Transcript here`s - Marcella J Kelly

Zach J. Farris
Photo courtesy of B. Gerber
 4th largest island
 3 forest types: Humid, Deciduous, &




Spiny (desert)
8 endemic carnivore species
Over 70 species of lemurs
Rapidly expanding human
population (>3%/yr, CIA worldbook)
Impoverished nation relying on
unsustainable agricultural practices
Map:US Climate Change Science
Map:Program
pbs.org
 Top predators exert significant influence on ecosystem
 Top predators serve as “umbrella species” due to large home
ranges
 C. ferox is significant lemur predator and impacts lemur
behavior and lemur dynamics
 A paucity of information is available concerning Madagascar’s
carnivores making them extremely susceptible to on-going
fragmentation
Increase our understanding of carnivore density, abundance,
occupancy, and trap success in Madagascar
2. Quantify the impacts of fragmentation, human encroachment,
and poaching on carnivore populations
3. Identify habitat features affecting carnivore occupancy and
activity
4. Provide first home range data, description of diet, and genetic
analyses for C. ferox and F. fossana populations across rainforest
habitat
1.
Masoala-Makira Landscape
 Largest Protected Area Complex
Masoala NP (210,000ha)
Makira PA (522,750ha)
Major Threats:
 Habitat Fragmentation
Slash and Burn (“tavy”)
 Human Encroachment
 Poaching (C. Golden 2009)
Map: Wildlife Conservation Society
1.
2.
3.
4.
Estimate density, activity, and occupancy rates of 6 endemic and 3
invasive carnivore species within and among 3 fragmented and 3
non-fragmented sites.
Determine factors influencing carnivore population variables
including landscape characteristics (using GIS), microhabitat
features, climatic conditions, prey species, and human presence.
Capture and radio collar C. ferox and F. fossana to determine
seasonal home range and activity patterns for both males and
females, as well as collect anatomical measurements.
Quantify the seasonal diet of C. ferox and F. fossana through
collection and analyses of scat, as well as conduct genetic and
disease analyses from blood and scat samples.
 Use landscape/habitat features
to classify forests
(FRAGSTATS)
 Use poaching data (Golden 2009)
and village location and size
for classification of sites
 Select 3 fragmented and 3 nonfragmented sites for camera
traps
 Sites will form an arc pattern
across landscape

Estimate density, activity, and occupancy rates of 6 endemic
and 3 invasive carnivore species within and among 3
fragmented and 3 non-fragmented sites.
Methods:
 Remotely sensing cameras
(2 cameras at each station)
 Run 24hrs/day for 60 days
 Organized in grid with 0.75 km
spacing
 Use capture data to calculate
population variables (density,
abundance, occupancy, trap
success)
 Provide comparison of density
estimation techniques
375m
750
m
4.5 x 4.5 km
Program DENSITY
Program CAPTURE
Photo courtesy of B. Gerber
 Hypotheses:
H1: Carnivore population variables vary across fragmented and
non-fragmented sites.
H2: All four density estimation approaches are congruent.
 Determine factors influencing carnivore population variables
including landscape characteristics (using GIS), microhabitat
features, climatic conditions, prey species, and human
presence.
Methods:
Compare carnivore occupancy across
fragmented and non-fragmented sites using:
 Landscape variables: GIS layers include
roads, rivers, villages, habitat type, core,
edge, elevation, and climate
 Micro-habitat variables: canopy
height/cover, tree density, basal area, %
understory, etc.
 Lemur abundance: conduct two surveys at
each camera site using perpendicular
distance estimation techniques
 Other species trap success: small mammals,
invasive spp., and humans
N
100
m
30
m
4
km
4
km
4
km
4
km
Location of point
quarter plot and
canopy height
30m long point
intercept transect
Canopy cover
sampling point
(every 10m)
 Hypotheses:
H1: Carnivore occupancy is related to landscape metrics.
H2: Carnivore occupancy is related to micro-habitat features.
H3: C. ferox abundance is related to lemur abundance.
H4: C. ferox occupancy is related to co-occurring carnivore, small
mammal, invasive species, and human occupancy.
H5: C. ferox and co-occurring carnivore occupancy are negatively
affected by fragmentation.
 Capture and radio collar C. ferox and F. fossana to determine
seasonal home range and activity patterns for both males and
females, as well as collect anatomical measurements.
Methods:
 Trap, Measure, and Radio Collar C. ferox and F.
fossana
 Error test collars
 Take triangulation locations 1-2 times daily at
least 4 hrs apart
 Conduct home range analyses (FK & MCP) for
C. ferox and F. fossana
 Compare activity across sex, season, and forest
type
 Hypotheses:
H1: C. ferox and F. fossana activity pattern and home range vary
significantly across fragmented and non-fragmented sites.
H2: C. ferox and F. fossana activity pattern and home range vary
significantly across sex and season.
 Quantify the seasonal diet of C. ferox and F. fossana through
collection and analyses of scat, as well as conduct genetic and
disease analyses from blood and scat samples.
Methods:
 Collect blood samples from immobilized
C. ferox and F. fossana
 Collect scat samples from traps and
opportunistically from trails
 Provide description of diet
 Compare results of blood and scat
analyses for C. ferox and F. fossana across
fragmented and non-fragmented sites
vs.
Poop shots courtesy of B. Gerber
 Hypotheses:
H1: C. ferox and F. fossana heterozygosity is significantly
reduced across fragmented sites.
H2: C. ferox and F. fossana blood-borne pathogen and
macroparasite loads are significantly higher across fragmented
sites.
H3: Presence of rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and mange in C.
ferox and F. fossana is significantly higher across fragmented
sites.
H4: C. ferox and F. fossana diet is more homogenous across
fragmented sites.
 Field Work: June 2010-May 2012
 Analyses (data, genetic, scat): Fall 2012
 Defend, Present, Publish: Fall 2013
Activity
FIELD SEASON BEGIN
Camera Trapping
Scat collection
Habitat Sampling and
Lemur surveys
Capture and Radio
Telemetry
Data Entry
FIELD SEASON END
Camera Data Analyses
Genetic Analyses
Scat Analyses
Writing, Defense &
Publications
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Spring-Fall 2013
Committee:
Dr. Sarah Karpanty (Co-advisor)
Dr. Marcella J. Kelly (Co-advisor)
Dr. Dean Stauffer (Virginia Tech)
Dr. Steig E. Johnson (Univ of Calgary)
Dr. Christopher Holmes (WCS Madagascar)
Funding: