Reticulated Giraffe habitat use and connectivity across conservancies in Laikipia county, Kenya
摘要
As the savannah landscapes of East Africa change due to increasing anthropogenic disturbance and shifting climate patterns, identifying critical habitat and predicting movement pathways for threatened wildlife species is imperative. The diverse communities of wildlife and people in this region rely heavily on contiguous stretches of rangeland ecosystem to access spatiotemporally dynamic resources.
ObjectivesWe investigated reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) space use between seasons and how this may influence connectivity. We visualized barriers to giraffe movement and critical pathways for giraffe to access resources in disparate habitats.
MethodsWe analyzed satellite tracking data of endangered reticulated giraffe collected from 2017 to 2020 across Laikipia County in northern Kenya with multi-scale seasonal integrated step-selection function (iSSF) models. We produced Omniscape connectivity models to determine reticulated giraffe movements in relation to habitat features and evaluate seasonal impacts of resource availability on their space use.
ResultsWe found that reticulated giraffe displayed more significant preference for certain habitat cover in wet seasons and a more generalized preference in dry seasons. Overall, reticulated giraffe preferred to move across habitat with rangeland browse species (e.g., Vachellia/Senegalia spp.; herbaceous shrubs), moderate vegetation cover, and water features. Giraffe movement was largely in closer proximity to roadways.
ConclusionsOur findings contribute to the limited available knowledge of reticulated giraffe habitat preference, seasonality of movement and connectivity, providing useful insight to guide protected area management, conservation translocations, and spatial planning. Similar pressures to rangeland ecosystems beyond northern Kenya reflect the need for enhanced research and management consideration outside the bounds of conservancy and country borders.