Modeling Cheetah <i>Acinonyx jubatus</i> Fundamental Niche in Kenya

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba; Hein Van Gils; Iris Van Duren; Shadrack Muvui Muya; Shadrack Mumo Ngene

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba, Hein Van Gils, Iris Van Duren, Shadrack Muvui Muya, Shadrack Mumo Ngene

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 29 September 2015 Accepted: 13 October 2015 Published: 17 November 2015

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Abstract

The cheetah is currently recognized by IUCN as a threatened species. Kenya is one of country with significant cheetah population in the world though it fundamental niche is not well known. Wildlife can live in an area only if basic resources such as food, water, and cover are present and if the species is adapted in ways that allow them to cope with the climatic extremes, selection involves several levels of discrimination and spatial scales and a number of potentially interacting factors. This study was to model cheetah fundamental niche using suitable environmental predictors and evaluates suitability of current protected area coverage in its conservation. Two types of model input data used were cheetah occurrence locations and a suite of environmental variables thought to have a direct physiological role in limiting the ability of the species to survive. The species occurrence records and environmental variables were entered into a MaxEnt model which uses maximum entropy algorithm to identify environmental conditions that are associated with species occurrence. Ideal fundamental niche for cheetah were found to be localities within an elevation range of 1600-2100 meters above sea level, receiving mean annual precipitation of 800 mm, with the warmest quarter of the year receiving 250 mm, the wettest month receiving 120 mm, precipitation of coldest quarter 10 mm and temperature seasonality ranges of 150°. Cheetah fundamental niche run across protected areas and for effective conservation, Results could be used to direct conservation effort go beyond parks and reserves by encouraging community conservancies and development of ecological corridors. Protected area planning could benefit too from these results.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22
Page(s)	317-330
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cheetah, Fundamental Niche, Protected Areas, Community Conservancies

References

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APA Style

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba, Hein Van Gils, Iris Van Duren, Shadrack Muvui Muya, Shadrack Mumo Ngene. (2015). Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(5), 317-330. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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ACS Style

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba; Hein Van Gils; Iris Van Duren; Shadrack Muvui Muya; Shadrack Mumo Ngene. Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(5), 317-330. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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AMA Style

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba, Hein Van Gils, Iris Van Duren, Shadrack Muvui Muya, Shadrack Mumo Ngene. Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(5):317-330. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22,
  author = {Bernard Mungoma Kuloba and Hein Van Gils and Iris Van Duren and Shadrack Muvui Muya and Shadrack Mumo Ngene},
  title = {Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {317-330},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150305.22},
  abstract = {The cheetah is currently recognized by IUCN as a threatened species. Kenya is one of country with significant cheetah population in the world though it fundamental niche is not well known. Wildlife can live in an area only if basic resources such as food, water, and cover are present and if the species is adapted in ways that allow them to cope with the climatic extremes, selection involves several levels of discrimination and spatial scales and a number of potentially interacting factors. This study was to model cheetah fundamental niche using suitable environmental predictors and evaluates suitability of current protected area coverage in its conservation. Two types of model input data used were cheetah occurrence locations and a suite of environmental variables thought to have a direct physiological role in limiting the ability of the species to survive. The species occurrence records and environmental variables were entered into a MaxEnt model which uses maximum entropy algorithm to identify environmental conditions that are associated with species occurrence. Ideal fundamental niche for cheetah were found to be localities within an elevation range of 1600-2100 meters above sea level, receiving mean annual precipitation of 800 mm, with the warmest quarter of the year receiving 250 mm, the wettest month receiving 120 mm, precipitation of coldest quarter 10 mm and temperature seasonality ranges of 150°. Cheetah fundamental niche run across protected areas and for effective conservation, Results could be used to direct conservation effort go beyond parks and reserves by encouraging community conservancies and development of ecological corridors. Protected area planning could benefit too from these results.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya
AU  - Bernard Mungoma Kuloba
AU  - Hein Van Gils
AU  - Iris Van Duren
AU  - Shadrack Muvui Muya
AU  - Shadrack Mumo Ngene
Y1  - 2015/11/17
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DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 317
EP  - 330
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22
AB  - The cheetah is currently recognized by IUCN as a threatened species. Kenya is one of country with significant cheetah population in the world though it fundamental niche is not well known. Wildlife can live in an area only if basic resources such as food, water, and cover are present and if the species is adapted in ways that allow them to cope with the climatic extremes, selection involves several levels of discrimination and spatial scales and a number of potentially interacting factors. This study was to model cheetah fundamental niche using suitable environmental predictors and evaluates suitability of current protected area coverage in its conservation. Two types of model input data used were cheetah occurrence locations and a suite of environmental variables thought to have a direct physiological role in limiting the ability of the species to survive. The species occurrence records and environmental variables were entered into a MaxEnt model which uses maximum entropy algorithm to identify environmental conditions that are associated with species occurrence. Ideal fundamental niche for cheetah were found to be localities within an elevation range of 1600-2100 meters above sea level, receiving mean annual precipitation of 800 mm, with the warmest quarter of the year receiving 250 mm, the wettest month receiving 120 mm, precipitation of coldest quarter 10 mm and temperature seasonality ranges of 150°. Cheetah fundamental niche run across protected areas and for effective conservation, Results could be used to direct conservation effort go beyond parks and reserves by encouraging community conservancies and development of ecological corridors. Protected area planning could benefit too from these results.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba

