Remote Sensing for Primate Ecology

Project Summary

Researchers: Ian S. Ray (PI), Brandi T. Wren, Krista Fish

This project involves integrating several researchers' field ecology projects with publicly-available remote sensing data. Overall project outcomes include:

1. Comparison of remotely-sensed habitat with field observations on habitat utilization

2. Predicting species presence/absence based on remotely sensed data

3. Predicting population density of primate species based on remotely sensed (RS) data

4. Assessing the impact of regional development on wild primate populations, with reference to human-wildlife conflicts

Work Accomplished To Date

1. Preliminary work on the ecology of Galago moholi at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve (population density estimates, habitat utilization)

2. Vegetation sample plots at location of G. moholi sightings (2011) and control plots (2016)

3. Remote Sensing data for LDNR collected from LANDSAT and USGS

Next Steps

1. Image processing of RS data using QGIS, GrassGIS, and additional follow-up statistical analyses

2. Recalculating population estimates at LDNR and the surrounding areas based on RS data

3. Expansion of population estimates to larger areas

4. Estimate populations of Chlorocebus aethiops and Papio ursinus at LDNR from RS data and collaboration with authors of previous studies

5. Estimate populations of primates across South Africa, with focus on areas of increasing land development

6. Model potential for human-primate conflict in agricultural and urbanizing areas