Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation

Spatial variation in habitat quality and anthropogenic factors, as well as social structure, can lead to spatially structured populations of animals. Demographic approaches can be used to improve our understanding of the dynamics of spatially structured populations and help identify subpopulations critical for the long-term persistence of regional metapopulations. We provide a regional metapopulation analysis to inform conservation management for Masai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) in five subpopulations defined by land management designations. We used data from an individual-based mark–recapture study to estimate subpopulation sizes, subpopulation growth rates, and movement probabilities among subpopulations. We assessed the source–sink structure of the study population by calculating source–sink statistics, and we created a female-based matrix metapopulation model composed of all subpopulations to examine how variation in demographic components of survival, reproduction, and movement affected metapopulation growth rate. Movement data indicated no subpopulation was completely isolated, but movement probabilities varied among subpopulations. Source–sink statistics and net flow of individuals indicated three subpopulations were sources, while two subpopulations were sinks. We found areas with higher wildlife protection efforts and fewer anthropogenic impacts were sources, and less-protected areas were identified as sinks. Our results highlight the importance of identifying source–sink dynamics among subpopulations for effective conservation planning and emphasize how protected areas can play an important role in sustaining metapopulations.

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Work Title Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Derek E. Lee
  2. Douglas T. Bolger
Keyword
  1. Matrix population model
  2. Metapopulation
  3. Population dynamics
  4. Rescue effect
  5. Source–sink
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Population Ecology
Publication Date May 5, 2017
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10144-017-0580-7
Deposited July 12, 2023

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Version 1
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  • Created
  • Added Lee___Bolger_2017_Movements___Metapopulation.pdf
  • Added Creator Derek E. Lee
  • Added Creator Douglas T. Bolger
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Matrix population model, Metapopulation, Population dynamics, Rescue effect, Source–sink
    Publication Date
    • 2017-04-01
    • 2017-05-05
  • Updated