Can we extend the area of occupancy of the kipunji, a critically endangered African primate?

Abstract

The recently discovered and critically endangered kipunji Rungwecebus kipunji is known from just two sites in southern Tanzania, with the bulk of its tiny population surviving as patchily distributed subpopulations within the Mt. Rungwe-Livingstone (RL) montane forests. We investigated the kipunji's habitat associations to determine its usage of different forest types, to predict occupancy across the study area and to identify unoccupied areas that might, with appropriate management, offer the best range of expansion possibilities. We developed kipunji-habitat-use models using 14 floristic, structural and geographical predictors for three different methods (non-spatial logistic regression, autoregressive and generalized estimating equations). The best models were selected based on Akaike Information Criterion minimization, and used to develop a habitat suitability model with interpolation techniques. Kipunji were associated with a closed canopy at mid to lower altitudes, and with specific tree communities, as highlighted by the interaction between canopy cover and a floristic axis, where fragmentation may be tolerated as long as resources are available. Predictions of habitat suitability closely matched those of current occurrence (42 km 2 ), with little room for expansion within forests around their known range. Interpolation of occurrence probabilities suggested that the original habitat in areas located to the south of the current range, now deforested, would have been highly suitable for kipunji. Conservation management should concentrate on facilitating range expansion and connectivity between subpopulations to secure future kipunji numbers and genetic variation. Steps should be taken to improve forest quality and connectivity within the current protected areas, including (but not limited to) the Bujingijila corridor, which splits the kipunji subpopulations of RL. Kipunji's tolerance of some habitat disturbance suggests that restored forests do not necessarily need to be pristine to benefit the species. Additional management might consider the restoration of some of kipunji's former range by reforesting suitable non-forested habitat adjacent to their current range.

Modeling the Wintering Habitat Distribution of Oriental Honey Buzzards in West Java Indonesia with Satellite Tracking Data Using Logistic Regression

“…So, it can be seen that the logistic regression method encourages a better understanding of the landscape characteristics. This result is aligned with the previous studies which are successfully characterizing the habitat of northern pygmy owls (Piorecky and Prescott 2006), migratory fish (Alves and Fontoura 2009;Barradas et al 2012), Sumatran tiger (Priatna 2020) and african primate (Bracebridge et al 2011).…”

The Impact of Forest Disturbance on the Seasonal Foraging Ecology of a Critically Endangered African Primate

“…Association of kipunji food trees with different forested habitats was examined with principal components analysis (PCA; Pearson ) using 145 vegetation plots located within the latest kipunji extent of occurrence (Bracebridge et al . ). The eight variables used were: (1) forest architectures (reflecting primary, regenerating and disturbed forests); (2) elevation; (3) mean tree basal area; (4) mean tree height; (5) mean canopy cover; and (6) proportion of bamboo.…”

“…), with the latest extent of occurrence known to cover just 17 percent of the 246 km 2 available RL forests (Bracebridge et al . ). The RL forests are highly seasonal (Davenport et al .…”

The Role of Woodlots in Forest Regeneration outside Protected Areas: Lessons from Tanzania

“…Protect and Wait is only effective under conditions favorable to forest regeneration, namely, the presence of nearby seed stocks, roosts for seed dispersers, and the suppression of fire and competing grasses [27]. When reconnecting forests is urgent, such as at our site where the gap separates two patches of montane forest holding populations of an endangered arboreal primate [43], Protect and Wait might be too slow.…”

“…In the woodlots, smallholders plant exotic trees, including pine (Pinus patula), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus maidenii), and cypress (Cupressus lusitanica). The three strategies were not uniformly replicated across the study area, but all were underway within a 300 Ha area bordered by the mid-altitude forests of comparable composition [43]. This juxtaposition affords a unique opportunity for comparison.…”