Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Impala (Aepyceros Melampus) and Kudu (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros) In Tuli Safari Area
- Author
- Christopher Jani
- Title
- Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Impala (Aepyceros Melampus) and Kudu (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros) In Tuli Safari Area
- Abstract
-
ABSTRACT
In adaptive management activities in diverse ecosystems stretching across national borders, such as the Greater Mapungubwe Trans Conservation area, an understanding of the distribution patterns and population structure of charismatic species is crucial. The timing of game viewing programs and ecotourism planning both rely heavily on this information. The following hypotheses were examined in Tuli safari area, Zimbabwe; (1) the spatial distribution of kudu and impala fluctuates with seasons in relation to environmental factors, (2) the population structure of kudu and impala across habitat in the Tuli Safari Area. Maximum Entropy modeling was used to simulate the geographical distribution of sable between the wet and dry seasons in the Tuli Safari Area, Zimbabwe. Predictor environmental factors were distance from roads and distance from rivers (MaxEnt).
Although the habitat area favoured during the rainy season was more than during the dry season, the distribution of impala did not change much between the wet and dry seasons. For both the wet and dry seasons, the likelihood of occurrence of Kudu were greatly influenced by the distance from roads. Kudu population structure did not vary across layers of habitat, indicating that the environment in the Tuli Safari Area had little bearing on kudu population structure. Similarly, population structure of impala was not different among habitats, and this indicated that the environment had no major influence on the population structure of impala in the protected area .Hence, population monitoring should be carried out to manage species like Kudu and Impala, as well as effective distribution monitoring for operational management and habitat conservation through additional information on the areas of occurrence /habitat selection. Long term monitoring of population numbers and offtakes are further essential for the implementation of an adaptive quota system based on population trends.
- Date
- JUNE 2024
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
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-game viewing programs
-kudu and impala
-Predictor environmental factors - Supervisor
- Mr W Mhlanga
- Item sets
- Department of Natural Resources
- Media
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Christopher Jani