Habitat changes reduce the carrying capacity of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa, for Critically Endangered black rhinoceros <i>Diceros bicornis</i>

Reid, Caroline; Slotow, Rob; Howison, Owen; Balfour, Dave

doi:10.1017/s0030605307001780

Cited by 31 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…When comparing black rhinoceros population performance in different reserves, relatively poor fecundity and low population growth is usually attributed to over-stocking and habitat deterioration Reid et al 2007), although the reserves compared differ in their densities of large predators. Some reserves do not have large predators, but in others predators occur at remarkably high densities and could contribute to poor population growth (Balfour 2001).…”

Section: R Eports Of Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Calf Succumbs After Lion Predation Attempt: Implications for Conservation Management

Plotz

Linklater

2009

African Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Actual observations of black rhinoceros predation are rarely reported and are limited to two incidences involving subadults. Nevertheless, some authors attribute tail and ear deformities in up to 7.1% of some populations to predation attempts. In August 2008 we observed a mother with dependent c. 8month-old female black rhinoceros calf in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa. The calf had a recently amputated tail, wounds to the anogenital region, right posterior flank and right side of the neck resembling a lion attack. Thirteen days later and on three subsequent occasions, the mother was sighted alone, suggesting that the calf had succumbed to its injuries. This incident provides evidence to suggest a link between attempted lion predation and tail amputation in black rhinoceros. Significantly, it implies that amputated tails and ears throughout Africa may represent failed depredation attempts and that calf predation may be more prevalent than previously appreciated. Predation is seldom considered in the management of black rhinoceros but should be when attributing cause to poor population performance of this critically endangered species.

show abstract

Section: R Eports Of Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Calf Succumbs After Lion Predation Attempt: Implications for Conservation Management

Plotz

Linklater

2009

African Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This is concerning, as it appears, that the habitat may remain changed for a long time after clearing. Chromolaena odorata has also been found to have adverse effects on some of the high�profile mammalian species in South Africa, such as the Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768 in the GSLWP (Leslie & Spotila, 2001) and possibly the black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) in HiP (Reid et al, 2007). In the same study area, Mgobozi et al (2008) found the progressive invasion of C. odorata brings with it changes in spider abundance, assemblage patterns, diversity and estimated species richness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The effects of an invasive alien plant (Chromolaena odorata) on large African mammals

Dumalisile¹,

Somers²

2017

Nat. Cons. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Alien plants have invaded most ecosystem types (terrestrial, fresh water and marine) and are responsible for the loss of irreplaceable natural services on which humankind relies. They alter food quantity, quality and accessibility, and may result in declines in native species richness, which may ultimately result in e�tinc� in declines in native species richness, which may ultimately result in e�tinc� declines in native species richness, which may ultimately result in e�tinc� result in e�tinc� in e�tinc� in e�tinc� e�tinc� e�tinc� tion. For an effective management of invasive alien plants, it is important to understand the effects that such plants have on all levels of biodiversity. However, the effects that invasive alien plants, such as the Triffid weed (Chromolaena odorata), have on mammalian biodiversity, especially large mammalian species, are not well�known, although they play major ecological roles in areas such as nutrient cycling. Also, little is known about the recovery of the ecosystem following alien plant removal. This study investigated the effects of C. odorata invasion on large mammalian herbivores in Hluhluwe�iMfolozi Park and whether clearing of this plant helped in rehabilitating the habitat. We used track counts to estimate and compare species richness, di� versity and abundance indices for large mammalian species between areas with differing C. odorata invasion durations (ca 2 years, ca 10 years, ca 20 years), areas with differing clearing times (cl < 2 years, cl 3-5 years) and an area without any history of C. odorata invasion as a control. The results from this study show that large mammalian species utilised the uninvaded and the cleared areas more than the invaded areas. Species richness, abundance and diversity decreased with increasing invasion duration and cleared areas showed an increasing species richness and abundance. We conclude that this invasive alien plant modifies habitats and their removal does aid in the restoration of the ecosystem.

show abstract

“…Kernel home ranges were estimated using Hawth's analysis tool extension to Arc GIS 9.2. The 95% kernel was used to estimate maximum home range size and 50% for core areas of use within the home ranges (Reid, Slotow, Howison, & Balfour, ). The 50% kernel home range of black rhinoceros was used because it is significantly more accurate than 95% Kernel home range estimation (Plotz et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Carrying Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of habitat use and ecological carrying capacity for the reintroduced Eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) in Ruma National Park, Kenya

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We carried out a postrelease evaluation to determine predictors of habitat use and carrying capacity for the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli), which are critical for monitoring how the Ruma National Park sub‐population may contribute to Kenya's meta‐population strategy. We determined whether level of elevation, rockiness, shade, distance to fence, roads, and human settlements predict habitat use, differences in habitat and diet preference between female and male black rhinoceros, and the ecological carrying capacity (CC) of black rhinoceros in the park. We used standard ecological methods to collect data on predictors of habitat use, habitat preference and to estimate CC. Results show, first, that none of the environmental and anthropogenic factors evaluated predicted habitat use by black rhinoceros in the park. Second, although there was no significant difference in habitat preference between the sexes (U = 16.50, p = 0.306), there was a 60% difference in Jaccard's dissimilarity in diet selection between the sexes. Third, the park can support 65 black rhinoceros. Altogether, the findings suggest that the park has potential to support other sub‐populations in Kenya. We recommend that future similar studies should incorporate population viability analysis and a community‐based approach to forecast the species health and extinction risk.

show abstract

Habitat changes reduce the carrying capacity of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa, for Critically Endangered black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis

Cited by 31 publications

References 8 publications

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Calf Succumbs After Lion Predation Attempt: Implications for Conservation Management

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Calf Succumbs After Lion Predation Attempt: Implications for Conservation Management

The effects of an invasive alien plant (Chromolaena odorata) on large African mammals

Evaluation of habitat use and ecological carrying capacity for the reintroduced Eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) in Ruma National Park, Kenya

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About