Long-Term Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Food Availability for Endangered Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Long-Term Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Food Availability for Endangered Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
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DOI：
10.1002/ajp.22102
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发表时间：
2013-03-01
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Robbins, Martha M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Grueter, Cyril C.;Ndamiyabo, Ferdinand;Robbins, Martha M.
监测濒危物种资源可用性的时间和空间变化有助于保护它们。在过去的三十年里，维龙加火山种群中极度濒危的山地大猩猩（Gorilla beringei beringei）的数量翻了一番，但没有研究探讨在此期间食物供应的变化。首先，我们评估了大猩猩食用的植物物种在过去二十年中的丰度和分布是否发生了变化。在2009 - 2010年，我们重复了1988 - 1989年进行的一项研究，通过测量496个地块（约100个）中大猩猩消耗的植物物种的频率，密度和生物量。卢旺达火山国家公园的Karisoke研究区。我们预计，大猩猩的主要食物植物的存在减少，这可能是大猩猩过度捕捞密度的结果。在五种最常食用的物种中（约占大猩猩饮食的70%，不包括竹子），两种的可用性和丰富度有所下降，而三种则有所增加。一些物种的海拔分布发生了变化，可能是由于区域气候变化。其次，我们在大猩猩目前使用的更大区域内对食物供应进行了基线测量。在扩展采样（n = 473块土地）面积（约25平方公里），五个最经常消费的物种，两个没有显着不同的频率从重新采样的地区，而两个出现的频率明显较低，一个出现的频率明显较高。我们讨论了大猩猩诱导的食草行为对植被丰度变化的潜在影响。大猩猩最常食用的物种的变化可能会影响它们的营养摄入量，并强调监测植物种群动态、物种密度和资源利用之间相互关系的重要性。Am. J. Primatol. 75：267-280，2013. (C)2012 Wiley Periodicals，Inc.
Monitoring temporal and spatial changes in the resource availability of endangered species contributes to their conservation. The number of critically endangered mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in the Virunga Volcano population has doubled over the past three decades, but no studies have examined how food availability has changed during that period. First, we assessed if the plant species consumed by the gorillas have changed in abundance and distribution during the past two decades. In 20092010, we replicated a study conducted in 19881989 by measuring the frequency, density, and biomass of plant species consumed by the gorillas in 496 plots (ca. 6 km2) in the Karisoke study area in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. We expected to observe a decreased presence of major gorilla food plants as a likely result of density-dependent overharvesting by gorillas. Among the five most frequently consumed species (composing approximately 70% of the gorilla's diet, excluding bamboo), two have decreased in availability and abundance, while three have increased. Some species have undergone shifts in their altitudinal distribution, possibly due to regional climatic changes. Second, we made baseline measurements of food availability in a larger area currently utilized by the gorillas. In the extended sampling (n = 473 plots) area (ca. 25 km2), of the five most frequently consumed species, two were not significantly different in frequency from the re-sampled area, while two occurred significantly less frequently, and one occurred significantly more frequently. We discuss the potential impact of gorilla-induced herbivory on changes of vegetation abundance. The changes in the species most commonly consumed by the gorillas could affect their nutrient intake and stresses the importance of monitoring the interrelation among plant population dynamics, species density, and resource use. Am. J. Primatol. 75:267-280, 2013. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.