Volcanoes National Park Research Articles

Perceptions and Behaviors of Indigenous Populations Regarding Illegal Use of Protected Area Resources in East Africa's Mountain Gorilla Landscape.

Illegal activities and use of park resources are the main challenges facing mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) conservation and the protection of their habitats in the East Africa's Greater Virunga Transboundary Landscape (GVTL). Indigenous residents around GVTL are considered the primary illegal users of park resources. Despite this, there is limited understanding of the current and past perceptions of indigenous residents living in communities adjacent to two GVTL parks; Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Equally, there is also limited understanding regarding the actual incidences of illegal activities inside both parks. This paper addresses these gaps. Perception data were collected from indigenous residents living adjacent to both parks. Further, Ranger-based Monitoring (RbM) data from both parks were analyzed to determine actual numbers and types of illegal activities over the 9-year period. Interestingly, findings indicated that residents perceived the prevalence of illegal activities to be decreasing across GVTL. To the contrary, RbM findings indicated that the number of actual illegal activities was increasing significantly, particularly in Volcanoes National Park. The discrepancy found between the two perspectives provides for a discussion of the social biases potentially present in these data, and their implications for management. Results also illuminated the subsistence-related nature of most illegal behaviors and suggest that to reduce illegal activities and local dependency on park resources, park management must work with communities and support them in tapping into alternative livelihoods and finding ways to address community household subsistence needs.

Contribution of Former Poachers for Wildlife Conservation in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park

This study assessed the contribution of former poachers to wildlife conservation in Volcanoes National Park, the main causes of poaching activities in Volcanoes National Park. The results indicated that the main causes of poaching and other illegal activities are associated with poverty, ignorance and culture and commercial purposes. The results further illustrated that poaching cases decreased in the Volcanoes National Park where, from 2018, the snares removed from the park reduced from above 1000 to 600 snares. In the same year, only 3 poachers from Kinigi and Shingiro Sectors were arrested. The findings illustrated that introducing of revenue sharing scheme where, 10% of the park’s revenues are shared to the local communities living adjacent to the park, and constructing a buffalo wall stone around the Volcanoes National Park are of the important measures which contributed to solve completely the problems of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts in the volcanic area. However, some respondents reported that the construction of buffalo wall did not prevent animal from escaping the park, they have proposed the construction of strong fence such as electrically fenced wall.

A Rock in the Park: The Key to a Remarkable Historical Tale

A Rock in the Park: The Key to a Remarkable Historical Tale Hugh R. Montgomery (bio) The Discovery of the Rock In the summer of 1851, a small party descending into Kīlauea’s caldera halted at a boulder adjacent to the trail.1 They chiseled onto its face personal names, the name of the vessel on which they had sailed, and on the top, the last two digits of the year. The rock, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, has a story of its own.2 It was erupted as lava on Kīlauea volcano between 1200 and 1400 ce. When the volcano’s summit collapsed around the year 1500, it remained as part of the crater wall over a thousand feet above the floor of the new caldera until it fell, probably during one of the numerous earthquakes the area endures. It tumbled down as part of a larger mass smashed by impacts into numerous chunks, coming to rest on a step fault, a flat created by an earlier slump. The area had been blanketed by airborne volcanic ash falling from powerful eruptive explosions in 1790, events defining that year as the earliest possible time of the rock’s placement. It tumbled farthest among the rubble with which it fell, coming to a stop near what would come to be the location of a trail used for [End Page 33] over 150 years now to pass between the upper edge of the crater and its floor. It happened to land with a relatively large and smooth face fronting that trail (now the Halema‘uma‘u Trail)—a tempting surface for passersby who were drawn to leave their marks. At the time of this vandalism, the area was sparsely vegetated. It was not until the 1920s that the area finally started to reforest after explosive eruptions between the late fifteenth century and the nineteenth century. The marks on the rock would have been clearly visible to observers such as Mark Twain in 1866, volcanologist Thomas Jaggar and visitors to the Park at its founding in 1916.3 The boulder was subsequently hidden for decades by invasive ginger plants until Park workers removed the introduced vegetation. Even then, no one noticed the faint, lichen-covered inscriptions for several years. This writer, frequently passing by in his capacity as a professional guide, was apparently the first in a good while to see them, and, on inquiry, determined that they were unknown to the staff of the National Park Service. Most clearly evident were large and deeply incised letters spelling out “B BOYD” on the upper left quadrant and a smaller number “51” on the rim of the rock’s very top. Examination of the less legible marks on repeated visits with varying lighting and different observers eventually yielded the perception that, next to Boyd’s name, smaller, less deeply cut letters spelled out, on two lines, “YACHT WANDERER.” Below Boyd’s name, a much fainter “J WEBSTER” was finally seen. An internet search found a digitized 1854 Australian newspaper4 reprinting from its November 25, 1851 issue an account of Benjamin Boyd’s voyage on his yacht Wanderer across a considerable expanse of the Pacific. It documented an anchorage at Hilo, an adventure to Kīlauea, and his murder in the Solomon Islands in October 1851. Prompting this 1854 reprint was a report suggesting that Boyd might, in fact, yet be alive. This information compelled further research and an intriguing tale began to run its course. Chance observation of markings on a rock and ensuing curiosity revealed insight into the past, involving colorful characters, a splendid yacht, grandiose schemes, persistent currents of history including colonialism and labor-capital dynamics, and a cascade of tragic events. [End Page 34] Click for larger view View full resolution Figure 1. Boulder, 2019. Photo by author. Click for larger view View full resolution Figure 2. The year cut into the top of the boulder, 2017. Photo by Ranger Jay Robinson, National Park Service. [End Page 35] The Prelude Born in England to a family of Scots, Benjamin Boyd did well enough as a stockbroker in England to acquire at...

