Bachelor Thesis

Fernerkundung als Methode zur Habitatanalyse am Beispiel des Äthiopischen Wolfs (Canis simensis).

Lisa Höcker (03/2011-09/2011)

Support: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Yohannes Kidane

The Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis) is endemic to the afroalpine vegetation zones in the Ethiopian highland, situated at the horn of Africa. It is the world's most endangered canid with a number of about 500 individuals remaining. The specie's survival is threatened by modification, fragmentation and loss of habitat caused by global change. The impact of climate change on the vulnerable high mountain ecosystems leads to upwards range shifts of species such as afroalpine flora and the wolf's main prey, diurnal rodents. Besides this, the anthropogenic influence on landuse and landcover (e.g. timber, firewood collection, agriculture, burning, settlements, roadbuilding, etc.) increased within the last century and will continue to expand as a result of a raising population pressure. Landuse and landcover change threatens the afroalpine habitat and therefore the Ethiopian Wolf which persists in limited and fragmented areas above 3200m. This lower habitat line tends to shift upwards along the agricultural border above 3700m and in few regions even higher, avoiding any anthropogenic interference. Satellite images show a significantly higher altitudinal border for the wolf's key habitat in areas with high anthropogenic influence compared to remote regions with less human activity. Despite the isolation, fragmentation and small size of these remote high mountain areas they might be the key for the conservation of the specie in addition to existing National parks in Bale and Simen.