Combining local knowledge and occupancy analysis for a rapid assessment of the forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis in Cameroon's timber production forests
Combining local knowledge and occupancy analysis for a rapid assessment of the forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis in Cameroon's timber production forests
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DOI：
10.1017/s0030605317001569
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发表时间：
2020-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.7
通讯作者：
Rowcliffe, Marcus
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Brittain, Stephanie;Bata, Madeleine Ngo;Rowcliffe, Marcus
为了合理分配有限的资源，并为该物种设定保护目标，需要了解森林象的分布和丰度信息。然而，在森林栖息地进行大规模监测是复杂、昂贵和耗时的。我们调查了应用基于访谈的占用分析作为快速评估喀麦隆东部森林象分布和相对丰度的工具的潜力。采用单季节占用模型，探讨了影响森林象占用率和可探测性的协变量，确定了森林象数量变化和占用率的时空格局。定量和定性的社会人口统计数据提供了额外的深度和理解，将占用分析置于背景中，并为指导保护行动提供了有价值的信息。自2008年以来，森林象的可探测性有所下降，这与被占领地点感知到的丰度下降是一致的。森林象占据了保护区之外的区域，也不在IUCN确定的已知大象活动范围之内。评估森林象的数量以及它们在这些知之甚少的地区所面临的威胁，需要给予高度的保护关注。基于访谈的占用分析是大规模快速评估森林象占用情况的一种可靠和合适的方法，作为监测过程的补充或第一阶段。
Information on the distribution and abundance of the forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis is needed to allocate limited resources appropriately and set conservation goals for the species. However, monitoring at large scales in forest habitats is complicated, expensive and time consuming. We investigated the potential of applying interview-based occupancy analysis as a tool for the rapid assessment of the distribution and relative abundance of forest elephants in eastern Cameroon. Using single-season occupancy models, we explored the covariates that affect forest elephant occupancy and detectability, and identified spatial and temporal patterns in population change and occupancy. Quantitative and qualitative socio-demographic data offer additional depth and understanding, placing the occupancy analysis in context and providing valuable information to guide conservation action. Detectability of forest elephants has decreased since 2008, which is consistent with the decline in perceived abundance in occupied sites. Forest elephants occupy areas outside protected areas and outside the known elephant range defined by IUCN. Critical conservation attention is required to assess forest elephant populations and the threats they face in these poorly understood areas. Interview-based occupancy analysis is a reliable and suitable method for a rapid assessment of forest elephant occupancy on a large scale, as a complement to, or the first stage in, a monitoring process.