Geomorphological heritage inventory of Irazú Volcano, Costa Rica

Volcanoes are part of the natural environment, and the interactions with humans are inescapable. The geoheritage studies in tropical regions, specifically tropical volcanos, are scarce despite the uniqueness, scientific value, and beauty of these features. We performed an integrated approach for the inventory and management of the geomorphological heritage of the Irazú Volcano National Park, one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica. We identified eleven geomorphosites including volcanic craters, hills, domes, lagoons, and caves. The average in the assessment of scientific values of all the identified geomorphosites was 0.67. The site that rated the highest average between all the geomorphosites (0.94) was the Principal Crater. Other geomorphosites with high average and similar conditions were Diego de la Haya Crater, Playa Hermosa Crater and Sapper Hill, which show outstanding characteristics. Irazú volcano has an exuberant geodiversity and this assessment shows its geological and cultural richness. This demonstrates the importance and value that the volcano poses for the geoheritage of Costa Rica, Central America and tropical regions.

Recent decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo (Yushania alpina), a key food plant for primates in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

The African montane bamboo Yushania alpina provides both habitat and food for many species in the Albertine Rift region. In Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, it is especially important as a key food resource for the Endangered mountain gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei and Endangered golden guenon Cercopithecus mitis kandti. We examined temporal and spatial variation in bamboo shoots regeneration and consumption by primates, monitored between 2013 and 2018 in 82 16-m2 plots located along transects in VNP. Our analyses revealed a decline in vegetative regeneration of bamboo in recent years, which is mirrored by a decline in bamboo shoot consumption by primates; but an increase in proportional intake. Local declines in regeneration are potentially due to high intensities of herbivory, decreased amounts of rainfall during growing seasons, and natural processes that form part of the life cycle of bamboo. Moreover, spatial variation in bamboo regeneration can be explained by elevation, as well as by stand-level variation in soil acidity, vegetation density, and the density of dead bamboo culms. We discuss the potential mechanisms underlying observed temporal and spatial variations and outline possible effects of a decline in bamboo regeneration for primates and other aspects of biodiversity in VNP.

Environmental gradients influence differences in leaf functional traits between native and non-native plants.

