Trial lecture: 'Explaining determinants of large herbivore abundances and diversity'
Time and place: June 21, 2024 10:15 AM, Nucleus, Bikuben, Kristine Bonnevies hus
Main research findings:
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The mountain nyala, an endangered antelope in Ethiopia's highlands, faces critical challenges to its persistence in the wild. My PhD research focused on the Arsi and Ahmar Mountains reveals how intensifying human activities affect the mountain nyala's habitats and behaviors. The methods encompass behavioral studies, habitat suitability modeling, and land use land cover change analysis.
I show that human disturbance increases the mountain nyala's vigilance and movement, thereby reducing its time for foraging and resting. This shift in behavior underscores the pressing need for effective conservation strategies in areas with higher human activity. Furthermore, my findings indicate that increased livestock density negatively impact group size, thereby affecting the natural social structure with potential consequences for coping strategies. Habitat suitability models identified only 1,864 km² of viable habitat for the mountain nyala, underscoring the scarcity of their living space. Over the last 30 years, significant land use changes have diminished montane forests, which have been replaced by agricultural and settlement areas, thereby threatening the species survival.
These insights highlight the need for comprehensive conservation strategies that involve local communities to protect remaining habitats and regulate human impacts. A shift towards sustainable land use practices is crucial for preserving the mountain nyala and requires targeted actions informed by continuous research to adapt to Ethiopia's changing landscapes.
Adjudication committee
Prof. Jean-Michel Gaillard, Laboratory of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon
Prof. Frank van Langevelde, Wageningen University & Research
Prof. Reidun Sirevåg, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Chair of defense
Prof. Tore Slagsvold, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Supervisors
Prof. Nils Chr. Stenseth, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Prof. Afework Bekele, Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University
Ass. Prof. Paul H. Evangelista, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University
Senior Lecturer Jakob Bro-Jørgensen, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool
Ass. Prof. Anagaw Atickem, Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University