Kenya Wildlife Service, Biodiversity Research and Monitoring, Nairobi, Kenya
Hein Van Gils

Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
Iris Van Duren

Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
Shadrack Muvui Muya

Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
Shadrack Mumo Ngene

Kenya Wildlife Service, Parks and Reserves, Nairobi, Kenya

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APA Style

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba, Hein Van Gils, Iris Van Duren, Shadrack Muvui Muya, Shadrack Mumo Ngene. (2015). Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(5), 317-330. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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ACS Style

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba; Hein Van Gils; Iris Van Duren; Shadrack Muvui Muya; Shadrack Mumo Ngene. Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(5), 317-330. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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AMA Style

Bernard Mungoma Kuloba, Hein Van Gils, Iris Van Duren, Shadrack Muvui Muya, Shadrack Mumo Ngene. Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(5):317-330. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22,
  author = {Bernard Mungoma Kuloba and Hein Van Gils and Iris Van Duren and Shadrack Muvui Muya and Shadrack Mumo Ngene},
  title = {Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {317-330},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150305.22},
  abstract = {The cheetah is currently recognized by IUCN as a threatened species. Kenya is one of country with significant cheetah population in the world though it fundamental niche is not well known. Wildlife can live in an area only if basic resources such as food, water, and cover are present and if the species is adapted in ways that allow them to cope with the climatic extremes, selection involves several levels of discrimination and spatial scales and a number of potentially interacting factors. This study was to model cheetah fundamental niche using suitable environmental predictors and evaluates suitability of current protected area coverage in its conservation. Two types of model input data used were cheetah occurrence locations and a suite of environmental variables thought to have a direct physiological role in limiting the ability of the species to survive. The species occurrence records and environmental variables were entered into a MaxEnt model which uses maximum entropy algorithm to identify environmental conditions that are associated with species occurrence. Ideal fundamental niche for cheetah were found to be localities within an elevation range of 1600-2100 meters above sea level, receiving mean annual precipitation of 800 mm, with the warmest quarter of the year receiving 250 mm, the wettest month receiving 120 mm, precipitation of coldest quarter 10 mm and temperature seasonality ranges of 150°. Cheetah fundamental niche run across protected areas and for effective conservation, Results could be used to direct conservation effort go beyond parks and reserves by encouraging community conservancies and development of ecological corridors. Protected area planning could benefit too from these results.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Modeling Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Fundamental Niche in Kenya
AU  - Bernard Mungoma Kuloba
AU  - Hein Van Gils
AU  - Iris Van Duren
AU  - Shadrack Muvui Muya
AU  - Shadrack Mumo Ngene
Y1  - 2015/11/17
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 317
EP  - 330
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150305.22
AB  - The cheetah is currently recognized by IUCN as a threatened species. Kenya is one of country with significant cheetah population in the world though it fundamental niche is not well known. Wildlife can live in an area only if basic resources such as food, water, and cover are present and if the species is adapted in ways that allow them to cope with the climatic extremes, selection involves several levels of discrimination and spatial scales and a number of potentially interacting factors. This study was to model cheetah fundamental niche using suitable environmental predictors and evaluates suitability of current protected area coverage in its conservation. Two types of model input data used were cheetah occurrence locations and a suite of environmental variables thought to have a direct physiological role in limiting the ability of the species to survive. The species occurrence records and environmental variables were entered into a MaxEnt model which uses maximum entropy algorithm to identify environmental conditions that are associated with species occurrence. Ideal fundamental niche for cheetah were found to be localities within an elevation range of 1600-2100 meters above sea level, receiving mean annual precipitation of 800 mm, with the warmest quarter of the year receiving 250 mm, the wettest month receiving 120 mm, precipitation of coldest quarter 10 mm and temperature seasonality ranges of 150°. Cheetah fundamental niche run across protected areas and for effective conservation, Results could be used to direct conservation effort go beyond parks and reserves by encouraging community conservancies and development of ecological corridors. Protected area planning could benefit too from these results.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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