Determining the characteristics of non-native plants that can successfully establish and spread is central to pressing questions in invasion ecology. Evidence suggests that some non-native species establish and spread in new environments because they possess characteristics (functional traits) that allow them to either successfully compete with native residents or fill previously unfilled niches. However, the relative importance of out-competing native species vs. filling empty niche space as potential mechanisms of invasion may depend on environmental characteristics. Here, we measured plant functional traits, proxies indicative of competitive and establishment strategies, to determine if these traits vary among native and invasive species and if their prevalence is dependent on environmental conditions. Using a natural environmental gradient in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, we evaluated how functional traits differ between native and non-native plant communities and if these differences change along an environmental gradient from hot, dry to cool, wet conditions. Functional trait differences suggested that both competition and open niche space may be important for invasion. Non-native communities tended to have traits associated with faster growth strategies such as higher specific leaf area and lower leaf thickness. However, native and non-native community traits became more dissimilar along the gradient, suggesting that non-native species may be occupying previously unfilled niche space at the hot, dry end of the gradient. We also found that most of the variation in functional trait values amongst plots was due to species turnover rather than intraspecific variation. These results highlight the role of environmental context when considering invasion mechanisms.

A Density-Based Approach for Leaf Area Index Assessment in a Complex Forest Environment Using a Terrestrial Laser Scanner

Forests are an important part natural ecosystems, by for example providing food, fiber, habitat, and biodiversity, all of which contribute to stable natural systems. Assessing and modeling the structure and characteristics of forests, e.g., Leaf Area Index (LAI), volume, biomass, etc., can lead to a better understanding and management of these resources. In recent years, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) has been recognized as a tool that addresses many of the limitations of manual and traditional forest data collection methods. In this study, we propose a density-based approach for estimating the LAI in a structurally-complex forest environment, which contains variable and diverse structural attributes, e.g., non-circular stem forms, dense canopy and below-canopy vegetation cover, and a diverse species composition. In addition, 242 TLS scans were collected using a portable low-cost scanner, the Compact Biomass Lidar (CBL), in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HAVO), Hawaii Island, USA. LAI also was measured for 242 plots in the site, using an AccuPAR LP-80 ceptometer. The first step after cleaning the point cloud involved detecting the higher forest canopy in the light detection and ranging (lidar) point clouds, using normal change rate assessment. We then estimated Leaf Area Density (LAD), using a voxel-based approach, and divided the canopy point cloud into five layers in the Z (vertical) direction. These five layers subsequently were divided into voxels in the X direction, where the size of these voxels were obtained based on inter-quartile analysis and the number of points in each voxel. We hypothesized that the intensity returned to the lidar system from woody materials, like branches, would be higher than from leaves, due to the liquid water absorption feature of the leaves and higher reflectance for woody material at the 905 nm laser wavelength. We also differentiated between foliar and woody materials using edge detection in the images from projected point clouds and evaluated the density of these regions to support our hypothesis. Density of points, or the number of points divided by the volume of a grid, in a 3D grid size of 0.1 m, was calculated for each of the voxels. The grid size was determined by investigating the size of the branches in the lower portion of the canopy. Subsequently, we fitted a Kernel Density Estimator (KDE) to these values, with the threshold set based on half of the area under the curve in each of the density distributions. All the grids with a density below the threshold were labeled as leaves, while those grids above the threshold were identified as non-leaves. Finally, we modeled LAI using the point densities derived from the TLS point clouds and the listed analysis steps. This model resulted in an R 2 value of 0.88. We also estimated the LAI directly from lidar data using the point densities and calculating LAD, which is defined as the total one-sided leaf area per unit volume. LAI can be obtained as the sum of the LAD values in all the voxels. The accuracy of LAI estimation was 90%, with an RMSE value of 0.31, and an average overestimation of 9 % in TLS-derived LAI, when compared to field-measured LAI. Algorithm performance mainly was affected by the vegetation density and complexity of the canopy structures. It is worth noting that, since the LAI values cannot be considered spatially independent throughout all the plots in this site, we performed semivariogram analysis on the field-measured LAI data. This analysis showed that the LAI values can be assumed to be independent in plots that are at least 30 m apart. As a result, we divided the data into six subsets in which the plots were 30 m spaced. The R 2 values for these subsets, based on modeling of the field-measured LAI using leaf point density values, ranged between 0.84–0.96. The results bode well for using this method for efficient, automatic, and accurate/precise estimation of LAI values in complex forest environments, using a low-cost, rapid-scan TLS.

