Genetic census reveals increased but uneven growth of a critically endangered mountain gorilla population

被引:71
作者
Gray, Maryke [1 ]
Roy, Justin [2 ]
Vigilant, Linda [2 ]
Fawcett, Katie [3 ]
Basabose, Augustin [1 ]
Cranfield, Mike [4 ]
Uwingeli, Prosper [5 ]
Mburanumwe, Innocent [6 ]
Kagoda, Edwin [7 ]
Robbins, Martha M. [2 ]
机构
[1] Int Gorilla Conservat Program, Kigali, Rwanda
[2] Max Planck Inst Evolutionary Anthropol, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
[3] Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Int, Atlanta, GA 30315 USA
[4] Univ Calif Davis, Sch Vet Med, Mt Gorilla Vet Project, Davis, CA 95616 USA
[5] Rwanda Dev Board, Gishushu, Kigali, Rwanda
[6] IGCP DRC, Inst Congolais Conservat Nat, Gisenyi, Rwanda
[7] Uganda Wildlife Author, Bwindi Mgahinga Conservat Area, Kampala, Uganda
关键词
Gorilla beringei beringei; Population survey; Microsatellite genotyping; Virunga Massif; DYNAMICS; DNA; IDENTIFICATION; CONSERVATION;
D O I
10.1016/j.biocon.2012.09.018
中图分类号
X176 [生物多样性保护];
学科分类号
090705 ;
摘要
Monitoring changes in the population dynamics of endangered species is crucial to effective conservation strategies. The mountain gorilla population of the Virunga Massif has been the subject of intensive conservation efforts, research and several censuses over the last 40 years, but the region has also been affected by political instability and war. Here we present results from the 2010 census, which was the first to utilize genetic analyses of fecal samples for the entire population. The genetic analyses improved the accuracy of the population estimate by identifying several instances in which gorillas otherwise would have been undercounted or double-counted. The population was estimated to be 480 individuals; including 349 individuals found in 24 groups that were habituated for research and tourism, 101 individuals found in 12 unhabituated groups, fourteen solitary males, and a correction factor of sixteen for undetected infants. The population has increased by 26% since 2003 (an annual rate of 3.7%) and it has almost doubled since 1981. Nearly all of the increase can be attributed to a relatively higher growth rate in the habituated groups from 2003 to 2010, and in all five of the previous intervals between consecutive censuses. Nonetheless, it would be imprudent to habituate additional groups due to the concomitant risks of disease transmission from humans, behavioral disturbance and potential vulnerability to poaching. The results show that it is possible for conservation efforts to succeed even under difficult conditions, while highlighting the continuing challenges of managing a wild population of both habituated and unhabituated gorillas. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:230 / 238
页数:9
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