EFFECT OF LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE ON PRIMATES SPECIES IN AFI MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (AMWS) CROSS RIVER

Abstract

Protected areas including Wildlife Sanctuaries, are conservation spots for the conservation of many endangered wildlife species. The pattern of forest transition and Land Surface Temperature (LST) variation is significant to the safety of primate species. The study evaluates the effect of LST on primate population in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) using field survey and ArcGIS from landsat images. The LST classification and variation were performed using standard method. The result identified and revealed four primate species (Mandrillius leucophaeus, Cercopithecus erythrotis camerunensis, Cercopithecus mona and Cercopithecus nictitans). Land surface temperature of the study area showed a significant increase over the area between 1985 and 2021. A gradual increase was noticed with 2000 having 59.94% secondary low category. The medium category had the highest (32.77%) and (39.94%) coverage of temperature distribution in year 1985 and 2021, respectively. In the same vein the secondary low category had the highest (59.94%) temperature variation in year 2000. This could be due to habitat lost, fragmentation and other underlying factors. If this trend continues, it will result in a serious ecological degradation leading to the extirpation of the relics of primate population in the sanctuary. Therefore, caution is to be taken to avoid total habitat lost. The need for conservation education is required.