The Potential of Tourism Benefits to Reduce Forest Dependence Behavior of Impoverished Residents Adjacent to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

ABSTRACT The relationship between protected forested areas and neighboring residents in developing countries has been one of conflict. Tourism has both direct and indirect benefits to residents neighboring protected areas, and it can be one of the most innovative ways to resolve human-wildlife conflicts and achieve long-term conservation goals. However, the effectiveness of direct and indirect benefits of tourism has not been settled in the literature. In this paper, the case of the Volcanoes national park is used to empirically examine the conservation effectiveness of direct and indirect tourism benefits for poor residents neighboring the park. Results indicate that direct tourism benefits have more potential to influence change in forest-dependent behavior when the behavior is driven by food security constraints. Additionally, the results suggest that the potential to reduce forest dependence is possible if both direct and indirect tourism benefits are aimed to address health, education and food security risks of poor households in proximity to VNP.

Effect of mountain gorilla (<i>Gorilla beringei beringei</i>) population growth to their key food plant biomass in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

High densities of large herbivores can have detrimental effects on plant biomass. Understanding the relationship between animal densities and plant distribution and abundance is essential for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems. Mountain gorilla censuses conducted for different periods in the last three decades have revealed a steady increase of gorilla population in Virunga Massif whereby the recent number of gorillas has doubled compared to their number in the 1980s. It is unclear whether the continuous population growth of the herbivorous Virunga gorilla within an isolated forest ‘island’ has been affecting gorilla food plant biomass. This study investigated the effect of varying mountain gorilla densities on the biomass of the five key food plant species (Galium spp., Carduus nyassanus, Peucedanum linderi, Rubus spp., Laportea alatipes) that make up >70% of the mountain gorilla diet. We used plant biomass data collected in a central part of the Virunga massif, commonly known as Karisoke sector from 2009 to 2011, and GPS records of gorilla groups ranging in the same area nine months prior biomass assessment. Gorilla densities were estimated using the Kernel Utilization Distribution (KDE) analysis (functions: ‘kernelUD’ and ‘getvolumeUD’) from the Adehabitat package in R software, which provides the probability density of gorilla occurrence at each coordinate (x, y) of the study area. Analyses using GLMs suggest that gorilla densities (a proxy of previous gorilla utilization intensity) did neither affect the total biomass of key food plant species nor the biomass of each key food plant species (p>0.05). These results may indicate that current revisit rates of feeding sites by gorillas allow for complete plant regeneration, and no signs of overharvesting. Alternatively, feeding sites characterized by very high biomass may be preferred by gorillas and remain sites with the highest biomass even after being frequently used by gorillas. Findings also suggest that carrying capacity of the gorilla population in the study areas may not yet be reached if food is the driving constraint. However, monitoring of the relationship between gorilla densities and food plant biomass must continue while the Virunga population continues growing. Future studies also need to incorporate other sympatric large herbivores in the Virungas who share food plants with mountain gorillas.Keywords: habitat use, gorilla density, plants biomass

Status, diversity and trends of the bird communities in Volcanoes National Park and surrounds, Rwanda

SummaryThe Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Rwanda, part of the Virunga massif in the Albertine Rift region, boasts some of Rwanda’s best remaining natural vegetation and is home to many endangered and endemic species. The park has suffered from high levels of degradation and destruction, reducing in size by 50% during the 1960s and 1970s, and remains under threat from illegal activities, human population pressure and climate change. This study is the first to investigate the status and trends of bird communities in the VNP, using a multi-year dataset. We use a five-year dataset, totalling over 3,200 point-counts, both within and around the VNP, to assess the conservation value of the VNP for birds in comparison with other national parks and non-protected areas. We assess bird communities and population trends within and around the parks and identify important habitat factors for birds within the VNP. We found that the VNP hosts a unique bird community compared to other localities, with several Albertine Rift endemics and threatened species occurring in the VNP.Hagenia/ Hypericumwoodland, herbaceous vegetation, brush ridge and mixed forest host the highest levels of bird diversity in the VNP, whilst the park’s waterbodies provide key habitat for the endangered Albertine Rift endemic Grauer’s Swamp-warbler (Bradypterus graueri). Elevation had a negative effect on bird diversity in the VNP, whilst the basal area of dead trees,Hageniaand vines had a positive effect. Both inside and outside the VNP, there was a significant decline in abundance and species richness over the sampling years; however, we advocate for further monitoring to confirm these trends. Based on our findings, we recommend effective, targeted management of key habitats for birds within the park, including those identified in this study, in order to mitigate bird declines and conserve the unique bird communities in the VNP.

Farmers’ usage preferences for Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Purpose Policymakers and stakeholders lack empirical evidence on the effectiveness of community participatory management for agribusiness development and environmental conservation. The purpose of this paper is to assess the management preferences, approaches and practices of farm communities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (VNP). Design/methodology/approach Primary data collected from 191 farmers were used. A choice experiment on current and potential park management practices and utilization levels was conducted along with a survey on socioeconomic, farm and institutional behavior characteristics. Findings Results show that farmers prefer preserving VNP resources for the production of agribusiness crops that are low input and environmental friendly and provide high income to farmers in addition to handcraft production to enhance cultural, plant and wild animal tourism development. Farmers highly value integrated stakeholder participatory decision making about the parks natural resources. High-income farmers prefer to restore traditional cultural heritage park sites for recreation, and ancestral intellectual and cultural property rights. Research limitations/implications The sample size limited the analysis to a conditional logit model. Originality/value This is the first study to assess the management preferences of farm communities in the VNP area.

Behavioral responses around conspecific corpses in adult eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei spp.)

Humans were once considered unique in having a concept of death but a growing number of observations of animal responses to dying and dead conspecifics suggests otherwise. Complex arrays of behaviors have been described ranging from corpse removal and burial among social insects to quiet attendance and caregiving among elephants and primates. Less frequently described, however, are behavioral responses of individuals from different age/sex classes or social position toward the death of conspecifics. We describe behavioral responses of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) to the deaths of a dominant silverback and a dominant adult female from the same social group in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the responses of Grauer’s gorillas (Gorilla b. graueri) to the corpse of an extra-group silverback in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. In gorillas, interactions between groups or with a lone silverback often result in avoidance or aggression. We predicted that: (i) more individuals should interact with the corpses of same-group members than with the corpse of the extra-group silverback; (ii) adult females with infants should avoid the corpse of the extra-group silverback; and (iii) in the mountain gorilla cases, individuals that shared close social relationships with the dead individual should spend more time with the corpse than other individuals in the group. We used a combination of detailed qualitative reports, photos, and videos to describe all occurrences of affiliative/investigative and agonistic behaviors observed at the corpses. We observed similar responses toward the corpses of group and extra-group individuals. Animals in all three cases showed a variety of affiliative/investigative and agonistic behaviors directed to the corpses. Animals of all age/sex classes interacted with the corpses in affiliative/investigative ways but there was a notable absence of all adult females at the corpse of the extra-group silverback. In all three cases, we observed only silverbacks and blackbacks being agonistic around and/or toward the corpses. In the mountain gorilla cases, the individuals who spent the most time with the corpses were animals who shared close social relationships with the deceased. We emphasize the similarity in the behavioral responses around the corpses of group and extra-group individuals, and suggest that the behavioral responses were influenced in part by close social relationships between the deceased and certain group members and by a general curiosity about death. We further discuss the implications close interactions with corpses have for disease transmission within and between gorilla social groups.

Spatial variation in anuran richness, diversity, and abundance across montane wetland habitat in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

The spatial distribution of species has long sparked interest among ecologists and biogeographers, increasingly so in studies of species responses to climate change. However, field studies on spatial patterns of distribution, useful to inform conservation actions at local scales, are still lacking for many regions, especially the tropics. We studied elevational trends and species‐area relationships among anurans in wetland habitats within Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Rwanda, part of the biodiverse Albertine Rift region. In VNP, wetlands are key sites for anuran reproduction, and anurans are likely threatened by wetland desiccation which has occurred for the last few decades. Between 2012 and 2017, we sampled anuran communities in ten VNP wetlands located along an elevational gradient of c. 600 m (from 2,546 to 3,188 m a.s.l.) and found at least eight species, including at least two Albertine Rift Endemics. We show that species richness, diversity, and abundance likely decline with a decrease in wetland size and with an increase in elevation, though additional sampling (e.g., at night) might be needed to derive definite conclusions. Larger wetlands at lower elevations contained most species and individuals, which indicates the potential threat of wetland size reduction (through desiccation) for anuran conservation. However, we also found that wetlands differed in species composition and that some species (e.g., Sclerophrys kisoloensis) were likely restricted in distribution to only a few of the smaller wetlands—suggesting that the conservation of each individual wetland should be prioritized, regardless of size. We propose that all wetlands in VNP require additional conservation measures, which should be based on knowledge gathered through long‐term monitoring of anuran communities and research on drivers of wetland decline. Only such extended research will allow us to understand the response of anurans in VNP to threats such as climate change and wetland desiccation.

Long-term history of vehicle collisions on the endangered Nēnē (Branta sandvicensis).

Millions of birds in the United States die annually due to vehicle collisions on roads. Collisions may be of particular interest for species of conservation concern, such as the endangered Hawaiian goose (Nēnē), which is endemic to Hawai‘i. Using a nearly 40-year dataset of Nēnē road mortality in and around Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, we sought to answer the following research questions: 1) has Nēnē mortality changed over time? 2) are there times of the year in which mortality is greatest and does it relate to specific events in the species’ lifecycle? 3) does age at mortality differ over time, space, or sex? 4) given that existing mortalities appear to occur only in certain locations, do the number of mortality events differ across these locations; 5) does mortality rate show any density dependence? and, 6) are mortality rates related to numbers of visitors or vehicles? Between 1977 and 2014, a total of 92 Nēnē died from vehicle collisions; while absolute mortality increased over this time, the mortality rate remained the same. Similarly, average age of mortality increased over time, but did not differ by location or sex. Between 1995 and 2014, Nēnē population size and mortality rates were not correlated. Mortality was greatest in November and December (breeding season) and lowest in June. Most of the mortality occurred along just three stretches of road in and around the park, with the number of mortalities split about evenly inside and outside of the park. Furthermore, Nēnē mortality was unrelated to the number of visitors or traffic volume in the park. These findings suggest vehicle collisions are a growing concern for Nēnē, but that management actions to reduce mortality can be targeted at specific road segments and times of the year.

Observations on regeneration of the keystone plant species Hagenia abyssinica in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

African Journal of EcologyVolume 57, Issue 2 p. 274-278 SHORT COMMUNICATION Observations on regeneration of the keystone plant species Hagenia abyssinica in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda Laban Kayitete, Corresponding Author Laban Kayitete kayitetelab7@gmail.com orcid.org/0000-0003-2513-688X Biology Department, School of Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, Rwanda Correspondence Laban Kayitete, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, Rwanda. Email: kayitetelab7@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorYntze van der Hoek, Yntze van der Hoek Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, RwandaSearch for more papers by this authorBrigitte Nyirambangutse, Brigitte Nyirambangutse Biology Department, School of Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, RwandaSearch for more papers by this authorMia A. Derhé, Mia A. Derhé Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, RwandaSearch for more papers by this author Laban Kayitete, Corresponding Author Laban Kayitete kayitetelab7@gmail.com orcid.org/0000-0003-2513-688X Biology Department, School of Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, Rwanda Correspondence Laban Kayitete, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, Rwanda. Email: kayitetelab7@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorYntze van der Hoek, Yntze van der Hoek Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, RwandaSearch for more papers by this authorBrigitte Nyirambangutse, Brigitte Nyirambangutse Biology Department, School of Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, RwandaSearch for more papers by this authorMia A. Derhé, Mia A. Derhé Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, RwandaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 23 January 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12585Citations: 3Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume57, Issue2June 2019Pages 274-278 RelatedInformation

The Establishment of Kilauea Military Camp: The Early Years 1898–1921

The Establishment of Kilauea Military CampThe Early Years 1898–1921 Jadelyn J. Moniz Nakamura (bio) and Geoffrey Mowrer (bio) Located on the island of Hawai‘i, at the summit of Kīlauea, is the Kilauea Military Camp. The camp is within the boundaries of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kilauea Military Camp occupies approximately fifty of the park’s 335,259 acres, and its history is as old as the park itself. The camp was established in 1916 with the construction of the first three buildings, and it “represents some of the earliest military development in the Hawaiian Islands.”1 The history of recreational visits by soldiers to Kīlauea began in 1898, shortly after the annexation of Hawai‘i by the United States. Seven years later the U.S. Army established the first military installation at Fort Shafter, [End Page 55] O‘ahu, and by 1911 troops had begun to regularly visit Kīlauea for rest and recreation. In 1916, at the urging of business and political leaders, a group of citizens built Kilauea Military Camp primarily for use by the U.S. military (National Guard, Army and Navy) as well as civilians for conventions and meetings “when not inconsistent” with the use by the military.2 Throughout its 100 years of existence, Kilauea Military Camp has served as a recreation camp for U.S. Army personnel and a Summer Camp for local teachers and students. It was a Vacation and Health Recruiting Station for the Navy, and during World War II it was the headquarters for the Twenty-seventh Division, a detainment camp for Japanese Americans, and a prisoner-of-war camp.3 Its storied history grew out of the efforts of private citizens to build a facility that would be a magnet for a particular clientele and in the process bring much needed business opportunity and tourist dollars to the island. First Troops Visit Kīlauea Military excursions to Kīlauea started in 1898 following the annexation of Hawai‘i by the United States on July 7. Soldiers from the First New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment arrived in the Hawaiian Islands on August 16, 1898.4 Landing on O‘ahu, they established Camp McKinley, the first U.S. Army camp, at Kapi‘olani Park.5 It did not take long for the soldiers of the First Infantry to explore the islands beyond O‘ahu, and take in what was likely the most spectacular site in the newly minted Territory—an active volcano! The New York Volunteers were the first soldiers to visit Kīlauea on an organized pleasure trip. They arrived in Hilo on Saturday, November 12, 1898 on the ship Kinau. While in Hilo, they were hosted at a local hotel with a midday feast. The place was decorated with “ferns, flowers and flags.”6 The group’s captain gave a speech thanking those who made the event possible, and the military band treated the locals to a concert. Two days later, the soldiers headed for Kīlauea where they encamped on W.H. Shipman’s land just beyond the Volcano House. Besides enjoying the magnificent views of the volcano, it was expected that the soldiers, who had their weapons, would do some hunting and enjoy the first snow of the year on the mountains.7 They stayed in the volcano area for a week, and returned to Hilo on November 21. [End Page 56] The men were reported to have had a “very pleasant trip” despite the fact that they had to march over thirty miles to the volcano in heavy rain on the first and second days of their journey.8 Back in Hilo they were treated to a Thanksgiving lū‘au feast by Mr. C.C. Kennedy of the Waiakea Mill. Following the meal, the tables were cleared, the military band struck up some tunes, and those who wanted to dance did so. On or about November 27 they left Hilo, ending their journey.9 Click for larger view View full resolution Figure 1. Camp McKinley located at Kapi‘olani Park, c. 1898. Hawai‘i State Archives Photo Collection PP-57-1-010-00001. Triple Goal...

Thermoplasmatales and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria dominate the microbial community at the surface water of a CO2-rich hydrothermal spring located in Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica.

Here we report the chemical and microbial characterization of the surface water of a CO2-rich hydrothermal vent known in Costa Rica as Borbollones, located at Tenorio Volcano National Park. The Borbollones showed a temperature surrounding 60°C, a pH of 2.4 and the gas released has a composition of ~ 97% CO2, ~ 0.07% H2S, ~ 2.3% N2 and ~ 0.12% CH4. Other chemical species such as sulfate and iron were found at high levels with respect to typical fresh water bodies. Analysis by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding revealed that in Borbollones predominates an archaeon from the order Thermoplasmatales and one bacterium from the genus Sulfurimonas. Other sulfur- (genera Thiomonas, Acidithiobacillus, Sulfuriferula, and Sulfuricurvum) and iron-oxidizing bacteria (genera Sideroxydans, Gallionella, and Ferrovum) were identified. Our results show that CO2-influenced surface water of Borbollones contains microorganisms that are usually found in acid rock drainage environments or sulfur-rich hydrothermal vents. To our knowledge, thisis the first microbiological characterization of a CO2-dominated hydrothermal spring from Central America and expands our understanding of those extreme ecosystems.

Fleas from domestic dogs and rodents in Rwanda carry Rickettsia asembonensis and Bartonella tribocorum.

