Habitat use by a mixed feeder: impala Aepyceros melampus in a heterogeneous protected area

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 378-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Mandinyenya ◽  
Norman Monks ◽  
Peter J. Mundy ◽  
Allan Sebata ◽  
Albert Chirima
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Large Herbivore ◽  
Nutritive Quality ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Mixed Feeder ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus ◽  
Heterogeneous Vegetation

Abstract:Although large herbivore habitat use has been extensively studied, more information is still required on the use of heterogeneous vegetation types. Over 3 y we carried out monthly road transects in the Zambezi National Park (ZNP), Zimbabwe, to determine the impala density in each of five vegetation types. In addition we determined grass and browse chemical composition to test if at the time the impala switches from grass to browse, grass nutritive quality had declined below that of browse. Furthermore, grass height was measured in the five vegetation types. The impala used mixed, acacia and terminalia vegetation types, which constituted 37% of the protected area and avoided grassland and the predominant Zambezi teak (60% of ZNP) vegetation types. At the time of the diet switch by the impala from grass to browse, woody plant leaf nutritive quality was higher than grass in terms of nitrogen, calcium and acid detergent fibre content. The three vegetation types used by the impala had short to medium grass height. We concluded that when the impala switched from grass to browse the grass nutritive quality was lower than that of the browse.

Habitat choices of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and plains zebra (Equus quagga) in a heterogeneous protected area

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Bob Mandinyenya ◽  
Norman Monks ◽  
Peter J. Mundy ◽  
Allan Sebata ◽  
Albert Chirima
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Syncerus Caffer ◽  
Normalised Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Grass Biomass ◽  
Plains Zebra

Abstract ContextAn understanding of large herbivore habitat choices in heterogeneous African protected areas is important for the better management of these key ecosystems. AimsTo determine habitat use of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and plains zebra (Equus quagga) in a heterogeneous protected area. MethodsZambezi National Park (ZNP), Zimbabwe, was divided into five vegetation types using an unsupervised classification on a Landsat satellite image that was classified into five land cover classes, using the K-means classification algorithm. African buffalo and plains zebra densities were then determined in each vegetation type using road transect surveys monthly between January 2013 and December 2015. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), grass biomass, grass height and grass quality (nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and acid detergent fibre content) were determined in each vegetation type during the wet (November to April) and dry (August to October) seasons to establish their quality as habitats for African buffalo and plains zebra. Key resultsBoth African buffalo and plains zebra mostly foraged in mixed and grassland areas, and avoided Zambezi teak vegetation type. Zambezi teak vegetation type had high NDVI due to the dense tree cover. Both African buffalo and plains zebra preferred vegetation types with intermediate grass biomass (approximately 300gm−2) and grass height (approximately 16cm). Grass nutritive value (in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and acid detergent fibre) declined from wet to dry season in all vegetation types. ConclusionsAfrican buffalo and plains zebra in the ZNP confined their habitat use mostly to two vegetation types (mixed and grassland), which together covered 25% of the protected area. ImplicationsTeak (Baikiaea plurijuga) vegetation, which accounted for about 60% of the ZNP, was avoided by both African buffalo and plains zebra, suggesting that a significant part of the protected area was not used by the two herbivores.

Habitat Use by a Large Herbivore Guild in a Fenced South African Protected Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Mariotti ◽  
Francesca Parrini ◽  
Cornelius J. Louw ◽  
Jason P. Marshal
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
South African ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Large Herbivore

Remotely sensed habitat indicators for predicting distribution of impala (Aepyceros melampus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frans P. J. van Bommel ◽  
Ignas M.A. Heitkönig ◽  
Gerrit F. Epema ◽  
Sue Ringrose ◽  
Casper Bonyongo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Okavango Delta ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Multi Temporal ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

We studied the spatial and temporal habitat use of impala in Botswana's Okavango Delta at landscape level with the aid of satellite imagery, with minimal fieldwork. We related remotely sensed vegetation to impala habitat preferences, by first distinguishing three vegetation types through a multi-temporal classification, and dividing these into subclasses on the basis of their Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). This indicator for abundance and greenness of biomass was assessed for wet and dry season separately. Similarly, habitat use was assessed for both seasons by allocating vegetation classes to bimonthly impala observations. Impala distribution patterns coincided with NDVI-based subclasses of the landscape, nested within broad vegetation types, to which impala did not show a marked seasonal response. We suggest that this methodology, using limited field data, offers a functional habitat classification for sedentary herbivores, which appears particularly valuable for application in extensive areas with high spatial variability, but with restricted access.

