Gorillas in the crossfire: population dynamics of the Virunga mountain gorillas over the past three decades

被引:82
作者
Kalpers, J
Williamson, EA
Robbins, MM
McNeilage, A
Nzamurambaho, A
Lola, N
Mugiri, G
机构
[1] Max Planck Inst Evolutionary Anthropol, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
[2] Int Gorilla Conservat Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
[3] Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Int, Karisoke Res Ctr, Atlanta, GA 30315 USA
[4] Univ Stirling, Dept Psychol, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland
[5] Inst Trop Forest Conservat, Kabale, Uganda
[6] Wildlife Conservat Soc, Bronx, NY 10460 USA
[7] Parc Natl Volcans, Off Rwandais Tourisme & Parcs Nationaux, Kigali, Rwanda
[8] Parc Natl Virunga Sud, Inst Congolais Conservat nat, IGCP DRC, Gisenyl, Rwanda
[9] Uganda Wildlife Author, Kampala, Uganda
关键词
Democratic Republic of Congo; Gorilla beringei beringei; war; population size; Rwanda; Uganda; Virunga Volcanoes;
D O I
10.1017/S0030605303000589
中图分类号
X176 [生物多样性保护];
学科分类号
090705 ;
摘要
Small populations are particularly susceptible to disturbance. Routine censusing to monitor changes is important for understanding both population dynamics and the effectiveness of conservation strategies. Mountain gorillas Gorilla beringei beringei in the Virunga Volcanoes region of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been censused five times since 1970. However, due to war and political unrest in the region since 1990, no census had been conducted since 1989, when the population was thought to number 324 gorillas. In 2000 we estimated population size using repeated observations of 17 habituated groups and information on 15 unhabituated groups obtained during patrols. The minimum population was 359 gorillas, and a best-case scenario correcting for groups that might not have been counted was 395. Using the minimum population and best-case scenario respectively, this represents a 0.9% or 1.8% annual growth rate over the last decade and 1.0% or 1.3% annual growth rate since 1972. This is lower than growth estimates made in several population viability analyses, but approximately 5% of the 1989 population is known to have died due to military activity over the last decade. Different subsets of the population exhibited different responses to disturbance caused by war. We discuss conservation strategies that are likely to have contributed to an increase in the gorilla population during this time of turmoil. While the population has grown, the results should be viewed with caution, not only because all known growth during the last decade can be attributed to one subset of the population, but also because the region is still plagued by political unrest.
引用
收藏
页码:326 / 337
页数:12
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