[Editor's Note: This article
was originally submitted as a field report to AIYS in Fall ,1998.
For more information, see Valderrama X, Karesh W, Wildman DE, and
Melnick DJ (1999) Noninvasive methods for collecting fresh hair
tissue. Mol. Ecol. 9: 249-250. ]
Yemen Update 42
(2000):24-26
Derek and George, a
resident of Jabal Bura‘
INTRODUCTION
I conducted field research for a period
of just under three and one half months in The Republic of Yemen
during the summer and fall of 1997. The purpose of this research
was to collect mammalian samples appropriate for genetic analysis
in a biogeographic context. Under the supervision of Dr. Abdulwali
Al-Aghbari (Faculty of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture,
Sanaa University), I was able to collect over three hundred
samples representative of four mammalian orders (Primates,
Chiroptera, Rodentia, and
Carnivora).
The primary questions I hope to be able
to answer upon the completion of laboratory and statistical
analysis at my home institution (New York University, U.S.A.) are:
1) when did mammals with mostly African distributions migrate to
Asia, and, 2) by which route did this migration occur. Because I
am doing dissertation research in Anthropology, I focused my field
research primarily on the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas
hamadryas). This primate is one of Yemen's largest, and most
distinctive, mammals, and is of importance to studies of human
evolution, behavior, and disease. Besides the baboon, I also
studied a number of other mammal taxa with primarily African
distributions, but which are also found in Yemen.
My research was conducted at six sites
in Yemen. [For a location map, click
here]. These sites were
appropriate for sample collection because they comprise a north to
south population sampling distribution. Two of the sites (Jabal
Bura' and Jabal Iraf) are also important because they have been
earmarked as protected areas by the Ministry of Agriculture's
Department of Forestry. The other sites are important because I
found them to be the natural habitats of my study taxa. I also
collected a small number of samples from captive mammals, either
live or taxidermied specimens. The following represents a site by
site summary of my collection areas.
JABAL
BURA'
Jabal Bura' is a granite mountain
located in the Tihama foothills east of Bajil. I conducted
fieldwork here for approximately two weeks in July, 1997. I
visited this site first because research was conducted at the same
locale in 1995 by one of my American advisors, Dr. Clifford Jolly.
The area of the mountain that I focused on was Wadi Rijaf
(14û52.64N, 43û25.84E). I concentrated on the area of the Wadi
between the elevations of 300 and 600 meters. The vegetation of
this area is particularly dense for Yemen, and the steep canyon
walls make cultivation difficult if not impossible. It is
therefore an ideal habitat for hamadryas baboons.
I observed baboons on each day that
fieldwork was conducted. At least five separate groups of baboons
numbering between 20 and 50 individuals live in this area.
Demographically, they appear to be quite healthy, with a large
number of infants and juveniles observed. Their diet consists
primarily of fruits found near the water, and seeds and leaves
found farther up slope. I was able to collect 20 baboon fecal
samples and 16 hair samples. I also collected two adult specimens
of the murid rodent genus Acomys (the spiny rat), and one
fresh fecal sample from a large, possibly felid, carnivore. This
sample is suspected to be felid because local people report that
leopards live in the area. One possible leopard footprint was
observed, however laboratory analysis will be necessary to
identify the specimen. Porcupine quills were also
collected.
While the baboons were easy to see at J.
Bura', they were difficult to follow because of the steep canyon
walls and dense vegetation. I spent five days climbing these walls
in the hopes of finding sleeping sites. While a large number of
potential sites were found, I was unable to find any evidence of
recent activity, e.g feces. Therefore, I am unable to state
whether or not the small groups come together at night, although
this seems likely due to the presence of predators such as
leopards and eagles.
Because baboons are rarely shot or
trapped at J. Bura' they are relatively easy to watch near the
river. Indeed, my primary method of sample collection at this site
was to provision the baboons with roti (bread). I constructed a
corral made of sticky, plastic tape that the baboons brushed
against, thereby leaving hair samples.
