Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia

Abstract The study was conducted to determine the population size of endangered Oryx beisa (Rüppell, 1835), and near‐threatened Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1878) of uncertain global population estimates in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia. Systematic line transects were established with...

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Main Authors: Melkamu Aychew, Zerihun Girma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70008
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author Melkamu Aychew
Zerihun Girma
author_facet Melkamu Aychew
Zerihun Girma
author_sort Melkamu Aychew
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The study was conducted to determine the population size of endangered Oryx beisa (Rüppell, 1835), and near‐threatened Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1878) of uncertain global population estimates in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia. Systematic line transects were established with a transect length range of 2.3 to 6.8 km long (a total of 165.4 km long with a sighting distance of 150 m after truncation). The combination of AIC and chi‐square p‐values was used as model selection criteria for density/population size estimation in distance sampling software. The lowest AIC, ∆AIC (close to zero), and Chi‐square tests (p‐value > .05) were selected with adequate model fit. The minimum observation was 67 individuals of beisa oryx in the dry season. The maximum observation was 349 individuals of gerenuk during the wet season. The minimum detection probability of oryx was in the wet season (pâ = 76 ± 26), and the minimum detection probability of gerenuk was (pâ = 75 ± 1) in both seasons. The two‐season pooled density analyzed for studied species indicated (0.85 ± 0.34, 1.24 ± 0.47, beisa oryx/km2), and (3.82 ± 0.6, 4.88 ± 0.7 gerenuk/km2) in dry and wet seasons, respectively. It can be concluded from the results of the study that GNP is home to previously undiscovered healthy populations of the endangered beisa oryx and near‐threatened gerenuk. So it is recommended to undergo in‐depth population studies, including other species available in the national park and their habitat components, so as to design sound, sustainable conservation measures for the wildlife resources in the area.
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spelling doaj-art-eeb77d7c4d674ea6a4399554004f73f62025-08-20T02:50:48ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-07-01147n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70008Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern EthiopiaMelkamu Aychew0Zerihun Girma1Geralle National Park, Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority Addis Ababa EthiopiaDepartment of Wildlife & Ecotourism Management Wondo Genet College of Forestry & Natural Resource Hawassa University Shshemene EthiopiaAbstract The study was conducted to determine the population size of endangered Oryx beisa (Rüppell, 1835), and near‐threatened Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1878) of uncertain global population estimates in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia. Systematic line transects were established with a transect length range of 2.3 to 6.8 km long (a total of 165.4 km long with a sighting distance of 150 m after truncation). The combination of AIC and chi‐square p‐values was used as model selection criteria for density/population size estimation in distance sampling software. The lowest AIC, ∆AIC (close to zero), and Chi‐square tests (p‐value > .05) were selected with adequate model fit. The minimum observation was 67 individuals of beisa oryx in the dry season. The maximum observation was 349 individuals of gerenuk during the wet season. The minimum detection probability of oryx was in the wet season (pâ = 76 ± 26), and the minimum detection probability of gerenuk was (pâ = 75 ± 1) in both seasons. The two‐season pooled density analyzed for studied species indicated (0.85 ± 0.34, 1.24 ± 0.47, beisa oryx/km2), and (3.82 ± 0.6, 4.88 ± 0.7 gerenuk/km2) in dry and wet seasons, respectively. It can be concluded from the results of the study that GNP is home to previously undiscovered healthy populations of the endangered beisa oryx and near‐threatened gerenuk. So it is recommended to undergo in‐depth population studies, including other species available in the national park and their habitat components, so as to design sound, sustainable conservation measures for the wildlife resources in the area.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70008abundancedensitydistance samplinghabitatseasonspecies
spellingShingle Melkamu Aychew
Zerihun Girma
Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia
Ecology and Evolution
abundance
density
distance sampling
habitat
season
species
title Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia
title_full Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia
title_short Population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in Geralle National Park, southeastern Ethiopia
title_sort population size and structure of beisa oryx and gerenuk in geralle national park southeastern ethiopia
topic abundance
density
distance sampling
habitat
season
species
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70008
work_keys_str_mv AT melkamuaychew populationsizeandstructureofbeisaoryxandgerenukingerallenationalparksoutheasternethiopia
AT zerihungirma populationsizeandstructureofbeisaoryxandgerenukingerallenationalparksoutheasternethiopia