Wild population paper

Kapidolo Farms

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http://rjh.folium.ru/index.php/rjh/article/view/1186

Distance-Generated Field Density Estimates for the Threatened Sahel Tortoise Centrochelys sulcata

Fabio Petrozzi, Emmanuel Hema, Djidama Sirima, Benoit Doamba, Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto, Tomas Diagne, Nioking Amadi, Giovanni Amori, Godfrey C. Akani, Edem Eniang, Laurent Chirio, Luca Luiselli

Abstract

In this paper, the results of the first density investigations (via Distance methodology on line transect surveys) for the threatened African spurred tortoise Centrochelys sulcata from West African Sahel (Niger and Burkina Faso) are reported. Spurred tortoises were encountered in 51.8% of Burkina Faso transects (n = 27) and in 60.7% of Niger transects. In several transects we found evidence of the tortoise presence, but without actually seeing any individual. Pooling all the transects from which tortoise density was calculated, the mean density of tortoises in Burkina Faso was 0.0021 ind./ha, and in Niger was 0.167 ind./ha. Nonetheless, there was a considerable variability in density estimates by transect in both countries, and especially in Teneré-Termit (Niger), the density of tortoises was very high (over 2 ind./ha). Teneré-Termit region in Niger may therefore represent a potentially crucial area for the conservation of this declining species.

Keywords

African spurred tortoise; density estimates; Sahel; line transects; conservatio

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References

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Tim Carlisle

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Thanks for sharing Will. I've only read the abstract thus far, but it, alone, has certainly piqued my interest. Curious....did they cite a cause for the decline? I plan to read the full pdf later tonight.
 
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