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are ubiquitous blood-sucking parasites that transmit a range of vector-borne pathogens. The present study examined rodents (n = 29) and domestic dogs (n = 7) living in the vicinity of the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, for fleas, identified flea species from these hosts, and detected Bartonella (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae) and Rickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) DNA. The most frequently encountered flea on rodents was Xenopsylla brasiliensis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). In addition, Ctenophthalmus (Ethioctenophthalmus) calceatus cabirus (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) and Ctenocephalides felis strongylus (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) were determined using morphology and sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II genes (cox1 and cox2, respectively). Bartonella tribocorum DNA was detected in X. brasiliensis and Rickettsia asembonensis DNA (a Rickettsia felis-like organism) was detected in C. felis strongylus. The present work complements studies that clarify the distributions of flea-borne pathogens and potential role of fleas in disease transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. In the context of high-density housing in central sub-Saharan Africa, the detection of B. tribocorum and R. asembonensis highlights the need for surveillance in both rural and urban areas to identify likely reservoirs.

Vegetation Analysis Of Stand Trees Composition of Natural Forest Of Merapi Volcano National Park

Forest is an ecosystem that is yielded from the interaction of biotic and abiotic factors which all the included abundant capital natural resources is the grant from the God both to be preserved and utilized at the longlasting basis. Tropical rain forest compiled of highly kind varieties of plants and plays a very important rule in hydrology and land protection. The purposes of this research to find out the native stand trees composition, to know the native stand trees kind abundance, and to know the spesies association types. This research was conducted at the natural forest of the Merapi Volcano National Park that is administratively located in Hargobinangun Village of Pakem Subdistrict of Sleman Regency of Yogyakarta Special Region Province from May until June 2014. Plot method was applied for the vegetation measurement which was in the various plot size based on the stand tree level with 2.5 percents sampling intensity towarded all the stand trees in the natural forest of Merapi VolcanoNational Park. The Importance Value Index, species variety, and species association calculation was included. The results of this study showed that there were 20 tree types and 20 tree families in the Merapi VolcanoNational Park. The Damar (Agathis damara) species has the highest importance value index at the tree level while the lowest went to Sandalwood (Santalum album) species. The vegetation community as the composer of the natural forest of Merapi VolcanoNational Park had a low level of species variety caused by a small numberNational Park of Mountain of and only had a few dominant species at the tree level.

Low familiarity and similar ‘group strength’ between opponents increase the intensity of intergroup interactions in mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Intergroup interactions in social animals can vary from hostile to affiliative and may be influenced by factors such as competitive ability, resource values and existing intergroup relationships. Despite the potential for intergroup interactions to affect individual fitness and group stability, few studies have comprehensively tested how social, demographic and ecological factors may simultaneously influence intergroup interactions. Using 13 years of continuous data on intergroup interactions (n = 464), group composition, range use and diet, we investigated the factors that influenced the initiation and escalation of intergroup interactions in a fully habituated subpopulation of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The majority of interactions were non-physically agonistic (57%), while peaceful exchanges and physical aggression were less common (18% and 25% of interactions respectively). Solitary males and young dominant silverbacks were the most likely to initiate an interaction, presumably because these males have the highest incentive to attract mates. Aggressive interactions between a group and a solitary male involved a high number of participating group members, reflecting the incentive to avoid injury and infanticide associated with solitary male encounters. Aggression between social groups escalated when groups were similarly sized, perhaps because these groups have similar competitive abilities. Peaceful intergroup interactions most commonly involved opponents that contained familiar and related individuals, suggesting that the short dispersal distance of gorillas may facilitate kin-selected intergroup tolerance. Variation and plasticity in gorilla behaviour during intergroup interactions are therefore dependent on the opponent’s familiarity and threat level. Intergroup interactions can vary from aggressive physical disputes to tolerant intermingling among extra-group individuals. Competition for access to limiting resources can often influence the occurrence of aggressive intergroup competition, but may not be sufficient to describe peaceful mingling between groups in social species. We found that although the main driver of intergroup interactions may be mating competition between males, interactions between familiar social groups were significantly more peaceful than interactions involving unfamiliar groups. These findings suggest that maintaining social and kin relationships with neighbouring groups may act as a strategy for reducing conflict in group-structured social species.