Post-Release Monitoring of Diet Profile and Diet Quality of Reintroduced African Buffalo (<i>Syncerus Caffer</i>) in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe

Muposhi, Victor K.; Chanyandura, Admire; Gandiwa, Edson; Muvengwi, Justice; Muboko, Never; Taru, Philip; Kupika, Olga L.

doi:10.1177/194008291400700306

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…A similar preference was observed in buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe, where P. australis , a fibrous grass with low grazing value, was selected because it remained very green throughout the dry season (MuposhI et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Grass greenness and grass height promote the resource partitioning among reintroduced Burchell's zebra and blue wildebeest in southern Mozambique

2019

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Differences in the selection of habitat and specific dietary items support resource partitioning and coexistence of sympatric African grazing herbivores, such as zebra and wildebeest. In Maputo Special Reserve (MSR), southern Mozambique, these two species were extirpated during the civil war (1977)(1978)(1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992); since 2010, they have been reintroduced into the Reserve. Identifying the resource selection by reintroduced species and how these species coexist, while utilising the same resources, is both of ecological interest and important for the management of wildlife communities and parks. This is a key application of our research. Therefore, the present study investigated resource partitioning between Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli, Smuts 1832) and blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus, Burchell 1823) in the MSR. We conducted the study from July 2016 to June 2017. The data were collected by direct observation, driving the vehicle along the reserve's roads that covered the vegetation communities where zebras and wildebeest are known to commonly occur. The composition of the diet and specific features of the grass grazed by the two species, including greenness, height, and the number of stems, were assessed. The widely available grass, Aristida barbicollis, contributed most to the diet of both herbivores. The dietary overlap between the two herbivores was higher during the dry season (95%) than wet season (86%). Resources partitioning appears to be determined, principally, by the height and greenness of the grass, with the zebra grazing taller grass, which may facilitate the access of the wildebeest to the greener, lower proportion of the forage. That results follow the expectation that, among native herbivores, overlap in resource use is not expected based on evolutionary segregation. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Grass greenness and grass height promote the resource partitioning among reintroduced Burchell's zebra and blue wildebeest in southern Mozambique

2019

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“…Effective monitoring of reintroduced species requires understanding of basic ecological requirements such as habitat selection (Muposhi et al, 2014). Habitat quality of the release site has an impact on survival of species and their ability to adapt to the new environment (Rantanen, Buner, Riordan, Sotherton, & Macdonald, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postrelease monitoring habitat selection by reintroduced burchell's zebra and blue wildebeest in southern Mozambique

Mandlate

Cuamba

Rodrigues

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Aim In Africa, reintroduction of wild animal species to conservation areas is a common practice, for the recovery or restoration of populations. Effective monitoring of reintroduced species requires understanding of basic ecological requirements such as habitat selection of these species in the new environment. Therefore, the present study investigated the habitat selection of zebra and wildebeest following their reintroduction into Maputo Special Reserve, south Mozambique, and we use binary logistic analyses to investigate the relative influence of biotic and abiotic factors in determining the habitat use. Location Maputo Special Reserve, south Mozambique. Methods We conducted the study from July 2016 to June 2017. The data were collected by direct observation, driving the vehicle along the reserve's roads that covered the vegetation communities where zebras and wildebeest are known to commonly occur. Habitat selection was calculated using selection indices (Manly's alpha), and binary logistic analyses were used to investigate the relative influence of biotic and abiotic factors in determining the habitat use. Results The arboreal savanna was the preferred habitat by both herbivore species. Habitat use of zebra appeared to be strongly determined by characteristics such as high grass cover, high grass greenness, and distance to water, while the habitat use by wildebeest, was strongly affected by grass height. Main conclusions Both zebra and wildebeest prefer arboreal savanna, forage selection likely drove preference of this habitat. Greater grass cover and greater percentage greenness of the grass both significantly increased the odds of zebra use of habitat, whereas the odds of use decreased with increases in distance to water, meaning an opportunity to ingest large amounts of grass biomass with higher quality, and this opportunity decreases with increasing in distance to water. Grass height was in the highest‐ranking model predicting habitat use by wildebeest, and during the dry season the use of habitat increased with increasing grass height, suggesting that selecting areas with tall grasses by wildebeest equated to choosing areas with higher grass quantity, as the food intake rate increases with grass height.

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“…General characteristics and organisation of the four PAs and their surrounding communities. Source: Utete and Mwedzi [80]; Gandiwa et al [81]; Muboko et al [60];Muposhi et al[82]. CBNRM stands for Community-Based Natural Resource Management.…”

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confidence: 99%

Community Perceptions of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism: A Case Study of Communities Adjacent to Four Protected Areas in Zimbabwe

Mutanga

Vengesayi

Gandiwa

et al. 2015

Tropical Conservation Science

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The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine community perceptions of wildlife conservation and tourism, and (2) to establish socio-demographic factors that influence community perceptions of wildlife conservation and tourism. Using closed-ended questionnaires, we collected data from July 2013 to February 2014 in four protected areas (PAs) and adjacent communities in Zimbabwe, i.e., Umfurudzi Park, Gonarezhou National Park, Matusadona National Park and Cawston Ranch. A total of 938 responded to the survey. The community in Gonarezhou had neutral perceptions of wildlife conservation, while those in Umfurudzi, Matusadona, and Cawston Ranch had positive perceptions of wildlife conservation. All four communities had negative perceptions of tourism.There were variable correlations between socio-demographic factors and community perceptions of wildlife conserve ation and tourism among the different study communities. We concluded that the PAs in question have not fully involved the communities in PA management and that benefits from natural resources are not fairly shared among stakeholders, as explained by the different perceptions communities had on wildlife conservation and tourism. We recommend that conservation agencies should: (i) nurture positive perceptions and address the possible determinants of negative perceptions by the communities, (ii) enhance community involvement and benefits from tourism, and (iii) consider community heterogeneity in conservation planning.

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Post-Release Monitoring of Diet Profile and Diet Quality of Reintroduced African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe

Cited by 16 publications

References 51 publications

Grass greenness and grass height promote the resource partitioning among reintroduced Burchell's zebra and blue wildebeest in southern Mozambique

Grass greenness and grass height promote the resource partitioning among reintroduced Burchell's zebra and blue wildebeest in southern Mozambique

Postrelease monitoring habitat selection by reintroduced burchell's zebra and blue wildebeest in southern Mozambique

Community Perceptions of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism: A Case Study of Communities Adjacent to Four Protected Areas in Zimbabwe

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