How do you monitor rare and elusive mammals? Counting duikers in Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Duikers (Cephalophini) are relatively small-bodied, predominantly forest-dwelling African antelope. Monitoring duiker populations is difficult due to their cryptic nature and occurrence in often densely vegetated habitats. Yet, monitoring programmes are
urgently required as many species are threatened by habitat loss and widespread hunting. Two case studies involving estimating population density or abundance for duiker species are presented here. Camera-trapping appeared to be the most effective relative abundance index in a pilot study to monitor Harvey’s duiker in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Line transect counts, tracking strips and hair-traps recorded fewer duiker events per replicate. Spoor presence was found to be an unreliable predictor of grey duiker density as estimated from dung heap counts in the Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe. Establishing reliable monitoring methods is a fundamental step for more detailed work with endangered duiker species.
urgently required as many species are threatened by habitat loss and widespread hunting. Two case studies involving estimating population density or abundance for duiker species are presented here. Camera-trapping appeared to be the most effective relative abundance index in a pilot study to monitor Harvey’s duiker in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Line transect counts, tracking strips and hair-traps recorded fewer duiker events per replicate. Spoor presence was found to be an unreliable predictor of grey duiker density as estimated from dung heap counts in the Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe. Establishing reliable monitoring methods is a fundamental step for more detailed work with endangered duiker species.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Animals, Zoos and Conservation |
Editors | E Zgrabczyñska, P Ćwiertnia, J Ziomek |
Publisher | Zoological Garden in Poznan |
Publication date | 2006 |
Pages | 21-28 |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
ID: 290325589