| Abstract: | The importance of human activity and ecological features in influencing African forest elephant ranging behaviour was investigated in the Rabi-Ndogo corridor of the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas in southwest Gabon. Locations in a wide geographical area with a range of environmental variables were selected for patch-occupancy surveys using elephant dung to assess seasonal presence and absence of elephants. Patch-occupancy procedures allowed for covariate modelling evaluating hypotheses for both occupancy in relation to human activity and ecological features, and detection probability in relation to vegetation density. The best fitting models for old and fresh dung data sets indicate that (1) detection probability for elephant dung is negatively related to the relative density of the vegetation, and (2) human activity, such as presence and infrastructure, are more closely associated with elephant distribution patterns than are ecological features, such as the presence of wetlands and preferred fresh fruit. Our findings emphasize the sensitivity of elephants to human disturbance, in this case infrastructure development associated with gas and oil production. Patch-occupancy methodology offers a viable alternative to current transect protocols for monitoring programs with multiple covariates. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5224699 |
| Citation Author: | Buij, R.; McShea, W.J.; Campbell, P.; Lee, M.E.; Dallmeier, F.; Guimondou, S.; Mackaga, L.; Guisseougou, N.; Mboumba, S.; Hines, J.E.; Nichols, J.D.; Alonso, A. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 201 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Biological Conservation |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 13 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 189-201 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | 6651_Buij.pdf |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Patch-occupancy models indicate human activity as major determinant of forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis seasonal distribution in an industrial corridor in Gabon; 2007; Article; Journal; Biological Conservation; Buij, R.; McShea, W.J.; Campbell, P.; Lee, M.E.; Dallmeier, F.; Guimondou, S.; Mackaga, L.; Guisseougou, N.; Mboumba, S.; Hines, J.E.; Nichols, J.D.; Alonso, A. |
| Citation Start Page: | 189 |
| Citation Volume: | 135 |
| Citation Year: | 2007 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Patch-occupancy models indicate human activity as major determinant of forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis seasonal distribution in an industrial corridor in Gabon; 2007; Article; Journal; Biological Conservation; Buij, R.; McShea, W.J.; Campbell, P.; Lee, M.E.; Dallmeier, F.; Guimondou, S.; Mackaga, L.; Guisseougou, N.; Mboumba, S.; Hines, J.E.; Nichols, J.D.; Alonso, A. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V5X-4MGVJ97-2&_user=696292&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F2007&_rdoc=5&_fmt=summary&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235798%232007%23998649997%23642668%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5798&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=17&_acct=C000038819&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=696292&md5=6396d41640a8a3de46ab1a10a0439994 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
