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

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.

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

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s026646741800038x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 378-384 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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Communities and occurrences of Squamata reptiles in different vegetation types of the Serra de São José, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Biota Neotropica ◽

10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2015-0103 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Celso Henrique Varela Rios ◽

◽

Iara Alves Novelli ◽

Alexandre de Assis Hudson ◽

Pilar Cozendey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Protected Area ◽

High Probability ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Gallery Forest ◽

Species Being ◽

Bothrops Neuwiedi

Abstract The objective of the present study was to learn which species of Squamata reptiles occur in Protected Area São José, in Tiradentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Between November 2009 and December 2010 reptiles were captured. In total 157 specimens were recorded of 29 species, 16 snakes, 12 lizards and one amphisbaena. Among the snakes, Dipsadidae showed the greatest richness, with a total of nine species. The group of snakes had the highest number of species present in the community, but 79% of sampled specimens were lizards, Enyalius bilineatus being the most abundant species, with 21% of occurrence. The area with the highest richness was the Cerradão. The lower abundance was found in the Gallery Forest area (n=14), but it was the vegetation type with the highest equitability. Areas of Cerradão and Cerrado sensu strictu showed the most similarity. In these areas five species were recorded in common, Bothrops neuwiedi (n=3) being the only species of snake, and the two species of lizards most abundant in both environments were Enyalius bilineatus (n=32) and Ameivula ocellifera (n=19). Ophiodes striatus and Xenodon merremii were common to Cerradão and Dirty Field areas. There was no species recorded that were common to the environments of Cerrado and Dirty Field but two species not sympatric were found of the same genus, Tropidurus torquatus, which was found only in the Cerrado sensu strictu and Tropidurus itambere exclusively in Dirty Field. Since none of the rarefaction curves reached full asymptote, this highlights the need for further study due to the high probability of new species being recorded for the studied area.

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Flower-mediated plant-butterfly interactions in an heterogeneous tropical coastal ecosystem

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5493 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5493 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cristian A. Martínez-Adriano ◽

Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo ◽

Armando Aguirre-Jaimes

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Protected Area ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Interspecific Interactions ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Interaction Networks ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Plant Interaction

Background Interspecific interactions play an important role in determining species richness and persistence in a given locality. However at some sites, the studies, especially for interaction networks on adult butterflies are scarce. The present study aimed the following objectives: (1) determine butterfly species richness and diversity that visit flowering plants, (2) compare species richness and diversity in butterfly-plant interactions among six different vegetation types and (3) analyze the structure of butterfly-flowering plant interaction networks mediated by flowers. Methods The study was developed in six vegetation types within the natural reserve of La Mancha, located in Veracruz, Mexico. In each vegetation type, we recorded the frequency of flower visits by butterflies monthly in round plots (of radius 5 m) for 12 months. We calculated Shannon diversity for butterfly species and diversity of interactions per vegetation type. We determined the classic Jaccard similarity index among vegetation types and estimated parameters at network and species-level. Results We found 123 species of butterflies belonging to 11 families and 87 genera. The highest number of species belonged to Hesperiidae (46 species), followed by Nymphalidae (28) and Pieridae (14). The highest butterfly diversity and interaction diversity was observed in pioneer dune vegetation (PDV), coastal dune scrub (CDS) and tropical deciduous flooding forest and wetland (TDF-W). The same order of vegetation types was found for interaction diversity. Highest species similarity was found between PDV-CDS and PDV-TDF. The butterfly-plant interaction network showed a nested structure with one module. The species Ascia monuste, Euptoieta hegesia and Leptotes cassius were the most generalist in the network, while Horama oedippus, E. hegesia, and L. cassius were the species with highest dependencies per plant species. Discussion Our study is important because it constitutes a pioneer study of butterfly-plant interactions in this protected area, at least for adult butterflies; it shows the diversity of interactions among flowering plants and butterflies. Our research constitutes the first approach (at a community level) to explore the functional role of pollination services that butterflies provide to plant communities. We highlighted that open areas show a higher diversity and these areas shared a higher number of species that shaded sites. In the interaction networks parameters, our results highlighted the higher dependence of butterflies by the flowers on which they feed than vice versa. In conclusion, the plant species (as a feeding resource) seem to limit the presence of butterfly species. Thus, this protected area is highly relevant for Lepidoptera diversity and the interaction between these insects and flowering plants. We suggest that studying plant and butterfly diversity in tropical habitats will provide insight into their interspecific interactions and community structure.

