23 research outputs found
‘Five minutes to midnight’ for Arabian gazelles Gazella arabica in Harrat Uwayrid, north-western Saudi Arabia
No full textMacaca sylvanus
No full textThe Barbary Macaque is the only surviving primate in Africa north of the Sahara desert, the only native species of primate to occur in Europe, and the only member of the genus Macaca that can be found outside Asia. The species was once an inhabitant of parts of Europe and all of North Africa (Delson 1980; Camperio Ciani 1986). In historic times it was it was widespread throughout north Africa from Libya to Morocco, but its current distribution is limited to small relict patches of forest and scrub in Algeria and Morocco (Fa 1984; Camperio Ciani 1986; Menard and Vallet 1993; Scheffrahn et al. 1993). A semi wild population lives in Gibraltar, which is a long established introduced population (Fa 1981; von Starck 1990; Hodges and Cortes 2006).
In Morocco, M. sylvanus can still be found in the Rif mountains (northern Morocco) and the Middle and High Atlas mountains (central and southern Morocco). In Algeria, it is found in the Tellian Atlas (Petite Kabylie and Grande Kabylie mountains, and an isolated population in the Chréa National Park) (northern Algeria). More specifically, in Morocco the High Atlas populations (two anciently separated populations) are found in the Bou Tferda valley to Demnat region and around the Ourika Valley, respectively; the Rif populations are primarily on Mounts Lakraa, Tissouka, Tazoute, Bouhacham, and Djebel Moussa. In Algeria, from west to east, Barbary Macaque populations are distributed as follows: (a) Chiffa gorges (Chréa National Park); (b) Djurdjura forests and rocky cliffs (Djurdjura National Park, Grande-Kabylie); (c) Akfadou forests, including a small ‘subpopulation’ recently settled in degraded forests and maquis, near El-Kseur (Grande-Kabylie and Petite-Kabylie); (d) Cap Carbon, Aiguades and Pic des Singes (Gouraya National Park; Béjaïa, Petite-Kabylie); (e) Chaabet-el-Akhra Gorges (Kherrata; Béjaïa, Petite-Kabylie); (f) ‘Massif des Babors’ forests (Sétif and Béjaïa, Petite-Kabylie); (g) Guerrouch forest (Taza National Park; Jijel, Petite-Kabylie). Additionally, a Barbary Macaque population might still occur in Djebel Bouzegza (Boumerdes, Grande-Kabylie) (F. Belbachir pers. comm. 2007)
Twenty years conservation and monitoring of re-introduced mountain gazelle in the Ibex Reserve, Saudi Arabia
No full textHistorically, the mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) occurred across most of the Arabian Peninsula into northern Syria and Turkey. Early explorers and scientists reported that the mountain gazelle is closely associated with Acacia spp. trees. The current range includes southern Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Iran (Farur Island), Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The IUCN Red List currently ranks this species as ‘Vulnerable’ (A2ad). Mountain gazelle numbers have decreased dramatically throughout their range, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The only protected areas in Saudi Arabia with natural populations of mountain gazelle are Al Khunfah, Harrat al Harrah, and Farasan Islands. A few scattered populations occur outside of protected areas in the western Asir Mountains, Hejaz Mountains, and possibly on the Tihama coastal plain. There are only two reports of mountain gazelle occurring historically in the central mountains of Saudi Arabia. Both reports are for mountain gazelle in the Jebel Tuwaiq, which is where the Ibex Reserve is situated. In an effort to re-establish the locally extinct population in the Tuwaiq Mountains (Ibex Reserve), the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) initiated a mountain gazelle re-introduction program in 1990 (Dunham et al., 1993). The released gazelles came from the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre (KKWRC), Saudi Arabia
Neumann’s enigmatic gazelle (Gazella erlangeri) Threatened taxon or domesticated gazelle?
No full textOne of the most challenging questions in regard to Arabian gazelles is the status of G. erlangeri Neumann, 1906 (Fig. 1). Gazelles currently kept in captivity at King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre in Saudi Arabia and Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar (Fig. 2) show the described combination of diagnostic features, and thus, were considered to represent G. erlangeri, even though the exact provenance of these gazelles remains obscure. However, captive ‘G. erlangeri’ may have also originated from eastern Oman and could be therefore assigned to G. muscatensis (Fig. 3). Both taxa are considered ‘extinct in the wild’ by the IUCN Red List. Past conservation efforts have been plagued by confusion about the phylogenetic relationship among various—phenotypically discernable—populations (e.g., G. erlangeri, G. muscatensis), and even the question of species boundaries was far from being certain. This lack of knowledge had a direct impact on conservation measures, especially ex situ breeding programmes, hampering the assignment of captive stocks to potential conservation units
Dark grey gazelles Gazella (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in Arabia: Threatened species or domestic pet?
