Density estimates, effects of forest degradation and conservation implications for the Black-and-rufous elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi) in the

coastal forests of Shimoni, Kenya.

Zeno Wijtten* and Albert Swayne

*Global Vision International (GVI) Kenya, P.O. Box 10, Shimoni 80409, Kenya. (shimoni@gviworld.com)

Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL48AA

Introduction
The Black-and-rufus elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi, Bocage 1880) (vulnerable, IUCN 2008) is one of four species of giant elephant shrew that belong to the genus Rhynchocyon. R. petersi is confined to the Eastern Arc Mountains and fragmented coastal forests. The giant elephant-shrews share similar life histories in that they are diurnal insectivores that live in lowland and montane forests and dense woodlands (Rathburn, 1984). Of the giant elephant-shrews, the Golden-rumped elephant-shrew (R. chrysopygus) is most frequently described and there are very few records on R. petersi. As opposed to R. chrysopygus, R. petersi has a greater distribution within Kenyan and Tanzanian forest reserves and parks. However, R. petersi populations might not reach densities as high as R. chrysopygus (FitzGibbon 1994; Hanna and Anderson 1994; Rathbun 1979).

proxy for forest quality along transects. Canopy cover and height was measured every 10m along the transect.

Results
We estimate the density of R. petersi in the Trichillia emetica dominated coastal forests of Shimoni to be 47 per km2 (SE = 43). Between Oct 2006 - Sept 2011, 340 shrews were sighted. No differences in frequency of shrew sightings were found between years, observer, season or forest patch size. Furthermore, where the forest patch size decreased with 28%, and resource extraction increased, there was no decrease in elephant-shrew population recorded over a four year period. Sighting frequency for R. petersi increased with a transects proximity to the ocean ANOVA (F = 18.3, df = 5, P = 0.01). We found preference for higher degrees of canopy cover ANOVA (F = 11.15, df = 3, P = 0.05) but not for canopy height. However, no shrews were sighted further than 50m from from a forested area.
1
Relative number of sightings

0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0-15% 16-35% 36-55% >56% Canopy cover class

Fig. 3. Sighting frequency by shade classes, data averaged for every 50m.

Fig. 1. The Black and Rufus elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi), captive (left) and in-situ (right)

Discussion
Previous population estimates are based on surveys of nests, using a conversion factor derived from studies on R. chrysopygus. Population estimates for R. petersi using this method seem to be much lower. In Shimoni, hardly any nests were found along transects. Moreover, nesting ecology might vary extensively with forest and soil type possible invalidating the method itself. R. petersi population density is known to highly depend on vegetation type (FitzGibbon 1994) which further complicates extrapolation of results. More accurate densities and population numbers might be obtained by well designed mark recapture studies in a range of forest types. The importance of a region wide species specific survey measuring population density and abundance of R. petersi is undeniable for the sustainable conservation of this vulnerable species.

The main threats and precise effects of forest fragmentation, forest type, size or degradation on population density are unknown. Analysing casual and semi-structured observations of R. petersi during quarterly biodiversity and vegetation monitoring in the coastal forests of Shimoni, we are able to report density estimates and relate abundance numbers to canopy state, patch size and season.

Materials & Methods

The estimated population size is the result of a three month study over 8950m of straight line 200m spaced transect. A half-normal function with cosine series expansion was selected according to Akaikes information criteria (AIC) in DISTANCE 6.0. In order to indicate habitat preference, casual shrew sightings per hour of time spent in the field were calculated for different years, observers, seasons, locations and forest patch sizes. The degree of canopy cover and canopy height was used as a

Kenya
Mombasa

Literature cited
Coster S., Ribble A.O.. (2005). Density and cover preferences of Black-and-rufous elephant-shrews (Rhynchocyon petersi) in Chome Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Belg. J. Zool., 135 (supplement) : 175-177 FitzGibbon, C. & Rathbun, G. (2008). Rhynchocyon chrysopygus. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 April 2011. Hanna, N., Anderson, J. (1994). Njule 92, Final Report, assessing the status and distribution of the black-and-rufous elephant-shrew. Unpublished report. Oxford University expedition to Tanzania. Oxford, England: 67pp. Rathbun, G.B. (1979). The social structure and ecology of elephant-shrews. Advances in Ethology, Supplement to Journal of Comparative Ethology, 20: 1-77.

Acknowledgements
This study was completed with the support of the Kenya Wildlife Service and the CBO Friends of Shimoni Forest. We would like to thank all authorities and people of Shimoni for granting acces to their forests. Lastly we thank all volunteers that have been, and are working GVI Kenya for their endless enthusiasm, encouragement, and their assistance in the fieldwork.

Tanzania

Pemba

Zanzibar

Contact
E-mail shimoni@gviworld.com, mkwiro@gviworld.com Online documentation scribd.com/gvikenya (expedition reports, species lists) gvikenya.wildlifedirect.org (ongoing research expedition) gvikenya.blogspot.com (ongoing community conservation)

Dar es salaam

Fig. 2. Range indication of R. petersi (adapted from FitzGibbon & Rathburn 2008). The red circle indicates the research area.