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Remote sensing of fire severity in the Blue Mountains: influence of vegetation type and inferring fire intensity

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wf05051 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 213 ◽

Cited By ~ 99

Author(s):

Kate A. Hammill ◽

Ross A. Bradstock

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Index ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Fire Severity ◽

Image Resolution ◽

Fire Intensity ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Open Forest ◽

Normalised Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Severity Class

Fire intensity affects ecological and geophysical processes in fire-prone landscapes. We examined the potential for satellite imagery (Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre [SPOT2] and Landsat7) to detect and map fire severity patterns in a rugged landscape with variable vegetation near Sydney, Australia. A post-fire, vegetation-based indicator of fire intensity (burnt shrub branch tip diameters, representing the size of fuel consumed) was also used to explore whether fire severity patterns can be used to retrospectively infer patterns of fire intensity. Six severity classes (ranging from unburnt to complete crown consumption) were defined using aerial photograph interpretation and a field assessment across five vegetation types of varying height and complexity (sedge-swamp, heath, woodland, open forest, and tall forest). Using established Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) differencing methodology, SPOT2 and Landsat7 imagery yielded similar broad-scale severity patterns across the study area. This was despite differences in image resolution (10 m and 30 m, respectively) and capture dates (2 months and 9 months apart, respectively). However, differences in the total areas mapped for some severity classes were found. In particular, there was reduced differentiation between unburnt and low-severity areas and between crown-scorched and crown-consumed areas when using the Landsat7 data. These differences were caused by fine-scale classification anomalies and were most likely associated with seasonal differences in vegetation condition (associated with time of image capture), post-fire movement of ash, resprouting of vegetation, and low sun elevation. Relationships between field severity class and NDVIdifference values revealed that vegetation type does influence the detection of fire severity using these types of satellite data: regression slopes were greater for woodland, forest, and tall forest data than for sedge-swamp and heath data. The effect of vegetation type on areas mapped in each fire severity class was examined but found to be minimal in the present study due to the uneven distribution of vegetation types in the study area (woodland and open forest cover 86% of the landscape). Field observations of burnt shrub branch tips, which were used as a surrogate for fire intensity, revealed that relationships between fire severity and fire intensity are confounded by vegetation type (mainly height). A method for inferring fire intensity from remotely sensed patterns of fire severity was proposed in which patterns of fire severity and vegetation type are combined.

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

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps12820 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 609 ◽

pp. 239-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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

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Satellite monitoring of different vegetation types by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) in the red spectral range

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-7-69-2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 69-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

T. Wagner ◽

S. Beirle ◽

T. Deutschmann ◽

M. Grzegorski ◽

U. Platt

Keyword(s):

Optical Absorption ◽

Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Spectral Range ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Trace Gas ◽

Satellite Monitoring ◽

Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Vegetation Types

Abstract. A new method for the satellite remote sensing of different types of vegetation and ocean colour is presented. In contrast to existing algorithms relying on the strong change of the reflectivity in the red and near infrared spectral region, our method analyses weak narrow-band (few nm) reflectance structures (i.e. "fingerprint" structures) of vegetation in the red spectral range. It is based on differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), which is usually applied for the analysis of atmospheric trace gas absorptions. Since the spectra of atmospheric absorption and vegetation reflectance are simultaneously included in the analysis, the effects of atmospheric absorptions are automatically corrected (in contrast to other algorithms). The inclusion of the vegetation spectra also significantly improves the results of the trace gas retrieval. The global maps of the results illustrate the seasonal cycles of different vegetation types. In addition to the vegetation distribution on land, they also show patterns of biological activity in the oceans. Our results indicate that improved sets of vegetation spectra might lead to more accurate and more specific identification of vegetation type in the future.

