Snapshot Safari: A large-scale collaborative to monitor Africa's remarkable biodiversity
- Pardo, Lain E, Bombaci, Sara, Huebner, Sarah E, Somers, Michael J, Fritz, Herve, Downs, Colleen, Guthmann, Abby, Hetem, Robyn S, Keith, Mark, le Roux, Aliza, Mgqatsa, Nokubonga, Packer, Craig, Palmer, Meredith S, Parker, Daniel M, Peel, Mike, Slotow, Rob, Strauss, W. Maartin, Swanepoel, Lourens, Tambling, Craig, Tsie, Nairobi, Vermeulen, Mika, Willi, Marco, Jachowski, David S, Venter, Jan A
- Authors: Pardo, Lain E , Bombaci, Sara , Huebner, Sarah E , Somers, Michael J , Fritz, Herve , Downs, Colleen , Guthmann, Abby , Hetem, Robyn S , Keith, Mark , le Roux, Aliza , Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Packer, Craig , Palmer, Meredith S , Parker, Daniel M , Peel, Mike , Slotow, Rob , Strauss, W. Maartin , Swanepoel, Lourens , Tambling, Craig , Tsie, Nairobi , Vermeulen, Mika , Willi, Marco , Jachowski, David S , Venter, Jan A
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462669 , vital:76324 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2021/8134"
- Description: Nature is experiencing degradation and extinction rates never recorded before in the history of Earth. Consequently, continuous large-scale monitoring programmes are critical, not only to provide insights into population trends but also to aid in understanding factors associated with altering population dynamics at various temporal and spatial scales. Continuous monitoring is important not only for tracking rare or threatened species but also to detect the increase of potentially invasive species4, and the trends in the populations of common species, which in some regions are declining even more rapidly than are rare species. The combination of citizen science and cutting-edge technologies has improved monitoring programmes. In this regard, camera traps have become a popular tool to engage with society while obtaining accurate scientific data. The importance of advances in technological monitoring has even been highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through the proposed 'Digital Ecosystem framework', a complex distributed network or interconnected socio-technological system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Pardo, Lain E , Bombaci, Sara , Huebner, Sarah E , Somers, Michael J , Fritz, Herve , Downs, Colleen , Guthmann, Abby , Hetem, Robyn S , Keith, Mark , le Roux, Aliza , Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Packer, Craig , Palmer, Meredith S , Parker, Daniel M , Peel, Mike , Slotow, Rob , Strauss, W. Maartin , Swanepoel, Lourens , Tambling, Craig , Tsie, Nairobi , Vermeulen, Mika , Willi, Marco , Jachowski, David S , Venter, Jan A
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462669 , vital:76324 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2021/8134"
- Description: Nature is experiencing degradation and extinction rates never recorded before in the history of Earth. Consequently, continuous large-scale monitoring programmes are critical, not only to provide insights into population trends but also to aid in understanding factors associated with altering population dynamics at various temporal and spatial scales. Continuous monitoring is important not only for tracking rare or threatened species but also to detect the increase of potentially invasive species4, and the trends in the populations of common species, which in some regions are declining even more rapidly than are rare species. The combination of citizen science and cutting-edge technologies has improved monitoring programmes. In this regard, camera traps have become a popular tool to engage with society while obtaining accurate scientific data. The importance of advances in technological monitoring has even been highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through the proposed 'Digital Ecosystem framework', a complex distributed network or interconnected socio-technological system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The spatial ecology and roost site selection of fledging Cape vultures (Gyps coprotheres) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Martens, Francis Rae, Downs, Colleen
- Authors: Martens, Francis Rae , Downs, Colleen
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Spatial ecology -- South Africa -- Easter , Gyps -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vultures -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Birds -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15875 , vital:28284
- Description: The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), a southern African endemic, is a species currently listed on the IUCN Red List as “Threatened” due to its 66-81% decline over the past 50 years. South Africa and Lesotho hold 90% of the global population, which are focused at two core areas, namely northern central South Africa and eastern South Africa. This species provides important ecological services yet faces numerous anthropogenic threats. An emerging threat in the south eastern part of South Africa is that of wind energy development. Understanding the movement and roosting behaviour of the Cape Vulture may mitigate potential collisions if areas of high use are avoided. Juvenile Cape Vultures, who naturally suffer high mortality rates, are known to forage extensively over a wider landscape and as a consequence may face a greater assortment of threats. The overall aim of this study therefore was to determine the ranging and roosting behaviour of juvenile Cape Vultures in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In order to achieve this aim, i) the ranging behaviour and habitat use were determined and ii) roost sites and factors that influence roost site selection were determined. Using five juvenile Cape Vultures tagged with Global Positioning System (GPS/GSM) transmitters, home range sizes, distance travelled from the nest and habitat