No full textTrue gazelles (genus Gazella) are a prime example of a mammalian group with considerable taxonomic confusion. This includes the descriptions of several dark grey taxa of questionable validity. Here, we examined captive dark grey putative Neumann’s gazelle Gazella erlangeri. Our concerted efforts to retrieve mitochondrial sequence information from old museum specimens of two dark grey gazelles, putative G. erlangeri and putative Muscat gazelle G. muscatensis, were unsuccessful. We did, however, find the mtDNA haplotypes of extant putative G. erlangeri to be nested within the haplotype variation of the Arabian gazelle G. arabica. The observed population genetic divergence between G. arabica and putative G. erlangeri (based on 11 nuclear microsatellites) was driven by genetic impoverishment of putative G. erlangeri. These results, along with morphological signatures of domestication (e.g., reduced brain case size), suggest genetic bottle necks and domestication effects as a consequence of prolonged captive breeding. Three hypotheses are discussed: (a) G. erlangeri and/or G. muscatensis are valid species but are now extinct; (b) one or both taxa represent phenotypic variation within G. arabica and, therefore, are synonyms of G. arabica; and (c) captive stocks, exhibiting the effects of domestication and inbreeding, are the sources for the descriptions of G. erlangeri and G. muscatensis. As concerns the conservation of gazelles, based on current knowledge, we strongly advise against using putative G. erlangeri for any introduction initiative but recommend the continued captive management of putative G. erlangeri
Distribution And Conservation Of The Patas Monkey Erythrocebus patas In Kenya
No full textFrom December 2003 through May 2004, a survey was conducted on patas monkeys Erythrocebus patas in Kenya to determine the historic distribution, current distribution, conservation status, and threats. Patas were found in Laikipia District, Busia, West-Pokot, Turkana, Makueni and Taita Taveta Districts. Historically, patas were present in west, northwest, central and south Kenya. The geographic range of patas in Kenya has declined from ca. 88 800 km² to roughly 48 200 km² and the gaps among populations has increased. The current geographic range is ca. 54% of the known historic range, or ca. 8% of Kenya\'s land surface area. All survey sites have their unique patas conservation challenges. Patas are occasionally killed as a consequence of crop raiding and for consumption. Water shortage is a threat to the survival of patas at some sites in Kenya. Habitat loss and degradation (due to human activities or wildlife) are the primary conservation problems for patas at all sites. This study and its recommendations should be taken as a basis for patas conservation action in Kenya. Keywords: Erythrocebus , patas, biogeography, distribution, crop raidingJournal of East African Natural History Vol. 97 (1) 2008: pp. 83-10
Niche partitioning and densities of Albertine Rift endemics and their congeners in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
No full textBiogeographical theory predicts that restricted-range species should typically occur at lower densities than ecologically similar, but geographically widespread species. Exceptions may arise where endemics occupy distinctive habitats, in which they are capable of reaching higher densities than their more widespread competitors. This paper describes the habitat requirements and abundance of a sample of insectivores in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, part of the Albertine Rift mountains Endemic Bird Area. The altitude ranges, habitat preferences, foraging niches and densities of five Albertine Rift endemics from the genera Phylloscopus, Apalis, Batis and Parus were compared with those of their congeners, or with ecologically similar species. The five endemics were associated with ridgetop forest, steeply sloping ground and a sparse understorey or field layer. They foraged within a narrower height range and used a wider range of substrates than their partner species, but showed no significant differences with regard to altitude range, the number of habitat features with which they were associated, foraging niche width or population density. Two endemic apalises were among the most abundant of their genus, achieving densities at least seven times that of the least abundant apalis at Bwindi. These findings are broadly consistent with results from studies of other montane bird communities in Africa, which suggest that bird species endemic to Afromontane forests often achieve densities comparable with those of widespread, ecologically similar species, and may thus avoid the 'double jeopardy' of small range size and low population density.Peer reviewe
Vocal Repertoire and Intraspecific Variation within Two Loud Calls of the Small-Eared Greater Galago (Otolemur garnettii) in Tanzania and Kenya
No full text© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel. All rights reserved. Vocal repertoires and call structure can provide insights into the behaviour and evolution of species, as well as aid in taxonomic classification. Nocturnal primates have large vocal repertoires. This suggests that acoustic communication plays an important role in their life histories. Little is known about the behavioural context or the intraspecific variation of their vocalisations. We used autonomous recording units and manual recorders to investigate the vocal behaviour and structure of loud calls of the small-eared greater galago (Otolemur garnettii)in Kenya and Tanzania. We describe the vocal repertoire, temporal calling patterns and structure of 2 loud calls of 2 subspecies: O. g. panganiensis and O. g. kikuyuensis. We found considerable intraspecific structural differences in both loud calls. These are congruent with the current subspecies classification. Differences in vocalisations among populations are not consistent with the "acoustic adaptation hypothesis," rather they are likely a result of geographic variation due to isolation caused by vegetational barriers in southern Kenya
Socially learned habituation to human observers in wild chimpanzees
No full textFieldwork of CH and LS was funded by grants from the British Academy and a Leverhulme Trust’s Research Leadership Award.Abstract Habituation to human observers is an essential tool in animal behaviour research. Habituation occurs when repeated and inconsequential exposure to a human observer gradually reduces an animal’s natural aversive response. Despite the importance of habituation, little is known about the psychological mechanisms facilitating it in wild ani- mals. Although animal learning theory offers some account, the patterns are more complex in natural than in laboratory settings, especially in large social groups in which individual experiences vary and individuals influ- ence each other. Here, we investigate the role of social learning during the habituation process of a wild chim- panzee group, the Waibira community of Budongo Forest, Uganda. Through post hoc hypothesis testing, we found that the immigration of two well-habituated, young females from the neighbouring Sonso community had a significant effect on the behaviour of non-habituated Waibira indi- viduals towards human observers, suggesting that habitu- ation is partially acquired via social learning.Peer reviewe
