Twenty years of monitoring of the Vulnerable Farasan gazelle <i>Gazella gazella farasani</i> on the Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia: an overview

Cunningham, Peter; Wronski, Torsten

doi:10.1017/s0030605310001298

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We selected two methods of field data collection commonly used for gazelle surveys in arid and semi-arid environments: (1) direct observations or sightings (Lawes & Nanni, 1993; Dunham, 1997; Abáigar et al, 2005b; Chammem et al, 2008; Cunningham & Wronski, 2011; Attum & Mahmoud, 2012), and (2) indirect signs, such as tracks, isolated dung piles and latrines or middens (Abáigar et al, 2005a; Chammem et al, 2008; Wronski & Plath, 2010; Attum et al, 2014). We developed two kinds of walking surveys to sample direct sightings and indirect sign (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating methods for surveying the Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriin arid landscapes

Gil‐Sánchez¹,

Herrera-Sánchez²,

Álvarez³

et al. 2016

Oryx

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The Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriis an endemic ungulate of north-western Africa. Information on the species has been based primarily on non-systematic surveys, and the corresponding status estimates are of unknown quality. We evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of two field methods for systematic surveys of populations of Cuvier's gazelle in arid environments: distance sampling (based on sightings) and sampling indirect sign (tracks and scats). The work was carried out in the north-western Sahara Desert, in Morocco, where what is possibly the largest population of Cuvier's gazelle persists. A logistically viable survey was conducted over a total area of c. 20.000 km2in 10 expeditions during 2011–2014. A total of 67 sites were surveyed, with 194 walking surveys (2,169 km in total). Gazelle signs were detected at 50 sites, and gazelles were sighted at 21 sites (61 individuals). We found a relationship between sightings and abundance indices based on indirect sign, which could be useful for population monitoring or ecological studies. Additionally, the data could be used in occupancy modelling. Density estimates based on distance sampling required considerable effort; however, it is possible to survey large areas during relatively short campaigns, and this proved to be the most useful approach to obtain data on the demographic structure of the population.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating methods for surveying the Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriin arid landscapes

Gil‐Sánchez¹,

Herrera-Sánchez²,

Álvarez³

et al. 2016

Oryx

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“…However, its flora is not strikingly rich as compared to the Socotran Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, where 30% of the flora is endemic ( Miller and Nyberg 1991 ). Most of the Farasan Archipelago has been declared as protected area since 1989 by the KSA government, mainly for conserving and restoring animal wildlife, especially the Idmi gazelle ( Gazella gazella farasani ) endemic to the islands and KSA , a species listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List ( Cunningham and Wronski 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently available are several floristic studies conducted in the Archipelago ( El-Demerdash 1996 ; Alfarhan et al 2002 ; Atiqur Rahman et al 2002 ; Hall et al 2010 ; Tomas et al 2010 ; Al Mutairi et al 2012 ; Al Mutairi and Al-Shami 2014 ). There is some information on the vertebrates (birds: Jennings 1988 ; mammals: Habibi 1992 ; Masseti 2010 ; Cunningham and Wronski 2011 ; Wronski et al 2012 ; and herpetofauna: Masseti 2014 ). The entomofauna knowledge of the Farasan Archipelago is relatively unknown with only published records for ants ( Hymenoptera , Formicidae ) ( Sharaf and Al-Zailaie 2006 ), chewing lice ( Phthiraptera , Menoponidae ) ( Alahmed et al 2015 ), leucospid wasps ( Hymenoptera , Leucospidae ) ( Gadallah et al 2018 ), blow flies ( Diptera , Calliphoridae ) ( Dawah et al 2019 ), and for cuckoo wasps ( Hymenoptera , Chrysididae ) ( Strumia and Dawah 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first survey of the beetles (Coleoptera) of the Farasan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abdel-Dayem¹,

