A baseline for primate conservation is information on population
density. Such evidence, however, is still scarce for tropical forest
monkeys, who are under threat from habitat loss due to deforestation,
land conversion for agriculture, climate change, illicit hunting,
habitat fragmentations, logging, and other disturbances. Detailed
studies on population size and ecology of Djaffa Mountains guerezas (C.
g. gallarum) in their potential range have not been carried out. This
study aims to estimate the density and total population abundance of
Djaffa Mountains guereza across the forest fragments in the Ahmar
Mountains, Eastern Ethiopia. We conducted line-transect surveys across
the selected forests to provide reliable population size using
multiple-covariate distance sampling. Between December 2020 and
September 2021, we sampled 22 transects, covering a total distance of
93.7 km. Throughout the surveys, we observed 79 Djaffa Mountains guereza
groups. There was a considerable difference in encounter rates of a
taxon between the forests surveyed. The overall C. g. gallarum density
was 16.5 groups/km2 (95%CI = 10.2–24.5) and 83.1 individual
density/km2 (95%CI = 50.7–121.1), with an estimated total abundance of
15205 (95%CI = 9288–22163) individuals throughout the studied forests.
Our results showed that the population density of a taxon in the Ahmar
Mountains is lower than a sister group, C. g. guereza studied in other
localities of Ethiopia. We propose that in the research region,
analyzing conservation issues, replenishing forest sections, and
monitoring C. g. gallarum populations should be a priority.
Estimating population densities is essential for understanding primate
ecology and for guiding conservation efforts. Such information, however,
is still scarce for many forest primates. The Djaffa Mountains guereza
(Colobus guereza gallarum) is an Ethiopian endemic taxon for
which information about their distribution and population size are
missing. To fill this gap of knowledge, we conducted line-transect
surveys in forest fragments within the range of C. g.
gallarum in the Ahmar Mountains, Eastern Ethiopia. Between
December 2020 and September 2021, we sampled 22 transects, covering a
total distance of 93.7 km. We found considerable variation of encounter
rates among the forest fragments. In total, we encountered 79 guereza
clusters (most likely groups) and estimated their overall population
density as 16.5 clusters/km (95%CI = 10.2–24.5) and
83.1 individuals/km (95%CI = 50.7–121.1). Their
estimated population size was 15,205 (95%CI = 9288–22,163)
individuals. This population density is thus lower than of C.
g. guereza in other parts of Ethiopia. Given that the
habitat of C. g. gallarum and its population are
highly fragmented, further monitoring of the population and
exploring the possibilities of reconnecting its habitat should be of
conservation priority.
An endangered Ethiopian wolf has been declining because of climate change coupled with various anthropogenic disturbances, resulted in restricted geographic distribution. Knowledge of the effects of these stressors on animal distribution is vital to promoting conservation campaigns and implementing effective management strategies. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to model habitat suitability of the Ethiopian wolf and project the potential effects of future climate changes on the predicted habitat distribution. We used to project changes in habitat distribution of a taxon under three shared socio-economic pathways (low (ssp126), intermediate (ssp245), and worst (ssp585)) future climate change scenarios. Our findings revealed the maximum temperature of the warmest month and ecoregion had the highest percent contributions, 65.4 and 16.1, respectively. The predicted potential suitable habitat under the current conditions was lower 2.45% (2779658 ha) compared to the total area of Ethiopia. The projected suitable areas of C. simensis under future climate change showed that an increase, range shifts, fragmentation, and small in availability were observed. To resolve these issues, habitat restoration, reduction of anthropogenic pressures, and climate change mitigation should be emphasized to improve the conservation of endemic species, including C. simensis. To further understand the possible implications of biotic variables on Ethiopian wolf habitat suitability and distribution, more research on the ecological niches of a taxon connected with its prey species overlap is needed.
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