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Modeling black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) population performance in East Africa: the case of Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya

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dc.creator Rija, A. A.
dc.creator Soka, G. E.
dc.creator Owino, A.
dc.date 2019-01-04T05:53:18Z
dc.date 2019-01-04T05:53:18Z
dc.date 2014-03-06
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-25T08:53:41Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-25T08:53:41Z
dc.identifier Soka GE, Rija AA and Owino A. (2014) Modeling Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Population Performance in East Africa: The doi:10.4172/2332-2543.1000126 Case of Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya . J Biodivers Endanger Species 2: 126.
dc.identifier https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2704
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/94019
dc.description Biodiversity & Endangered Species, 2014;3(2)
dc.description The black rhinoceros have declined across Africa both in numbers and range distribution, making long-term population persistence of this iconic species uncertain. We conducted simulation models to predict population performance of black rhinoceros in Lake Nakuru National Park under different scenarios of environmental variation and translocation regimes. A decade-long (1987-1997) demographic data were used to construct stochastic simulation models using VORTEX computer program. In addition, we assessed extinction risks and patterns of heterozygosity among the modelled populations (reported every five years) to characterize the dynamics of this population over a hundred years. The population of black rhinoceros showed varying patterns of fluctuations under different scenarios. The best-case scenario showed a considerable increase in the modelled population with the population attaining the highest growth (population growth (λ)= 1.04) after 40 years. The mean final population size for the successful cases was 70.85±2.0 animals, which was relatively close to the carrying capacity used in the simulation. The expected heterozygosity was 0.912±0.02 suggesting that the remaining population may be genetically viable. Further, environmental variation of 1-2% magnitude across the various age categories, and without translocation, had no significant effect on the deterministic growth rate of the population. Maintaining the translocation of 2 males and 2 females on yearly basis would significantly boost and sustain the population of black rhinoceros in the study area.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.language en
dc.subject Black rhino
dc.subject Population viability
dc.subject Hunting
dc.subject Environmental stochasticity
dc.subject Nakuru
dc.subject Modeling
dc.title Modeling black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) population performance in East Africa: the case of Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
dc.type Article


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