use were determined. Home range was determined through kernel density estimates and distance travelled from the nest was determined through the Euclidean distance. Habitat use was determined by overlaying the home range size onto a merged layer of all protected areas and the National Land Cover Database of South Africa. To determine roost sites, data from the tagged vultures were split into encamped and exploratory movements using a mixture model in a cluster analysis setting. Encamped movements were associated with roost sites. Roost density was determined around the natal colony using predetermined buffer sizes and a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) fitted to the data. Conditions considered favourable for roost sites were based on previous research conducted on cliff-nesting species and a GLMM conducted. Juveniles increased their home range progressively for the first two months, then exhibited a rapid increase in size associated with dispersal from the colony. Distance from the nest increased rapidly following the dispersal period. Protected areas and woody vegetation were areas of preferred habitat. The highest density of roosts for juveniles was located within 20 km’s from the breeding colony and decreased further away. Roost sites that were favoured for juveniles and adult birds were those that were located close to colonies, had low accessibility to terrestrial predators and were in areas of high wind speed. The orientation of the cliff into the prevailing wind direction was also a determining factor. Roosting sites and foraging areas are important spatial determinants of Cape Vulture behaviour and the identification of such areas can help with conservation management. With the additional threat of wind development in areas highly utilised, wind farms located too close to colonies could have a devastating impact on the Cape Vulture population. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of conservation buffer zones as no-go areas for wind energy development around vulture colonies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Martens, Francis Rae , Downs, Colleen
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Spatial ecology -- South Africa -- Easter , Gyps -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vultures -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Birds -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15875 , vital:28284
- Description: The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), a southern African endemic, is a species currently listed on the IUCN Red List as “Threatened” due to its 66-81% decline over the past 50 years. South Africa and Lesotho hold 90% of the global population, which are focused at two core areas, namely northern central South Africa and eastern South Africa. This species provides important ecological services yet faces numerous anthropogenic threats. An emerging threat in the south eastern part of South Africa is that of wind energy development. Understanding the movement and roosting behaviour of the Cape Vulture may mitigate potential collisions if areas of high use are avoided. Juvenile Cape Vultures, who naturally suffer high mortality rates, are known to forage extensively over a wider landscape and as a consequence may face a greater assortment of threats. The overall aim of this study therefore was to determine the ranging and roosting behaviour of juvenile Cape Vultures in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In order to achieve this aim, i) the ranging behaviour and habitat use were determined and ii) roost sites and factors that influence roost site selection were determined. Using five juvenile Cape Vultures tagged with Global Positioning System (GPS/GSM) transmitters, home range sizes, distance travelled from the nest and habitat use were determined. Home range was determined through kernel density estimates and distance travelled from the nest was determined through the Euclidean distance. Habitat use was determined by overlaying the home range size onto a merged layer of all protected areas and the National Land Cover Database of South Africa. To determine roost sites, data from the tagged vultures were split into encamped and exploratory movements using a mixture model in a cluster analysis setting. Encamped movements were associated with roost sites. Roost density was determined around the natal colony using predetermined buffer sizes and a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) fitted to the data. Conditions considered favourable for roost sites were based on previous research conducted on cliff-nesting species and a GLMM conducted. Juveniles increased their home range progressively for the first two months, then exhibited a rapid increase in size associated with dispersal from the colony. Distance from the nest increased rapidly following the dispersal period. Protected areas and woody vegetation were areas of preferred habitat. The highest density of roosts for juveniles was located within 20 km’s from the breeding colony and decreased further away. Roost sites that were favoured for juveniles and adult birds were those that were located close to colonies, had low accessibility to terrestrial predators and were in areas of high wind speed. The orientation of the cliff into the prevailing wind direction was also a determining factor. Roosting sites and foraging areas are important spatial determinants of Cape Vulture behaviour and the identification of such areas can help with conservation management. With the additional threat of wind development in areas highly utilised, wind farms located too close to colonies could have a devastating impact on the Cape Vulture population. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of conservation buffer zones as no-go areas for wind energy development around vulture colonies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »