Modeling the spatial distribution of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: The population density of wildlife reservoirs contributes to disease transmission risk for domestic animals. The objective of this study was to model the African buffalo distribution of the Kruger National Park. A secondary objective was to collect field data to evaluate models and determine environmental predictors of buffalo detection. Spatial distribution models were created using buffalo census information and archived data from previous research. Field data were collected during the dry (August 2012) and wet (January 2013) seasons using a random walk design. The fit of the prediction models were assessed descriptively and formally by calculating the root mean square error (rMSE) of deviations from field observations. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of environmenta

SUBMITTER: Hughes K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5597095 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature