| |
IPS Conference 2006
Abstracts
|
Abstract # 49:
Scheduled for Monday,
June 26, 2006
04:30 PM-04:50 PM:
Session 7 (Princess)
Symposium
|
|
|
REMOTE SENSING OF CHIMPANZEE HABITAT CHANGE IN GOMBE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR BEHAVIOR RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION |
L. Pintea1, A. Pusey2, P. Bolstad3 and M. Bauer3
1The Jane Goodall Institute, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, USA, 2University of Minnesota, The Jane Goodall Institute's Center for Primate Studies, St. Paul, MN, USA, 3University of Minnesota, Forest Resources, St. Paul, MN, USA |
 |
| Several remote sensing techniques have been developed to monitor ecosystem change using multi-temporal satellite images. However, few applications exist to demonstrate how these methods can be used in practice to address specific great ape research and conservation needs. The objective of this research was to apply multi-temporal satellite imagery to detect and assess changes in forest and woodland vegetation relevant for long-term chimpanzee research and conservation inside and outside Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Since its establishment in 1968, fires have become less frequent and vegetation has been gradually recovering. Long-term data on the Kasakela chimpanzee community also showed that over 40 years home range size has fluctuated, diet changed and party size has increased. To identify the potential linkages, we used Landsat MSS and ETM+ satellite imagery and Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze in space and time both long-term chimpanzee behavior and habitat change datasets. The study showed that MSS and ETM+ type sensors were able to detect the expansion of forest and woodland vegetation in some regions of the park along with severe deforestations outside protected areas. Using post-classification comparison, red and near-infrared band rationing and vegetation index differencing based on calculated Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVIs), we demonstrate how information of forest and woodland change could be linked to long-term changes in chimpanzee diet, ranging and grouping patterns inside and outside Gombe. |
|
|
Modified: 18 December 2005
|
|
