River geomorphologic features along a 165-km stretch of the Luangwa River in eastern Zambia were assessed in 2008 to determine their influence on hippopotamus pattern of density distribution. A fixed high wing Cessna 206 aircraft fitted with geographical positioning system (GPS) was flown over the stretch taking coordinates for each geomorphologic feature, followed by taking length in metres of each geomorphologic feature on the ground. A total hippopotamus count was later carried out along the same stretch. Sixty-four geomorphologic features were recorded along the stretch of the river. Of the total geomorphologic features recorded, 34 (53%) were river bends, 13 (20%) lagoons and 17 (27%) were confluences. Hippo density was highest in river bends (75.48%), confluences (9.18%), lagoons 6.03% and all the other features put together had only 9.38%. It was concluded that geomorphologic features influenced hippopotamus pattern of density distribution in the Luangwa River.

No abstract

Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa-assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions. Biodiversity & Ecology, 6, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek.

No abstract

In seasonally inundated landscapes of southern central Africa very large termite mounds of Macrotermes natalensis offer a refuge for flood-intolerant trees during the flood season. In the matrix landscape surrounding these islands the seasonally waterlogged and then anaerobic soil conditions and the browsing by megaherbivores during the dry season allow for grass and herbaceous vegetation only. During the rainy season each termitarium forms an isolated island which due to its relative dryness allows survival of the trees and the associated fauna. During the dry season the termites try to establish new colonies with new mounds. However, the successful formation of new termitaria islands seems to be a rare event. In this case study from Dundumwezi in the Kafue National Park, Zambia, we provide a description of the termitaria islands and their vegetation. Furthermore, we analyse spatial patterns of termite mound islands in the surroundings of Kafue National Park und Bangweulu Plains / Kasanka National Park based on remote sensing imagery. Our results confirm that competition among colonies of large termitaria in homogeneous habitats causes very regular spatial patterns.