AKDEc home range size and habitat selection of Sumatran elephants
Penulis/Author
Alexander Mossbrucker (1); Christen H. Fleming (2); Dr. rer. silv. Muhammad Ali Imron, S.Hut., M.Sc. (3); Prof. Dr. Satyawan Pudyatmoko, S.Hut., M.Agr.Sc. (4); Sumardi (5)
Tanggal/Date
14 2016
Kata Kunci/Keyword
Abstrak/Abstract
Context: Understanding ranging behavior and habitat selection of threatened species is crucial for the development of conservation strategies and the design of conservation areas. Our understanding of the actual needs of the critically endangered Sumatran elephant in this context is insufficient. Aims: Provide reliable subspecies-specific information on home range size and habitat selection of Sumatran elephants. Methods: Using both the new area corrected Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation (AKDEC) and two commonly applied conventional methods the home range size of nine Sumatran elephants were estimated. Elephant habitat selection was studied using Manlyâ??s selection ratios. Key results: AKDEC home ranges of adults ranged from 275 km2 to 1352 km2. Estimates obtained using conventional KDE and MCP ranged between 156 km2 - 997 km2. Overall habitat selection was significant for both slope and land cover type while individual preferences varied to some extent. Based on global selection ratios we found natural forest, pulpwood plantations, and gentle slopes (â?¤ 4°) to be significantly selected, while most areas impacted by human activities and steeper slopes were avoided by the majority of animals included into the study. Conclusions: As expected, AKDEC estimates were much larger than those obtained using conventional methods because conventional methods have a tendency to underestimate home range size when confronted with autocorrelated movement data and produce estimates that refer to the limited study period only, while AKDEC estimates include the predicted animalâ??s long-term space use. The extremely large AKDEC estimate obtained for a subadult male most likely represents a combination of population dispersal range and temporary home range rather than its final adult home range. Regardless, it appears that Sumatran elephants roam over much larger areas than previously assumed. Natural forests and relatively flat areas are of great importance for Sumatran elephants. The observed intensive use of pulpwood plantations by one individual is likely due to limited availability of alternative suitable habitats. Implications: A landscape wide approach to elephant conservation is required which takes large home ranges into account, and should include forest protection and restoration and elephant friendly management of existing pulpwood concessions, with special focus on areas with relatively gentle slopes.
