Forest-type preference of an Afrotropical thrush (East Coast Akalat<i>Sheppardia gunningi sokokensis</i>) in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya

Banks, John E.; Jackson, Colin; Baya, Albert; Minnella, Heather; Nitz, M.; Hitchcock, John T.; Bruinsma, D.

doi:10.2989/00306525.2012.710271

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The management challenges faced by ASF are similar to those in many other reserve hot-spots found throughout the tropics, in that forest management is aimed at encompassing protection of not only a large assemblage of bird species but over half a dozen more endangered or threatened birds along with several mammals as well as the African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ). Available evidence suggests that some of the endangered bird species in ASF show strong preferences for some habitats over others; these preferences likely stem from a combination of vegetation composition and degree of disturbance due to both natural and anthropogenic forces (e.g., poaching; Banks et al., 2012; Otieno et al., 2014). Understanding the roles played by all of the wildlife in such reserves is clearly critical—this includes especially megafauna such as elephants, whose foraging behavior can negatively and positively affect different types of vegetation and wildlife (Banks et al., 2010; Cumming et al., 1997; Guidemond & Van Aarde, 2008; Herremans,1995; Otieno et al., 2014; Vogel et al., 2014).…”

Section: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Available evidence suggests that some of the endangered bird species in ASF show strong preferences for some habitats over others; these preferences likely stem from a combination of vegetation composition and degree of disturbance due to both natural and anthropogenic forces (e.g., poaching; Banks et al, 2012;Otieno et al, 2014). Understanding the roles played by all of the wildlife in such reserves is clearly critical-this includes especially megafauna such as elephants, whose foraging behavior can negatively and positively affect different types of vegetation and wildlife Cumming et al, 1997;Guidemond & Van Aarde, 2008;Herremans,1995;Otieno et al, 2014;Vogel et al, 2014).…”

Section: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential Responses of Bird Species to Habitat Condition in a Coastal Kenyan Forest Reserve

Banks

Jackson

Gagić

et al. 2017

Tropical Conservation Science

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The management of assemblages of species across many taxa is a common concern in conservation. Consequently, the use of one or a few surrogate or indicator species to represent an entire assemblage has become an increasingly important tool in conservation science. However, conservation schemes based on the needs of one or two focal species often fail to account for individualistic responses of larger assemblages of species. Data from bird point counts along with vegetation characteristics from a coastal tropical dry forest in Kenya that is subject to elephant disturbance were used to explore the differential responses of bird species to environmental conditions in a forest reserve where wildlife management includes both endangered birds and mammals. Results revealed that even birds with similar foraging habits had idiosyncratic responses to both environmental traits and elephant disturbance. While overall species responded to important characteristics such as percent canopy cover and leaf litter depth, individualistic responses of different species trait diversity defied easy characterization of optimal forest management schemes. Taken together, our analyses highlight the difficulty in basing the development of management plans for entire assemblages of species on the response of a single or a few species. Implications for wildlife conservation in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and similar forest reserves are discussed, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of individual species' responses to forest conditions.

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Section: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Responses of Bird Species to Habitat Condition in a Coastal Kenyan Forest Reserve

Banks

Jackson

Gagić

et al. 2017

Tropical Conservation Science

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“…Formerly abundant along the east African coast from Kenya to Malawi and Mozambique, S. gunningi is now found primarily in the coastal forests of Kenya, with the largest remnant population (approx. 7500 pairs) residing year-round in ArabukoSokoke Forest (ASF), a 429 km 2 forest reserve that is the largest remnant patch of indigenous coastal forest in East Africa (Bennun and Njoroge, 1999;Birdlife International, 2008;Banks et al, 2012). S. gunningi is patchily distributed in ASF, with territories ranging from 100 to 200 m in diameter .…”

Section: Study Organism/sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal sampling frequency and timing of threatened tropical bird populations: A modeling approach

Banks

Rinnovatore

et al. 2015

Ecological Modelling

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a b s t r a c tConservation of threatened or endangered species relies critically on accurate population counts over time. In practice, many population censuses are conducted by non-governmental organizations or volunteer citizen scientists who are constrained by fiscal and temporal resources. Less than optimal sampling regimens (characterized by infrequent and/or irregular schedules) for conducting population censuses can result in woefully misleading population estimates -and thus have dire consequences for management and conservation. We illustrate this using an East African case study in which 14 years of bird data was collected in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in coastal Kenya. We first estimate life history parameters in a discrete matrix model. Desiring a data collection protocol which would lessen observation error and lend to a deeper understanding of population projections and dynamics of a threatened species, we carry out mathematical and statistical modeling efforts with an adaptation of a Leslie model for simulated population estimates stemming from different population sampling schemes. We illustrate how resource managers might take a strategic approach, using simple quantitative models, to develop an optimal sampling scheme that considers important species traits, such as breeding season, and balances the tradeoff between resources and accuracy.

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“…Such environmental changes may also be due to anthropogenic habitat deterioration, which influences habitat structures, species communities, and the availability of resources. This, subsequently impacts individual behaviour (Villard et al 1999;Banks et al 2012Banks et al , 2017Ndang'ang'a et al 2013). Previous studies have shown that birds living in degraded environments need to cover larger areas to find suitable food sources when compared with birds living in high-quality habitats, i.e.…”

Section: Habitat Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to anthropogenic activities, changes in the density of mega-herbivores such as elephants can also impact ecosystem structure (Villard et al 1999;Ndang'ang'a et al 2013;Banks et al 2012Banks et al , 2017, species composition and populations of single taxa (Fanshawe 1995;Clergeau and Burel 1997;Barros and Cintra 2009). Previous studies have shown that elephants increase the accumulation of dead wood and the availability of elephant dung, leading to a rise in insect activity and changes to arthropod community composition which then affects higher trophic levels, such as birds (Otieno et al 2014).…”

Section: Habitat Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Using indicator species to detect high quality habitats in an East African forest biodiversity hotspot

et al. 2021

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Species demanding specific habitat requirements suffer, particularly under environmental changes. The smallest owl of Africa, the Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae), occurs exclusively in East African coastal forests. To understand the movement behaviour and habitat demands of O. ireneae, we combined data from radio-tracking and remote sensing to calculate Species Distribution Models across the Arabuko Sokoke forest in southern Kenya. Based on these data, we estimated the local population size and projected the distribution of current suitable habitats. We found that the species occurs only in Cynometra woodland with large old trees and dense vegetation. Based on home range sizes and the distribution of suitable forest habitats, the local population size was estimated at < 400 pairs. Ongoing selective logging of hard-wood trees and the production of charcoal are reducing habitat quality of which will reduce the low numbers of O. ireneae, and of other specialist forest species, even further. Due to their close connection with intact Cynometra forest, O. ireneae is an excellent indicator of intact forest remnants. In addition, this species is a suitable flagship for the promotion and conservation of the last remaining coastal forests of East Africa.

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Forest-type preference of an Afrotropical thrush (East Coast AkalatSheppardia gunningi sokokensis) in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya

Cited by 6 publications

References 22 publications

Differential Responses of Bird Species to Habitat Condition in a Coastal Kenyan Forest Reserve

Differential Responses of Bird Species to Habitat Condition in a Coastal Kenyan Forest Reserve

Optimal sampling frequency and timing of threatened tropical bird populations: A modeling approach

Using indicator species to detect high quality habitats in an East African forest biodiversity hotspot

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