THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE VIRUNGA VOLCANOES I.Owiunji, D. Nkuutu, D. Kujirakwinja, I. Liengola, A. Plumptre, A.Nsanzurwimo, K. Fawcett, M. Gray & A. McNeilage Institute of Tropical International Gorilla Forest Conservation Conservation Programme Biological Survey of Virunga Volcanoes TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................ 4 LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................... 5 LIST OF PHOTOS........................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... 7 GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................................... 9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER ONE: THE VIRUNGA VOLCANOES................................................................. 11 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 11 1.1 THE VIRUNGA VOLCANOES ......................................................................................................... 11 1.2 VEGETATION ZONES ...................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 FAUNA.................................................................................................................................................. 14 1.4 SURVEY SITES IN THE VIRUNGA VOLCANOES ...................................................................... 14 CHAPTER TWO: BIRDS .......................................................................................................... 16 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 16 2.2 STUDY SITES ...................................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 METHODS............................................................................................................................................ 16 2.3.1 Point counts ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2 Mist netting ................................................................................................................................ 16 2.3.3 Opportunistic sampling.............................................................................................................. 17 2.4 ANALYSES........................................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.1 Total species list......................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.2 Species diversity......................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.3 Species accumulation curves ..................................................................................................... 17 2.4.4 Similarity indices ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.5 Threatened and Albertine Rift Endemic Species ........................................................................ 17 2.4.6 Encounter rates.......................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.7 Bird distribution maps ............................................................................................................... 18 2.5 RESULTS.............................................................................................................................................. 18 2.5.1 Survey effort............................................................................................................................... 18 2.5.2 Total number of bird species in Virunga Volcanoes .................................................................. 18 2.5.2 Species accumulation curves ..................................................................................................... 19 2.5.3 Total number of bird species in sectors ..................................................................................... 20 2.5.4 Diversity indices in the sectors .................................................................................................. 21 2.5.5 Similarity between bird communities in sectors......................................................................... 21 2.5.6 Albertine Rift Endemic Species .................................................................................................. 22 2.5.7 Bird species and habitat types.................................................................................................... 23 2.5.8 Bird species richness with altitude............................................................................................. 24 2.6 DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................................ 26 CHAPTER THREE: PLANTS .................................................................................................. 27 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 27 3.2 STUDY SITES ...................................................................................................................................... 27 3.3 METHODS............................................................................................................................................ 27 3.3.1 Circular Plots............................................................................................................................. 27 WCS, DFGFI, ICCN, ORTPN, UWA, IGCP 2 Biological Survey of Virunga Volcanoes 3.3.2 Voucher Specimens .................................................................................................................... 27 3.4 ANALYSES........................................................................................................................................... 28 3.4.1 Total species............................................................................................................................... 28 3.4.2 Species diversity......................................................................................................................... 28 3.4.3 Species accumulative curves...................................................................................................... 28 3.4.4 Similarity index .......................................................................................................................... 28 3.4.5 Plant distribution maps.............................................................................................................. 28 3.5 RESULTS.............................................................................................................................................. 28 3.5.1 Survey routes.............................................................................................................................. 28 3.5.2 Species Numbers ........................................................................................................................ 28 3.5.3 The Vegetation types .................................................................................................................. 30 3.5.3 Diversity indices......................................................................................................................... 30 3.5.4 Species accumulation curves ..................................................................................................... 31 3.5.5 Similarity between plant communities........................................................................................ 32 3.6 DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................................ 34 CHAPTER 4: MAMMALS ........................................................................................................ 35 4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 35 4.2 STUDY SITES ...................................................................................................................................... 35 4.3 METHODS............................................................................................................................................ 35 4.4 RESULTS.............................................................................................................................................. 36 4.4.1. Dung density and altitude ......................................................................................................... 36 4.4.2 Distribution of dung in Virunga Volcanoes