Population status and distribution patterns of puku (Kobus vardonii Livingstone, 1857) in Kasanka National Park, Zambia

Diet of the puku antelope (Kobus vardonii) and dietary overlap with selected other bovids in Kasanka National Park, Zambia

“…Child and von Richter 1969;O'Shaughnessy et al 2014). A more detailed evaluation of the grass taxa within the puku's diet can be found in Rduch (2014). The proportions of the different grass taxa in the puku's diet in KasNP showed changes more or less pronounced between sexes, seasons and sites.…”

“…Among the other bovids concerned, dietary overlap was high during the CDS and even higher during the HDS. Furthermore, there was a spatial overlap between hartebeest, sable and reedbuck, species which occurred in low densities (Rduch 2014). However, this considerable overlap in habitat and food can be a sign of a non-problematic coexistence due to low densities and abundant food resources (de Boer and Prins 1990;de Iongh et al 2011).…”

“…Details of the procedure are given in Rduch (2014). About 5-7 g of each dry dung sample was used for preparation and analyses.…”

“…A reference collection of epidermal cell patterns of grasses was established (Rduch 2014): grasses occurring in KasNP were collected and identified. Microscopic images of epidermal patterns in the reference collection were compared with the isolated fragments.…”

“…Beside the Luangwa Valley, the main areas of occurrence of puku in Zambia are Miombo woodlands and most especially the appertaining patches of grasslands near water (East 1996;Jeffery et al 1989). Located within the Miombo Ecoregion, Kasanka National Park (KasNP) is considered a prime habitat for puku where they reach high population densities in grassland areas (Rduch 2015). KasNP (390 km 2 ) is situated in the north of the central province of Zambia close to the Congolese border (Fig.…”