still, this area serves as a relatively wellprotected landscape for the mountain nyala and human impact is considered minimal [30]. Recent population surveys for AbashebaDemaro by Atickem et al [9] and the EWCA [30] estimated 986 and 975 mountain nyala, respectively, suggesting a density of 4.6/km 2 .…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While this is an important conservation area for the mountain nyala, Gaysay and the park headquarters covers only 34 km 2 and 1.2 km 2 , respectively, and are surrounded by settlements and agriculture. Together, they harbor about 900 mountain nyala [9,11]. Both areas are popular with tourists and researchers because mountain nyala and other wildlife can be easily viewed and are habituated to people, livestock and vehicles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although new studies of the mountain nyala are emerging, there remain large information gaps that restrict implementation of effective management and conservation strategies. Recent studies have largely focused on needed landscape-level analyses related to population, geographic range, available habitat and human impacts [5,8,9]. Only a few demographic studies have been conducted for the mountain nyala; the first over 45 years ago [2], and two recently in a small isolated population in BMNP [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do Consumers Prefer Wild, Farmed Bear Bile or Substitutes?

Jiang¹

2015

J Biodivers Endanger Species

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The highlands of Ethiopia are inhabited by the culturally and economically significant mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni, an endemic spiral horned antelope. The natural range of this species has become highly fragmented with increasing anthropogenic pressures; driving land conversion in areas previously considered critical mountain nyala habitat. Therefore, baseline demographic data on this species throughout its existing range are needed. Previous studies on mountain nyala demographics have primarily focused on a confined portion of its known range where trophy hunting is not practiced. Our objectives were to estimate group size, proportion of females, age class proportions, and calf and juvenile productivity for a sub-population of mountain nyala where trophy hunting is permitted and compare our results to recent and historical observations. We collected four years of demographic data using direct point counts in a controlled hunting area and summarized the data using the R statistical software. Our results show that estimated proportion of females (0.63; 0.56-0.69) was similar to recent studies of non-hunted populations, but group size (3.74; 3.34-4.13), juvenile productivity (0.47; 0.35-0.62) and age class proportions (calves: 0.17 juveniles: 0.19 adults: 0.64) were considerably different. Our results are more similar to historical accounts than those in a national park. We demonstrate that the mountain nyala's population structure and health varies across its range and may relate to the different management strategies and policies. We recommend using similar methods for remaining under surveyed sub-populations of mountain nyala to inform conservation actions at the landscape scale.

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“…Unlike wild mammals and woody species richness, the species richness of birds was higher in the EHH than in the FGH. Some of the possible reasons for unequal distribution of the bird species in the two adjacent habitats could be attributed by the difference in habitat resource gradient and densities [9,10,20] and the presence of human-and livestock-induced disturbances [3,4,21,22]. In addition, the behavior of some bird species (e.g.…”

Section: Species Diversities Of Wild Mammals Birds and Woody Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of the Guassa Community Eco-Lodge to the Conservation of Wild Mammals, Birds and Woody Plants in Menz-Gera Midir District, North Shewa Administrative Zone, Ethiopia

Tadesse¹,

Teketay²

2017

IJAWB

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In recent decades, several eco-lodges have been established in biodiversity areas of Ethiopia, but quantitative scientific information that helps guide the sustainable management of eco-lodges is lacking. This study was the first attempt that examined the role of the GCEL for the conservation of wild mammals, birds, and woody plants. The objective of the study was to characterize and quantify species diversities and densities of wild mammals, birds, and woody plants in the compound of the eco-lodge and in the adjacent field. Following a total of six randomly aligned transects, field data on the species richness and abundance of wild mammals and birds across the landscape were collected in the compound of the GCEL (here after the EHH) versus in the adjacent field (here after the FGH).Moreover, a systematic sampling design was employed to lay a total of 39 circular plots (i.e, each with a radius of 10m) and collect data on the species richness and abundance of woody plants. The results revealed that species richness, diversity, and evenness of wild mammals were 11, 1.6 and 0.67, respectively, in the EHH and 11, 1.4 and 0.6, respectively, in the FGH. Similarly, species richness, diversity and evenness of birds were 33, 3.3 and 0.96, respectively, in the EHH, and 29, 3 and 0.88, respectively, in the FGH. The woody species were represented by 16, 2.7 and 0.97 species richness, diversity, and evenness, respectively, in the EHH, and 16, 2.6 and 0.94 species richness, diversity, and evenness, respectively, in the FGH. The total mean densities of wild mammals recorded in the EHH and FGH were 16.0 and 7.5 individuals, respectively. Similarly, the total mean densities of birds computed in the EHH and FGH were 668.5 and 158.3 individuals, respectively. Moreover, the total mean densities of woody species estimated in the EHH and FGH were 37,665.2 and 16,845.6 individuals, respectively. The findings of this study generated quantitative scientific information for policy-makers and planners that guides them toward better and more informed decision-making for eco-lodge establishment and management that is geared toward biodiversity conservation.

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Estimating population size and habitat suitability for mountain nyala in areas with different protection status

Cited by 28 publications

References 30 publications

Demographic Observations of Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus Buxtoni in a Controlled Hunting Area, Ethiopia

Demographic Observations of Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus Buxtoni in a Controlled Hunting Area, Ethiopia

Do Consumers Prefer Wild, Farmed Bear Bile or Substitutes?

Contribution of the Guassa Community Eco-Lodge to the Conservation of Wild Mammals, Birds and Woody Plants in Menz-Gera Midir District, North Shewa Administrative Zone, Ethiopia

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