JABAL
IRAF
Jabal Iraf, which is located west of Tur
Al-Bah in Lahj governate near the border of Taiz governate
(13û07.15N, 44û13.18E), was visited for ten days in early August,
1997. It was interesting to note that the people living near Tur
Al-Bah had constructed elaborate fences around their livestock
pens in order to prevent attacks from hyaenas. The study site on
Jabal Iraf is located on a high plateau at an approximate
elevation of 1100 meters. This site has been proposed for
protection due to the high number of endemic plant species
including Juniperus. The baboons don't live in the actual
forest area itself, rather they are found near Wadis with running
water at slightly lower elevations.
While at Iraf I collected ten fresh
baboon fecal samples, and hair and tissue from two baboons that
had recently been shot by local farmers. I also collected one
skull from an adult female, but unfortunately this was taken by a
vulture or kite while it was being macerated on the roof of the
schoolhouse where I and my field assistants slept. Because baboons
are commonly shot here for crop raiding they are very wary of
human presence, and run at the first sign of humans approaching.
Therefore, I did not observe many baboons at this locality. On two
occasions I did see groups of between twenty and forty
individuals, and Dr. Al-Aghbari and Ahmed Al-Awash (of Taiz
Forestry Department) observed a small group of four or five
individuals. Because of the flat terrain and the ease which
baboons escape from human view, I would not recommend this
locality for primate behavioral research.
I also collected a number of bats and
rodents from this site. Twenty bats representing two families -
Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats) and Rhinolophidae
(horseshoe bats) were collected from roosting sites in small
caves located two wadis south of the schoolhouse where I stayed. I
also collected nine specimens of Acomys, including five
almost to term fetae. Of the three pregnant rodents caught, two
were carrying twins, and one had only one fetus. The rodents were
collected from local houses and from rock overhangs in the highest
part of the forest.
Members of the
families Rhinolophidae and Rhinopomatidae (from
Jabal Iraf).
THULA
Thula, a village approximately fifty
kilometers northwest of Sanaa was visited for four days in August
1997. The purpose for visiting this site was to collect rodents
not found in typical baboon habitats. Thula lies at the base of a
sandstone prominence at an approximate altitude of 1600 meters
(15û34.44N, 43û53.99E). Eight murid rodents including
Praomys, Arvicanthis, and Mus were collected
from local houses and cultivated fields. While no baboons are
present at Thula, I was informed by a local resident that large
numbers can be found at the Al-Murkha area approximately
twenty-five kilometers northwest of the village. It was also
reported that a large number of bats could be found in caves near
the village.
WADI
MAWR
Wadi Mawr, north of At-Tur near Hajja
was visited for two days in early September. I had planned to stay
at this site for a longer period, but successful results allowed
me to schedule an extra trip to Jabal Sabir (see below). We stayed
at the schoolhouse in the small village of Al-Matha (15û44.19N,
43û25.22E). The vegetation of the area is typical of the Tihama
foothills. Myself and Dr. Al-Aghbari were accompanied by two
colleagues from the Hajja Dept. of Forestry office. The Wadi Mawr
area was chosen over the hills near Wadi Sharas because the
baboons appeared to be more difficult to follow at the latter
locale.
After enquiring about possible baboon
sleeping sites near the village, we were led to a cliff about
three kilometers downstream on the Wadi directly east of Al-Matha.
This cliff, about thirty meters high is the sleeping site for at
least 200 hamadryas baboons. I collected approximately 150 baboon
fecal and hair samples from this site. The schoolhouse where we
stayed was also the sleeping sight for molossid bats, two of which
were collected.
In the two days I was at this site I
observed multiple groups of baboons on both sides of the wadi
aforementioned. The large number of samples collected meant I did
not have to stay at this site any longer. However, the facts that
there are so many baboons here, and that they are easily followed,
makes Wadi Mawr an ideal site for primate behavioral research.
Furthermore, the baboons did not bark or run when we arrived,
suggesting that they are not shot often.
