Analysis of lion-tailed macaque habitat fragmentation using satellite imagery

Deforestation and forest fragmentation are the primary threats to the habitat of endangered lion-tailed macaques, Macaca silenus, in Karnataka, India. Landsat satellite images of northwest Karnataka, India, from 1977 and 1990 were analysed. Two study sites, measuring 16.35 × 19.14 km (31,213 ha) and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Current science (Bangalore) Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 283 - 291
Main Authors:	Krishnamurthy, Ramesh S., Kiester, A. Ross
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Current Science Association 10-08-1998
Subjects:	Conservation biology Environmental conservation Forest conservation Forest habitats Habitat conservation Habitat fragmentation Habitat loss MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES Nature conservation Species reintroduction Urban habitats
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Deforestation and forest fragmentation are the primary threats to the habitat of endangered lion-tailed macaques, Macaca silenus, in Karnataka, India. Landsat satellite images of northwest Karnataka, India, from 1977 and 1990 were analysed. Two study sites, measuring 16.35 × 19.14 km (31,213 ha) and 14.34 × 21.44 km (30,561 ha), respectively, were selected for analysis. Based on a group home range estimate of 131 ha, contiguous habitat fragments large enough to support two or more groups of lion-tails remained available in the study area in 1990. A single contiguous patch of 14,718 ha in site 1 and two contiguous patches in site 2, (4,276 ha and 9,097 ha) were available for reintroduction of captive lion-tailed macaque populations. Loss of habitat has primarily been occurring in and around previously disturbed regions. Ground-truthing of the identified potential unfragmented sites confirms the results of the study.
ISSN:	0011-3891