by Mark MacAllister
October 31, 2002
Page 1 : Introduction
Getting started
Download one or more of the maps on the following pages and print a color copy of each. Then, draw a quadrangle that includes the greatest number of location points possible...we'll refer to that quadrangle as the elephant's "home range (see Habsatu's map on Page 4 for an example of a home range). Note, though, that Habsatu's home range was calculated by a computer program called ArcView, the GIS software Field Trip Earth uses, and represents with a polygon the minimum home range. There are a number of ways to calculate home range; this method is one of the simplest (see Monitoring Elephant Locations for more information on mapping and home ranges). Also, be sure to remember that one year's data yields only a rough estimate of the actual home range. Many years' worth of data is needed before a definite home range can be determined.
Now, consider the following questions:
- what is the area (in square kilometers and square miles) of each elephant's home range?
- how large or small is that area compared to your school, town, city, state, country, etc.?
- how does the size of that range compare to the ranges of other elephants shown on these maps
- try to describe each elephant's home range preferences; does she prefer to be close to rivers, close to villages, close to or within national parks, etc.?
- what impact does the month or season of the year seem to play in each elephant's locations? Where does each animal go in the wet season? In the dry season?
Next Page : Waza and Northern Savannah Elephants
Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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