JABAL
SABIR
This mountain near Taiz was visited
because it has been reported to me by a driver for Universal Tours
(Abdul Hamid Al-Kideer) that the baboons of J. Sabir were
phenotypically different from most Yemeni baboons. This was
confirmed on September 15th and 16th, 1997. Myself, Dr Al-Aghbari,
and Jillian Schwedler, a colleague from New York University,
concentrated our efforts on the highest (above 2500 meters)
elevations of the northeast side of the mountain. In this area, I
observed approximately 200 baboons on September 15, and
approximately 40 on September 16.
The baboons are notable for three
obvious phenotypic reasons. 1) They are larger than most hamadryas
baboons with adult males appearing to be as large as 50 kilograms.
2) The adults maintain the brown fur seen typically in juvenile
hamadryas baboons. 3) The tips of the tails of all age classes and
sexes of these baboons are covered with white hair. While I was
only able to collect three samples (one of which is a partial
skeleton) from Jabal Sabir, I look forward to examining their
genetic composition. These baboons are also considered to be crop
pests, and are shot often, and quite wary of humans. I also
collected one fox fecal sample and a raptor hairball which
probably contains rodent hairs.
HAMMAM
ALI
This area was sampled in mid-September
because, geographically, it falls between sites like Jabal Bura'
and Jabal Sabir. There are a large number of baboon populations
found in the hills on both sides of the road between Dhamar and
Hammam Ali. After scouting four potential sites along this road, I
decided that the area near the small village of Ethar would most
likely bear results. With the assistance of local residents it was
determined that the far side of the small mountain just south of
the village had a baboon sleeping site (14û39.12N,
44û12.54E).
We found this site, and while no baboons
were observed, I did manage to collect approximately forty fecal
and hair samples. I also observed that the baboons from this area
eat prickly pear cactus pads. I also collected one fresh carnivore
fecal sample. On our walk back to the village we stopped at a cave
used for straw storage and collected one rhinolophid bat specimen.
MISCELLANEOUS
A number of other samples were collected
. These samples, were from captive animals or taxidermied
specimens so locality data is suspect. Captive baboon samples were
collected that are supposedly from Jabal Raymah, Hatarish, Sa'da,
and near Taiz. Carnivores samples, including Acionyx,
Hyaena, Felis caracal, and Panthera leo were
also collected.
Remains of baboon shot
near Jabal Iraf.
CONCLUSIONS & FUTURE
PLANS
This research represents the first
attempt to study Yemen's mammalian fauna from a genetic
perspective. When the Yemeni samples are combined with samples
from Africa and Saudi Arabia already present in our laboratory I
am confident that much can be said about the zoogeographic history
of the region.
The situation regarding the baboons of
Yemen is less dire than I had been led to believe. There appear to
be large and healthy populations present throughout Yemen. If
these populations are to be maintained steps must be taken to
prevent the baboons from raiding crops. Otherwise they will be
shot. The most important measure is to protect areas of land from
human cultivation. This will allow the baboons areas where they
can subsist on native vegetation.
While my research went much better than
expected (I collected five times the expected number of baboon
samples), much work still needs to be done before an adequate
picture of Yemeni mammalian diversity can be painted. A much more
comprehensive sampling of the mammalian fauna, especially in the
Eastern portion of the country, should be undertaken concomitant
with protection of natural habitats and ecozones. However, it can
still be stated with confidence that Yemen has the most diverse
mammalian fauna on the Arabian peninsula. Preservation of this
diversity can only serve to benefit the Yemeni people in the
future.
Since my return to New York I have
focused primarily on laboratory work. This work consists of
genetic and phylogenetic analysis primarily. I have presented
preliminary results from this analysis at the 1998 annual meeting
of the Society for the Study of Evolution. I am also preparing a
manuscript based upon collecting techniques I developed in Yemen.
This manuscript will be submitted to the American Journal of
Primatology. I anticipate a sizable number of publications as well
as my dissertation to emerge from this study. I will forward the
AIYS copies of every publication related to this study. Finally, I
hope to work in Yemen again in the future and am currently
discussing the preparation of a large scale phylogeographic
project including the flora and fauna of the Horn of Africa and
the Arabian peninsula.
