Abstract
In northcentral Namibia, Waterberg Plateau Park (WPP) is a protected area that acts as a refuge for rare and endangered species, while the farmlands surrounding the Park are managed for livestock production, but support populations of wildlife for game farming, trophy hunting, and conservation. During June–October 2006, camera-traps were set within and surrounding WPP to assess leopard (Panthera pardus) density (n = 19 camera stations and 946 camera-trap-nights). Fortuitously, photographic results (2,265 photos of identifiable mammal (n = 37) and bird (n = 25) species) allowed us to assess aspects of species diversity and differences among the Park, the farmland areas along the Waterberg Plateau escarpment, and the flatlands surrounding the escarpment. Species composition among the three areas was markedly different, and made sense with respect to differences in habitat and management features. Camera-trapping efforts, although intended for a narrow purpose, may also provide a rather robust record of differences in mammal and bird diversity in adjacent habitats and can be incorporated into long-term monitoring programs.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the government of Namibia, specifically the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, for allowing us to conduct this research. Within the Park, the chief warden, Boas Erckie, and the anti-poaching staff lead by Thomas Shikuvi and Moses Hangula were instrumental in the implementation of the study. Vitalis Uungwama of the Park staff and Eben Tjiteere of the Polytechnic of Namibia were primary field assistants. Financial support was provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society through the Research Fellowship Program, and camera-traps were supplied by the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Logistical support was provided by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the Cheetah Conservation Fund and their volunteers. We thank two anonymous reviewers for very helpful comments on a draft of the manuscript.
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Stein, A.B., Fuller, T.K. & Marker, L.L. Opportunistic use of camera traps to assess habitat-specific mammal and bird diversity in northcentral Namibia. Biodivers Conserv 17, 3579–3587 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9442-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9442-0