Large terrestrial mammals as indicator species for climate change effects in Tanzania: implications for policy

Abstract

Climate change is adversely affecting wildlife species. Species are affected differently due to the different ways they respond to climate change stresses. Terrestrial large mammals have not often been considered as potential indicators of climate change impacts. This research identified potential terrestrial large mammals as a possible indicator species for climate change effects, and analysed their implications for climate change adaptation policy in Tanzania. Desktop analysis and survey questionnaires were used to gather information and showed that some terrestrial large mammals could be used as indicator species for climate change effects in Tanzania. Both the desktop analysis and survey questionnaire revealed highly water dependent species (hippopotamus and waterbuck) and migratory species (wildebeest) as potential indicator species for climate change effects in Tanzania. Both academic and field ecologists regarded the African elephant highly as potential indicator species for climate change in Tanzania. This suggests that climate change adaptation policy in Tanzania should prioritize the use of hippopotamus, waterbuck, African elephant, and wildebeest as indicator species for climate change effects. Other species which could also be considered as a potential indicator for climate change are rhinoceros, wild dogs, buffalo, lion, leopard and cheetah