A stochastic simulation model for Asian elephant Elephas maximus populations and the inheritance of tusks

• Autorzy: Tiedemann R. , Kurt F.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In the framework of available historical data on population size and human impact on the Asian elephant Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758, we developed a stochastic simulation model for elephant populations, which simulates individual elephants and includes their geno- and phenotype regarding the tusk character. The model omits density dependence of reproduction parameters and mortality rates. The model predicts female mortality and mean calving interval to be the paramount factors determining the long-term population trend. For simulated female mortality rates of 5% and 5.5% a mean calving interval of 5.2 years and 4.4-4.5 years, respectively, leads to stable populations, which is in accordance with values derived from field observations. Taking into account a higher mortality of tuskers due to human impact, frequencies of the tusk allele were simulated both for dominant and recessive inheritance of the tusk character. The best accordance with census data was achieved, when the tusk allele was assumed to be dominant, combined with a slight reproductive advantage for tuskers. Since the model simulates population dynamics and tusk allele frequencies under various mortality schedules, it can be used to predict the effect of conservation efforts on populations of the Asian elephant.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

tusk; sexual character; Asian elephant; elephant population; Elephas maximus; population dynamics; stochastic simulation; selective hunting

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica. Supplement
• Rocznik: 1995
• Numer: 03
• Opis fizyczny: p.111-124,fig.

Twórcy

autor

Tiedemann R.

• Christian-Albrechts-Universitat zu Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D-24118 Kiel, Germany

autor

Kurt F.

Bibliografia

• Digby S. 1971. War-horse and elephant in the Dehli Sultanate, a study of military supplies. Orient Monographs, Oxford: 5-100.
• Evans G. H. 1910. Elephants and their diseases. Government Printing, Rangun: 1-343.
• Fowler C. W. and Smith T. 1973. Characterizing stable populations: An application to the African elephant population. Journal of Wildlife Management 37: 513-523.
• Hanks J. and McIntosh J. E. A. 1973. Population dynamics of the African elephant (.Loxodonta africana). Journal of Zoology, London 169: 29-38.
• Ishwaran N. 1993. Ecology of the Asian elephant in lowland dry zone habitats of the Mahaweli river basin, Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Ecology 9: 169-182.
• Jayewardene J. 1994. The elephant in Sri Lanka. Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo: 1-128.
• Kurt F. 1970. A comparison of reproduction in tame and wild elephant (Elephas maximus). IUCN XI. Technical meeting 1: 148-154.
• Kurt F. 1974. Remarks on the social structure and ecology of the Ceylon elephant in the Yala National ark. [In: The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management. V. Geist and F. Walther, eds]. IUCN Publications, New Series 24 (1): 618-634.
• Kurt F. 1992. Das Elefantenbuch. Rasch und Röhring, Hamburg: 1-239.
• Kurt F., Hartl G. B. and Tiedemann R. 1995. Tuskless bulls in Asian elephant Elephas maximus. History and population genetics of a marl-made phenomenon. [In: Ecological genetics in mammals II. G. B. Hartl and J. Markowski, eds]. Acta Theriologica, Suppl. 3: xx-xx.
• McKay G. M. 1973. The ecology and behavior of the Asiatic elephant in southeastern Ceylon. Smithsonion Contributions to Zoology 125: 1-113.
• Nair P. G., Radhakrishnan K. and Chandrasekharan 1992. Mating behaviour of the Asian elephant in captivity. [In: The Asian elephant: ecology, biology, diseases and management. E. G. Silas, M. Krishna, G. Nair and G. Nirmalan, eds]. Lumiere Printing Works, Trichur: 38-40.
• Olivier R. C. D. 1978. On the ecology of the Asian elephant. Ph D thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge: 1-453.
• Poole J. H. 1987. Rutting behaviour in African elephants. Behaviour 102: 283-316.
• Poole J. H. 1989. Mate guarding, reproductive success and female choice in African elephants. Animal Behaviour 37: 842-849.
• Santiapillai C. and Suprahman H. 1985. Elephants in Indonesia (Sumatra). WWF Monthly Report, December 1985. World Wildlife Fund, Gland, Switzerland: 287-296.
• Sivaganesan N. and Sathyanarayana M. C. 1993. Mortalities of trees caused by elephants in Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, South India. [In: Proceedings of International Seminar on the Conservation of the Asian Elephant. J. C. Daniel, ed]. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay: 65-72..
• Sukumar R. 1989. The Asian elephant: ecology and management. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1-219.
• Sukumar R. 1992. The Asian elephant: ecology and management. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1-255.
• Toke Gale U. 1974. Burmese timber elephants. Trade corporation, Rangoon: 1-152.
• Trautmann T. R. 1982. Elephants and the Mauryas. [In: India: History and thought. Mukerjee, ed]. Subarnarekha, Calcutta: 245-281.
• Wu L. S.-Y. and Botkin D. B. 1980. Of elephants and men: A discrete, stochastic model for long-lived species with complex life histories. American Naturalist 116: 831-849.