Reconstructing Historical Distribution of Large Mammals and their Habitat to Inform Rewilding and Restoration in Central Tanzania

IF 1.7 4区 环境科学与生态学 Q2 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Tropical Conservation Science Pub Date : 2023-01-01 DOI:10.1177/19400829231166832
Paulo C. Athumani, L. Munishi, I. Ngondya
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Abstract

In the anthropogenic landscapes where historically wildlife existed, there can be a potential for rewilding to reverse extinction. However, there is limited literature providing approaches to achieve successful rewilding. The current study aimed at providing empirical based methodological procedures for successful rewilding of the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and nearby degraded landscape by assessing past and current vegetation and large mammal species’ occurrence. The past occurrence of mega-herbivores and their habitat was assessed using systematic literature survey, past vegetation maps and key informant interviews. EBSCOhost database and Google Scholar search engine were used for literature searching. A survey was conducted at UDOM area which is one of the remaining habitat patches in central Tanzania to examine present plant diversity. The baseline vegetation map of 1960 indicated that the study area was mainly Savanna woodland. Literature suggested that anthropogenic activities resulted into Land-Use Land-Cover Changes (LULCC) leading into wild animals’ extirpation leaving remnant populations in the surrounding protected areas. While the key informant interviews verified local loss of mega-herbivores, field data collected at UDOM campus in 2022 indicated the vegetation transformation to bushland dominated by Dichrostachys cinerea. The area’s past vegetation composition was 33% grasses, 29% herbs, 21% shrubs and 17% trees while the current was 18% grasses, 42% herbs, 30% shrubs and 10% trees. The study revealed that central Tanzania hosted spectacular large mammal populations that interacted with the savanna which has recently been transformed to bushland. However, observed evidence on past existence of large mammals and recent elephants’ sightings at UDOM area indicate great potential for rewilding. Reconstructing historical information of ecosystems is crucial for successful rewilding. Such information can guide conservation efforts aiming at reversing extinction and reestablishing connectivity of large herbivore population across ecosystems.
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重建坦桑尼亚中部大型哺乳动物及其栖息地的历史分布,为野生化和恢复提供信息
在历史上存在野生动物的人为景观中,有可能恢复野生动物以扭转灭绝。然而,提供成功回归方法的文献有限。本研究旨在通过评估过去和现在的植被和大型哺乳动物物种的发生,为Dodoma大学(UDOM)和附近退化景观的成功恢复提供基于经验的方法程序。通过系统的文献调查、过去的植被图和关键信息提供者访谈,评估了大型食草动物的过去发生情况及其栖息地。文献检索采用EBSCOhost数据库和谷歌Scholar搜索引擎。在UDOM地区进行了一项调查,该地区是坦桑尼亚中部剩余的生境斑块之一,以检查目前的植物多样性。1960年植被基线图显示研究区以稀树草原林地为主。文献表明,人类活动导致土地利用-土地覆盖变化(LULCC),导致野生动物灭绝,在保护区周围留下残余种群。虽然主要信息提供者访谈证实了当地大型食草动物的消失,但2022年在UDOM校园收集的野外数据表明,植被向以Dichrostachys cinerea为主的丛林转变。该区过去的植被组成为33%禾本科、29%草本、21%灌木和17%乔木,而现在的植被组成为18%禾本科、42%草本、30%灌木和10%乔木。该研究表明,坦桑尼亚中部拥有壮观的大型哺乳动物种群,它们与最近转变为丛林的热带稀树草原相互作用。然而,观察到的大型哺乳动物过去存在的证据和最近在UDOM地区发现的大象表明,野生化的潜力很大。重建生态系统的历史信息对成功的野生化至关重要。这些信息可以指导旨在扭转灭绝和重建跨生态系统大型食草动物种群连通性的保护工作。
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来源期刊
Tropical Conservation Science
Tropical Conservation Science BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION-
CiteScore
3.60
自引率
5.90%
发文量
16
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Tropical Conservation Science is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes original research papers and state-of-the-art reviews of broad interest to the field of conservation of tropical forests and of other tropical ecosystems.
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