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Body size and mean individual biomass variation of ground-beetles community (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as a response to increasing altitude and associated vegetation types in mountainous ecosystem

Biologia ◽

10.1515/biolog-2017-0114 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 72 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aleksandra Cvetkovska-Gjorgjievska ◽

Slavčo Hristovski ◽

Dana Prelić ◽

Lucija Šerić Jelaska ◽

Valentina Slavevska-Stamenković ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Altitudinal Gradient ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Ground Beetle ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Geologic History ◽

White Oak ◽

Mountain Ecosystems ◽

Individual Biomass

AbstractCarabid fauna is not sufficiently explored in Central and Western Balkan areas, especially in mountain ecosystems with unique biodiversity which is a result of specific environmental factors and geologic history. Furthermore, distribution of species and adaptation to varying environmental parameters change along the altitudinal gradients. All this highlights the need for biodiversity and ecological studies in order to assess the state of the mountain ecosystems and conservation significance. Carabids as good bioindicator group can be used as a tool for monitoring those changes. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences of body size distribution and mean individual biomass (MIB) of ground beetle assemblages as a response of changing conditions and vegetation types along an altitudinal gradient on Belasitsa Mountain in south Macedonia. Both parameters significantly decreased with increasing altitude and were consequently associated with the vegetation type. Larger bodied individuals and higher values of MIB were recorded in the white oak and oriental hornbeam forest stands with the values decreasing in sessile oak forests towards submontane and montane beech forest stands. This research yielded first list of carabid species inhabiting Belasitsa Mountain with insight of carabid body length and biomass distribution along altitudinal gradient.

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HABITAT QUALITY AND HETEROGENEITY INFLUENCE DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOR IN AFRICAN BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER)

Ecology ◽

10.1890/07-0772.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 89 (5) ◽

pp. 1457-1468 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

John A. Winnie ◽

Paul Cross ◽

Wayne Getz

Keyword(s):

Habitat Quality ◽

African Buffalo ◽

Syncerus Caffer ◽

And Behavior

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Soil Moisture Responses Under Different Vegetation Types to Winter Rainfall Events in a Humid Karst Region

10.21203/rs.3.rs-229406/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Weihong Yan ◽

Qiuwen Zhou ◽

Dawei Peng ◽

Xiaocha Wei ◽

Xin Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Arable Land ◽

Karst Region ◽

Control Group ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Recovery Model ◽

Winter Rainfall ◽

Rainfall Events ◽

Karst Ecosystems

Abstract Humid karst ecosystems are fragile, with precipitation being the main source of soil moisture recharge. The process of soil moisture recharge and usage varies by vegetation type. To analyze the dynamics of soil moisture under different vegetation types during rainfall events, we continuously monitored soil moisture in arable land, grassland, shrub, and forest areas at 10-minute intervals from November 6, 2019, to January 6, 2020.The arable land was used as a control group. Soil moisture under the different vegetation types responded to light, moderate, and rainstorm events with large rainfall amounts. However, only the soil moisture in the grassland areas responded to a light rainfall event with a rainfall amount of 0.87 mm. The largest soil moisture recharge (12.63 mm) and decline (2.08%) were observed for the grassland areas, with the smallest observed for the forest areas. While the grassland areas showed the greatest decline in soil moisture following rainfall, they were more easily recharged during the winter rainfall events. Soil moisture in forests and shrubs was less recharged than in grasslands but also declined less. Therefore, forests and shrubs are better at retaining soil moisture in winter, which is informative for the formulation of a regional vegetation recovery model.

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