Changes in habitat use and distribution of mouflon in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronson Palupe ◽  
Christina R. Leopold ◽  
Steven C. Hess ◽  
Jonathan K. Faford ◽  
Dexter Pacheco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Gps Telemetry ◽  
Hunting Pressure ◽  
Trophy Hunting ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Closed Forest ◽  
Time Away ◽  
Over Time

European mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini musimon) were introduced to Kahuku Ranch on Hawai‘i Island in 1968 and 1974 for trophy hunting and have been detrimental to the native ecosystem by trampling, bark stripping, and browsing vegetation. In 2003, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park acquired Kahuku Ranch and managers began removing mouflon. The objective of this project was to determine whether hunting has changed the distribution of mouflon in Kahuku, to better understand mouflon behaviour and to expedite eradication efforts. Locations from hunting and GPS telemetry data during 2007–14 were used to determine the effect of hunting on mouflon distribution by examining distance to roads and habitat use. Mouflon seemed to avoid roads after hunting pressure increased and their distribution within vegetation types changed over time. Mouflon without hunting pressure were detected in native shrub habitat in 68% of all observations. Hunted mouflon were encountered less in native shrub habitat and more in other habitats including open forest, closed forest, and areas with no vegetation. These changes suggest that hunting has influenced the distribution of mouflon over time away from native shrub and into other vegetation types where they may be more difficult to control.

Habitat use of toothed whales in a marine protected area based on point process models

2019 ◽  
Vol 609 ◽  
pp. 239-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
TL Silva ◽  
G Fay ◽  
TA Mooney ◽  
J Robbins ◽  
MT Weinrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Point Process ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Point Process Models

scholarly journals Visitation patterns of principal species of the insect-complex at carcasses in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.E.O Braack
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Principal Species ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

Two full-grown impala rams Aepyceros melampus were shot on 1978.01.07 in the Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa. The carcasses were placed in enclosures 2,7 km apart and used to monitor the visitation patterns of insects. Collections of insects were made at four-hourly intervals for the first six days after placement of the carcasses, and thereafter every six hours up to the eleventh and final day. A figure is given to describe changes in the physical attributes of the carcasses through time. Twelve figures depict the patterns of arrival of insects at the carrion habitat. Species from the following families are represented: Cleridae, Dermestidae, Histeridae, Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae, Trogidae (Coleoptera); Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Piophilidae, Sepsidae (Diptera); Diapriidae and Formicidae (Hymenoptera). The results indicate that species have distinctive periods of abundance and presents an overall picture of insect succession at carrion.

scholarly journals The dynamics of questing ticks collected for 164 consecutive months off the vegetation of two landscape zones in the Kruger National Park (1988–2002). Part II. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur M. Spickett ◽  
Gordon J. Gallivan ◽  
Ivan G. Horak
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Large Herbivore ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Over Time

The study aimed to assess the long-term population dynamics of questing Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis in two landscape zones of the Kruger National Park (KNP). Ticks were collected by dragging the vegetation monthly in three habitats (grassland, woodland and gully) at two sites in the KNP (Nhlowa Road and Skukuza) from August 1988 to March 2002. Larvae were the most commonly collected stage of both species. More R. appendiculatus were collected at Nhlowa Road than at Skukuza, with larvae being most abundant from May to August, while nymphs were most abundant from August to December. Larvae were most commonly collected in the gullies from 1991 to 1994, but in the grassland and woodland habitats from 1998 onwards. Nymphs were most commonly collected in the grassland and woodland. More R. zambeziensis were collected at Skukuza than at Nhlowa Road, with larvae being most abundant from May to September, while nymphs were most abundant from August to November. Larvae and nymphs were most commonly collected in the woodland and gullies and least commonly in the grassland (p < 0.01). The lowest numbers of R. appendiculatus were collected in the mid-1990s after the 1991/1992 drought. Rhipicephalus zambeziensis numbers declined after 1991 and even further after 1998, dropping to their lowest levels during 2002. The changes in numbers of these two species reflected changes in rainfall and the populations of several of their large herbivore hosts, as well as differences in the relative humidity between the two sites over time.

scholarly journals Estimating population sizes of lions Panthera leo and spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta in Uganda's savannah parks, using lure count methods

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 394-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Okot Omoya ◽  
Tutilo Mudumba ◽  
Stephen T. Buckland ◽  
Paul Mulondo ◽  
Andrew J. Plumptre
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
National Park ◽  
Crocuta Crocuta ◽  
Panthera Leo ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Population Sizes

AbstractDespite > 60 years of conservation in Uganda's national parks the populations of lions and spotted hyaenas in these areas have never been estimated using a census method. Estimates for some sites have been extrapolated to other protected areas and educated guesses have been made but there has been nothing more definitive. We used a lure count analysis method of call-up counts to estimate populations of the lion Panthera leo and spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta in the parks where reasonable numbers of these species exist: Queen Elizabeth Protected Area, Murchison Falls Conservation Area and Kidepo Valley National Park. We estimated a total of 408 lions and 324 hyaenas for these three conservation areas. It is unlikely that other conservation areas in Uganda host > 10 lions or > 40 hyaenas. The Queen Elizabeth Protected Area had the largest populations of lions and hyaenas: 140 and 211, respectively. It is estimated that lion numbers have declined by 30% in this protected area since the late 1990s and there are increasing concerns for the long-term viability of both species in Uganda.

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