Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia
Abstract Anthropogenic land-use changes pose significant threats to the diversity and occurrence of wildlife species around the world. We investigated how land-use and environmental factors affect the richness and occurrence of carnivore species in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of the Southern Rift Va...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2022-01-01
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| Series: | SN Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04930-9 |
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| author | Berhanu Gebo Serekebirhan Takele Simon Shibru |
| author_facet | Berhanu Gebo Serekebirhan Takele Simon Shibru |
| author_sort | Berhanu Gebo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Anthropogenic land-use changes pose significant threats to the diversity and occurrence of wildlife species around the world. We investigated how land-use and environmental factors affect the richness and occurrence of carnivore species in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We used the line transect method to collect data, combining three complementary field survey techniques: sign survey, camera trapping, and opportunistic sighting surveys. We confirmed the presence of 12 carnivore species belonging to six families, including the vulnerable Felidae species Panthera pardus. More species were found in the family’s Felidae and Herpestidae, while Hyaenidae and Mustelidae were composed of a single species each. The two large-sized species identified were Panthera pardus and Crocuta crocuta. The species richness was the highest in wetlands, while it was the lowest in the settlement. The occurrence of most carnivores was negatively associated with agricultural land and settlements, while they were positively associated with wetlands and altitude. Genetta genetta had the highest occurrence, while Panthera pardus had the lowest in the area. We concluded that of the studied habitats, wetlands are the most important, and anthropogenic land-uses have a negative impact on species richness. Our findings provide valuable baseline data for stakeholders making critical conservation decisions as well as researchers conducting related ecological studies in a human-dominated landscape. Based on our findings, we propose a basic approach for integrating land management and wildlife conservation. Article Highlights Twelve carnivore species belonging to six families were identified; only two were large-sized. The species richness was the highest in wetlands, while it was the lowest in settlements and agricultural land. Most species tended to have positive associations with higher altitudes and wetlands and negative associations with settlements, agricultural land, and roads. Our finding highlights valuable baseline data for critical conservation decisions as well as researchers in a human-dominated landscape. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:16:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2596b8961b644867935b3e81372606bb |
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| issn | 2523-3963 2523-3971 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:16:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SN Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2596b8961b644867935b3e81372606bb2022-12-21T21:21:20ZengSpringerSN Applied Sciences2523-39632523-39712022-01-014211110.1007/s42452-021-04930-9Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, EthiopiaBerhanu Gebo0Serekebirhan Takele1Simon Shibru2Department of Biology, Natural and Computational Sciences College, Arba Minch UniversityDepartment of Biology, Natural and Computational Sciences College, Arba Minch UniversityDepartment of Biology, Natural and Computational Sciences College, Arba Minch UniversityAbstract Anthropogenic land-use changes pose significant threats to the diversity and occurrence of wildlife species around the world. We investigated how land-use and environmental factors affect the richness and occurrence of carnivore species in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We used the line transect method to collect data, combining three complementary field survey techniques: sign survey, camera trapping, and opportunistic sighting surveys. We confirmed the presence of 12 carnivore species belonging to six families, including the vulnerable Felidae species Panthera pardus. More species were found in the family’s Felidae and Herpestidae, while Hyaenidae and Mustelidae were composed of a single species each. The two large-sized species identified were Panthera pardus and Crocuta crocuta. The species richness was the highest in wetlands, while it was the lowest in the settlement. The occurrence of most carnivores was negatively associated with agricultural land and settlements, while they were positively associated with wetlands and altitude. Genetta genetta had the highest occurrence, while Panthera pardus had the lowest in the area. We concluded that of the studied habitats, wetlands are the most important, and anthropogenic land-uses have a negative impact on species richness. Our findings provide valuable baseline data for stakeholders making critical conservation decisions as well as researchers conducting related ecological studies in a human-dominated landscape. Based on our findings, we propose a basic approach for integrating land management and wildlife conservation. Article Highlights Twelve carnivore species belonging to six families were identified; only two were large-sized. The species richness was the highest in wetlands, while it was the lowest in settlements and agricultural land. Most species tended to have positive associations with higher altitudes and wetlands and negative associations with settlements, agricultural land, and roads. Our finding highlights valuable baseline data for critical conservation decisions as well as researchers in a human-dominated landscape.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04930-9Body sizeCarnivore conservationCompositionOccurrenceLand-useSpecies richness |
| spellingShingle | Berhanu Gebo Serekebirhan Takele Simon Shibru Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia SN Applied Sciences Body size Carnivore conservation Composition Occurrence Land-use Species richness |
| title | Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | anthropogenic land use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the faragosa fura landscape of southern rift valley ethiopia |
| topic | Body size Carnivore conservation Composition Occurrence Land-use Species richness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04930-9 |
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