El-Ghiet²,

El-Sheikh³

et al. 2020

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The Farasan Archipelago is a group of small coral islands and islets in the southern Red Sea, offshore of the southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). These islands are internationally important as breeding sites for turtles and bird species and regionally for its threatened, rare, and endemic flora and other fauna. The beetles (Coleoptera) of the Archipelago have not been previously surveyed. This study presents the first data on the beetle fauna based on a recent survey of the Farasan Archipelago. In total, 179 beetle species (including three synanthropic species) in 145 genera and 31 coleopteran families were determined. The Carabidae are represented by 31 species, followed by the Tenebrionidae (22 species), Chrysomelidae (17 species), Scarabaeidae (13 species), and Coccinellidae (12 species). The genus Lasiocera Dejean, 1831 and the species Amblystomus villiersanus Bruneau de Miré, 1991 (Carabidae) are new for the beetle fauna of the Arabian Peninsula, and eighteen species are new country records for KSA. Sand dune habitats on the islands were inhabited by the greatest number of species in comparison with other habitats. Zoogeographically, the beetle fauna of the Archipelago was dominated by the representatives of the Saharo-Arabian and Afrotropical elements (74 spp., 41.0%). Fourteen species (7.8%) were recognized as cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan. No species was known to be exclusively endemic to Farasan Archipelago. Eighteen species (10.1%) were endemic to Arabian Peninsula and KSA. Approximately 64.8% (116 spp.) of the archipelago beetle species is found on the KSA mainland and is most closely allied to the south and southwestern KSA regions (sharing 91 spp.). Comparisons of the beetle faunas of the Farasan and Socotra archipelagos indicate that 30 families, 70 genera, and 28 species are shared.

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“…). Nowadays, it represents the largest natural population in Saudi Arabia that remained stable at approximately 800 to 1000 individuals since 1988 (Cunningham & Wronski ). Farasan gazelles are morphologically distinguishable from animals found on the mainland, showing smaller body size, a rounded upper tooth row and more grayish body colour, with a coppery tone on legs and neck (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utility of island populations in re‐introduction programmes – relationships betweenArabian gazelles (Gazella arabica) from theFarasanArchipelago and endangered mainland populations

et al. 2014

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Understanding local adaptation and population differentiation is vital to the success of re-introduction initiatives. As other mammals living on islands, Arabian gazelles (G. arabica) show reduced body size on the Farasan archipelago, which we corroborated in this study through morphometric analyses of skulls. In the light of the steep population decline on the Arabian Peninsula – but stable population development on the archipelago – we tested the potential suitability of Farasan gazelles as a source for re-introductions on the mainland. We therefore investigated genetic differentiation between Farasan and mainland populations using eleven nuclear microsatellite loci and detected a distinct genetic cluster exclusively present on the archipelago, which we inferred to be separated from the mainland cluster for less than 2000 years. About 30% of sampled individuals from Farasan Islands showed assignment to a mainland cluster with signs of ongoing introgression. Analyses using the isolation-with-migration model confirmed recent (probably human-induced) bidirectional exchange of gazelles between mainland and island populations. Hence, the surprisingly uniform island dwarfism most likely reflects phenotypic plasticity, that is, altered morphology as a direct consequence of harsh environmental conditions and resource limitation on the archipelago. Should a further decline of Arabian gazelles on the mainland necessitate restocking in the future, Farasan gazelles may thus become an additional source for captive breeding programmes.

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Twenty years of monitoring of the Vulnerable Farasan gazelle Gazella gazella farasani on the Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia: an overview

Cited by 16 publications

References 16 publications

Evaluating methods for surveying the Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriin arid landscapes

Evaluating methods for surveying the Endangered Cuvier's gazelleGazella cuvieriin arid landscapes

The first survey of the beetles (Coleoptera) of the Farasan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Utility of island populations in re‐introduction programmes – relationships betweenArabian gazelles (Gazella arabica) from theFarasanArchipelago and endangered mainland populations

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