Impacts of Constructed Water Pans on Mammal Distribution and Abundance. A Case of Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

Kiria Edwin *

Chuka University, P.O Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.

Mmula Beldine

Chuka University, P.O Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.

Mutuma Evans

Chuka University, P.O Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.

Samuel N. Mahiga

Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya.

Robert Aruho

Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aim: To assess the impacts of constructed water pan utilization on wildlife distribution and abundance in Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.

Study Design:  Ecological survey design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the dry season (June 2022) and wet season (October 2022) at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya.

Methodology: Systematic sampling using belt transects was used in collecting data on mammals’ distribution and abundance.

Results: Distribution patterns differed with species between seasons. For the dry season, results show that eland(r=-0.516, p=0.295), impala(r=-0.714, p=0.111), warthog(r=-0.754,p=0.08), waterbuck(r=-0.986,p=0.0003), and zebra(r=-0.657,p=0.156) had a strong negative correlation with distance from water pans. During the wet season, impala (r = -0.49, p=0.329), wildebeest (r = -0.26, p=0.623), and waterbuck (r = -0.71, p=0.111) showed a negative correlation, while warthog (r = 0.60,p=0.208) and zebra (r = 0.26, p=0.62)showed a positive correlation with increased distance from water.

Conclusion: many mammals concentrated near the constructed water pans during the dry season due to the presence of forage and drinking water but dispersed out when ephemeral water sources and forage availability increased during the wet season.

Keywords: Mammal distribution, abundance, water pan utilization, Mt. Kenya


How to Cite

Edwin, Kiria, Mmula Beldine, Mutuma Evans, Samuel N. Mahiga, and Robert Aruho. 2024. “Impacts of Constructed Water Pans on Mammal Distribution and Abundance. A Case of Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 14 (1):273-82. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2024/v14i13833.