Off-campus South Dakota State University users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your South Dakota State University ID and password.

Non-South Dakota State University users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2005

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

First Advisor

Jonathan A. Jenks

Keywords

elephants, west africa, nazinga game ranch

Abstract

Seasonal ground total counts were used to estimate elephant (Loxodonta africaca africana) population parameters in Nazinga Game Ranch, Burkina Faso. Remote sensing and GIS technology were used, as well, to relate the species distribution to environmental and anthropogenic variables, which were Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, elevation, stream density, poaching density, distance to dams, distance to rivers, distance to roads, and distance to poaching events. Elephant density varied seasonally and locally. Overall dry season density (0.24 elephants/km2) was higher (P = 0.035) than overall wet season density (0.09 elephants/km2). Mixed groups accounted for 46% of sighted groups in the wet season versus 59% of sighted groups in the dry season. Groups of females and calves accounted for 27% and 8% of sightings in wet and dry seasons whereas male groups accounted for 27% and 33% of groups in wet and dry seasons, respectively. Overall mean group size during the wet season (8.09 ± 4.62) was not different (P = 0.48) from mean group size during the dry season (6.22 ± 1.56). High number of males in the population resulted in a slightly skewed adult male-female sex ratios of 1:2.1 in the wet season and 1:1.2 in the dry season. The elephant population had similar young to adult age ratios of 1:1.1 and 1:1.4, in wet and dry seasons respectively. Elephants occupied 161.29 km2 or 16.8% of the ranch area during the wet season and 173.3 km2 or 18% of the ranch area during the dry season. The overlap between seasonal range was 68.9 km2 or 7.2% of the ranch area. Elephants randomly used habitat during the wet season but selected for riparian forest during the dry season. Poaching density explained 81%, vegetation greenness 7%, and stream density 3% of the variation in elephant abundance. Elephant distribution represented a survival strategy that was affected by poaching, food quality and abundance, and water availability.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Elephants -- Seasonal distribution -- Burkina Faso -- Reserve de Nazinga
Elephants -- Burkina Faso -- Reserve de Nazinga -- Geographical distribution

Description

Includes bibliographical references (page 74-81)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

87

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 2005 Bernard M. Hien. All rights reserved.

Download

Share

COinS