Title
Intrasite variation in the ability to detect tropical forest mammals
Author(s)
Breuer, T.;Hockemba, M. B. N.
Published
2012
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Monitoring programs are essential for an adequate management of large mammal populations. Within Central Africa data on abundance of important bushmeat species, such as duikers and primates are often lacking. Relative densities [(encounter rates (ERs)] are often the only available data, but there is little knowledge on the factors affecting ERs and detection of these animals. Here we investigate how different environmental factors and observers influence large mammal ERs in a pristine rainforest in the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. Our results show large daily and monthly variation in ERs of duikers and primates. ERs varied between habitat types, seasons and observers' ability to detect animals. Season and rainfall had a strong effect on understory visibility and duiker detection, respectively. Detection of duikers often happened by sound instead of visual observations. Our study shows that the use of ER is a poor monitoring approach and more robust methods need to be used to evaluate rates of population change reliably.
Keywords
detection;duiker;encounter rate;monitoring;primate;rain forest;KIBALE NATIONAL-PARK;OLD-GROWTH FOREST;DUIKERS CEPHALOPHUS;COMMUNITY;DYNAMICS;CENTRAL-AFRICA;RAIN-FOREST;PRIMATES;CONGO;POPULATIONS;ABUNDANCE

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PUB13444