An assessment of the ecological and conservation status of megafauna based on telemetry and census data : a case study of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in post-civil war Mozambique

Abstract

Knowledge of the status and distribution of megafauna is important for biodiversity conservation. Megafauna are defined as vertebrates whose body weight are comparable to, or greater than human body weight, and in the present study these included mammals of <40 kg and >10 kg in body weight that can be sighted during aerial surveys.The present study: 1) investigated the biogeographical regionalisation of Mozambique using terrestrial vertebrate species data; 2) developed an index to predict the success or failure of wildlife translocations using the African buffalo (Syncerus cafer) as a case study; 3) investigated the effect of habitat on the movements of the African buffalo in the Mozambican landscape; and 4) tested two ecological models for systematic conservation planning in Mozambique. The biogeographical regionalisation of Mozambique was based on hierarchical clustering based on a Simpson index (βsim) similarity matrix using Ward’s cluster analysis. A suitability habitat index (SHI) for the African buffalo was calculated using Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) based on MaxEnt, while the contribution of climatic factors to the status of the African buffalo in Mozambique was calculated using Mahalanobis distance. Telemetry data from Niassa and Marromeu Reserves with different environmental characteristics were used to assess the movement patterns of the African buffalo within each of these two conservation areas. GAP analysis was used for a systematic conservation planning exercise for Mozambique. The biogeographical regionalization of Mozambique delimited six biogeographical regions, namely: 1) Niassa; 2) Gile; 3) Marromeu-Gorongosa; 4) Tete-West; 5) Limpopo-Zinave-Banhine; and (6) Maputo-Panda biogeographical regions. Using the Suitable Habitat Index (SHI) and the movements of the African buffalo from its origin to its destination, the results suggest that it is possible to predict the success or failure of the translocations of S. cafer in Mozambique. The comparison of African buffalo movements between Niassa and Marromeu Reserves suggest that the animals in areas of high primary productivity move less and consequently have a higher population density per km². GAP analysis identified several areas with a high potential for biodiversity conservation in Mozambique, but these areas are not included in the current national network of conservation areas in the country. The six delimited biogeographical regions in Mozambique are not fully protected by the current network of conservation areas in the country, especially the more restricted ones. It is therefore, possible to extend the conservation areas in Mozambique in a scientifically objective and effective manner. This effectiveness can be achieved by carefully planning the new conservation areas using scientific data and protecting highly productive areas such as Marromeu Reserve. Consequently, key species such as the African buffalo, plains zebra, waterbuck, and sable can be translocated into areas that are devoid of fauna, but which have a high potential for the conservation of biodiversity. This process however, must take into account ecological models of translocation success in order to determine whether there are additional measures that need to be taken into account in order to improve the environmental conditions of the translocated animals to ensure their survival.