The Center

for

Tropical

Conservation

& Ecology

Influence of forest edges and human activities

on the ranging patterns of chimpanzees in

Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

By: Enathe Hasabwamariya

Master of science,

Conservation Biology

Antioch University New

England, USA

Nyungwe National Park

…………………………. Surface area: 1,015 sqkm

Rich Biodiversity

13 species of Primates

280 species of birds

100 species Reptile

Small mammals

Source of Nile River (70%of Rwanda’s water comes from Nyungwe)

Why Chimpanzees?

Closest-relatives

Endangered

species( IUCN)

Economic

importance

through

ecotourism.

Ecologic

importance

through seed

dispersal capacity

and forest

regeneration

The conservation challenge

Why forest edges?

Attractions: Diversity of food species, nutritious

food, food from from agriculture (agroforestry,

beekeeping, etc..).

Threats: Disease transmission, illegal activities,

human and wildlife conflicts.

Abiotic factors: Temperature, Wind

penetration, soil moisture, fire frequency and

intensity.

Biotic factors: species composition, invasive

species, etc..

Edge effect?

Changes or disturbances at the boundary

between two habitats.

Type of edges around Nyungwe

1.Soft edges

Eucalyptus Plantations Pine Plantations

2. Hard edges

Tea Plantation

Previous Research: Mapping edge effect around Nyungwe

Research Objectives

• Assess chimpanzee use of forest edges.

• Document ecological factors influencing

chimpanzee ranging patterns.

• Document the influence of human activities on

the ranging patterns of chimpanzees.

Study site

Map by JGI

Methods – Inside the forest

Edge to Interior

Systematically walked 5 1-km transects perpendicular to the forest edge (edge to interior) for 3 consecutive months.

Signs of chimpanzee recorded and located with GPS along transects

0-1km (i.e. observations of chimpanzee, chimpanzee vocalizations, feeding signs, feces, nests).

Methods – Outside of the forest along human activities

Systematically walked 5-1 km

transects parallel to the forest

edge for 3 consecutive

months.

Recorded all signs of

chimpanzees and type of

matrix and human activity.

0 m

1000m

50

m 950m

circular sample plots

30

m Vegetation Sampling

• Edges were defined at 0-50 meters inside the

forest just along the edge.

• Ten circular plots of 5meters radius were

randomly located at forest edges and interior

between 0-50 m, where I recorded tree

species, diameter at breast height (DBH) and

basal area at forest edges in the plots to

compare vegetation.

Results

Chimpanzee distribution in relation to distance

from edge

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Edge Interior

Frequency of Distribution

Location Distance (m) Frequency Mean Distance

Edge 0-500 371 199.03

Interior 500-1000 59 692.8

(binom. test (100, 0.6, p=0.01))

Beehives destroyed by chimpanzees

Conclusion

Chimpanzees were mostly found using forest edges compared to

forest interior

I found a significant positive relationship between fruits

availability and chimpanzee's distribution at the forest edges

Beekeeping was the main attraction of chimpanzees outside the

park

More research are needed to better understand the

socio-ecological behaviors of chimpanzees and their

interactions with humans.

Collaboration between researchers, local communities,

and policy makers is needed to reduce human-

chimpanzee conflicts.

Modern beekeeping practices are needed to support

communities in Gisovu and reduce human-chimpanzee

conflicts

Recommendations

THANK YOU!!