Comparing density analyses and carnivore ecology in Madagascar's southeastern rainforest

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorGerber, Brian Danielen
dc.contributor.committeechairKarpanty, Sarah M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberStauffer, Dean F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKelly, Marcella J.en
dc.contributor.departmentFisheries and Wildlife Sciencesen
dc.coverage.countryMadagascaren
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:49:13Zen
dc.date.adate2010-12-15en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:49:13Zen
dc.date.issued2010-12-07en
dc.date.rdate2010-12-15en
dc.date.sdate2010-12-09en
dc.description.abstractMadagascar is renowned for its biodiversity, but also for forest loss, fragmentation, and degradation, making it a global conservation priority. With few studies dedicated to Madagascar's carnivores, little is known about their ecology. My objectives were to 1) compare density estimation techniques applicable to enumerating rare and/or elusive carnivores, 2) investigate Malagasy carnivore distributions, abundance and density, and occupancy/use across four sites that vary in forest disturbance, and 3) explore temporal activity patterns of rainforest carnivores. I found the spatially-explicit-capture-recapture models were empirically superior, as they are flexible and account for spatial variation in detection probability and area estimation. I found both endemic and exotic carnivore composition varied among four rainforest sites: Primary, Selectively-logged, Fragments <2.5 km and Fragments >15 km from contiguous-primary rainforest. All endemic carnivores were present in the Primary and Selectively-logged rainforest, while endemic carnivore species richness decreased and exotic carnivore species richness increased in the fragmented forests. Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana) density ± SE was significantly less in the Selectively-logged compared to the Primary rainforest (1.38 ± 0.22, 3.19 ± 0.55 civets/km2, respectively); they were absent from both fragmented forests. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) density ± SE was not different between the Primary and Selectively-logged rainforests (0.12 ± 0.05, 0.09 ± 0.04 adults/km2, respectively); a single animal was detected in the Fragments <2.5 km, while none were detected in the Fragments >15 km. Malagasy carnivores had varied temporal activity overlap (5.8-88.8%). C. ferox preferred crepuscular activity, but overall exhibited a cathemeral activity pattern.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-12092010-150552en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12092010-150552/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/36035en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartGerber_BD_T_2010.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjecthabitaten
dc.subjectcarnivoreen
dc.subjectMadagascaren
dc.subjectdensityen
dc.titleComparing density analyses and carnivore ecology in Madagascar's southeastern rainforesten
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineFisheries and Wildlife Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Gerber_BD_T_2010.pdf
Size:
3.03 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Masters Theses