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Research Article

Mammalian density in response to different levels of bushmeat hunting in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. [ pages 70-87 ]

Elmer Topp-Jørgensen1, Martin Reinhardt Nielsen2*, Andrew Marshall3, Ulrik Pedersen1
    1 Zoological Museum. University of Copenhagen. Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. 2 Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning. Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen. Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C. Denmark. 3 Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy. Environment department, University of York, Helsington YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.

Abstract
Bushmeat hunting constitutes the most immediate threat to wildlife populations in the Udzungwa Mountains of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. This study assesses the impact of hunting by comparing densities of mammalian species between the little hunted West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve (WKSFR), the medium-hunted Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve (USFR) and the intensively hunted New Dabaga Ulangambi Forest Reserve (NDUFR). Of the 22 species recorded, 20 were present in WKSFR, 17 in USFR and 12 in NDUFR. Most large species (>40 kg.) were absent from hunted areas, while medium-sized species were reduced more than smaller species. Few traces of Abbot’s duiker were observed in hunted areas and bush pig was reduced below 85% in hunted areas. Hunting appears to have little effect on primates, blue duiker, Harvey’s duiker, aardvark, eastern tree hyrax, and giant pouched rat in USFR, while hunting in NDUFR only seems of less concern for primates and giant pouched rat. Thus, the effect of hunting appears to be proportional to the size of the species and the intensity of hunting, although effects of life history strategy, forest fragment size, isolation, and previous logging cannot be excluded. Reductions of hunting levels are paramount to the survival of large bodied species in USFR and for the continued presence of most species in NDUFR. This study furthermore constitutes an important baseline for monitoring the effect of current efforts to implement joint forest management in the Udzungwa Mountains.


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    English: Bushmeat hunting in Tanzania. Hunting of wildlife for food is one of the most immediate threat to wildlife populations in tropical forests. This includes the forests of the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania - a component of the globally important Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot report Elmer Topp-Jørgensen, Martin Reinhardt Nielsen, Andrew Marshall y Ulrik Pedersen in the March issue of the open access journal Tropical Conservation Science. The impact of hunting was compared between three areas differing from little hunted over medium-hunted to intensively hunted. Of the 22 mammal species recorded, 20 were present in the little hunted, 17 in the medium hunted and only 12 in intensively hunted area. Most large species (>40 kg.) were absent from hunted areas, while medium-sized species were reduced more than smaller species. These authors indicate that the effect of hunting appears to be proportional to the size of the species and the intensity of hunting. Reductions of hunting levels are paramount to the survival of large bodied species in the medium hunted area and for the continued presence of most species in the intensively hunted area. The results of this study is furthermore important for evaluating the effect of current efforts to implement Joint Forest Management where forest management rights and responsibilities are handed over to local communities.

    Portuguese: Caça de animais silvestres para consumo na Tanzânia. Caça de animais silvestres para alimentação é uma das ameaças mais imediatas para as populações silvestres em florestas tropicais. Isto inclui as florestas das Montanhas Udzungwa na Tanzânia - um componente do hotspot de biodiversidade globalmente importante das Montanhas do leste da África (Eastern Afromontane), relatam Elmer Topp-Jørgensen, Martin Reinhardt Nielsen, Andrew R. Marshall e Ulrik Pedersen no volume de Março da revista de livre acesso Tropical Conservation Science. O impacto da caça foi comparado entre três áreas diferindo de pouco caçada passando por caçada em média intensidade até intensamente caçada. Das 22 espécies de mamíferos registradas, 20 estavam presentes na área pouco caçada, 17 na de média intensidade de caça e somente 12 em área de caça intensiva. Muitas espécies grandes (>40 kg.) estavam ausentes das áreas caçadas, enquanto espécies de tamanho médio foram reduzidas mais do que as espécies pequenas. Esses autores indicaram que o efeito da caça parece ser proporcional ao tamanho das espécies e à intensidade de caça. Reduções nos níveis de caça são primordiais à sobrevivência de espécies de grande tamanho corporal em áreas de média intensidade de caça e para a presença continuada de muitas espécies em áreas intensivamente caçadas. Os resultados desse estudo são, além disso, importantes para avaliar os efeitos dos esforços atuais para executar o gerenciamento conjunto da Floresta onde os direitos e responsabilidades do manejo da floresta são cedidos às comunidades locais.[translated by Marina Lapenta]

    Spanish: La cacería de carne de monte en Tanzania. La cacería excesiva de fauna Silvestre como alimento es uno de los factores inmediatos que ponen bajo riesgo la fauna de mamíferos en la región montañosa de Udzungwa, Tanzania, un área de alta diversidad biológica, Elmer Topp-Jørgensen, Martin Reinhardt Nielsen, Andrew Marshall y Ulrik Pedersen en un reporte publicado en la edición de Marzo de la revista de acceso abierto (Open Access Journal) Tropical Conservation Science. Los autores compararon, en la region montañosa de Udzungwa en Tanzania, la riqueza de especies de mamíferos y su densidad en tres áreas que difieren en la intensidad de la cacería y encontraron 20 especies en el área con poca cacería, 17 en la de cacería moderada y solo 12 en la de cacería intensiva. Las especies mayor tamaño (>40kg) estaban ausentes de las áreas con cacería, mientras que las de tamaño medio era menos comunes que las de tamaño pequeño, señalando los autores que el efecto de la caza parece ser proporcional al tamaño de la especie y la intensidad de la actividad. Así, Topp-Jørgensen y colaboradores sugieren que la reducción en la intensidad de la cacería es de importancia vital para la supervivencia de especies de tamaño mediano en las área de caza moderada y para la mayoría de las especies en el área con caza intensa. Señalan la importancia de implementar programas de manejo forestal en donde los derechos y responsabilidades estén en posesión de las comunidades locales, como una medida para atenuar estos efectos.

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   Tropical Conservation Science is an open-access e-journal that publishes research relating to conservation of tropical forests and other tropical ecosystems.

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