The Camdeboo-Mountain Zebra mega-reserve as an opportunity to protect viable populations of medium- to large-sized mammals
- Authors: Davis, Kristen
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Mammals -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63711 , vital:73590
- Description: Conservation planning has focused extensively on representation of species in protected areas (PAs), rather than achieving the persistence of these species in PAs. Consequently, most PAs do not support viable populations of many species represented within them, particularly large mammals, resulting in extinction debt risks. The challenge is therefore to identify opportunities to achieve viable populations and to develop and implement conservation plans to achieve this, e.g., expand and connect existing PAs. A recent meta-analysis provides a minimum viable population (MVP) estimate of 5 000 individuals for mammals. This value was used as the target for modelling conservation opportunities for the South African endemic Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra), blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi), black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and co-existing medium- and large-sized mammal species. This study focused on the region between the Camdeboo and Mountain Zebra national parks (ca. 736 000 ha). Within the envisaged Camdeboo-Mountain Zebra (C-MZ) mega-reserve, a spreadsheet model was used to estimate potential herbivore population sizes, spatial requirement data were used to estimate potential omnivore and insectivore population sizes, and herbivore densities were used to estimate potential large carnivore population sizes. I show that 12 (the three endemic grazers and nine co-existing species) of the 28 modelled medium- and large-sized mammal species will potentially exceed 5 000 individuals, the MVP target, within the envisaged mega-reserve. The remaining 16 species show potential to reach substantial population sizes, however, will likely require ongoing metapopulation management. Using a conservation planning approach, I identify priority areas for the conservation of suitable habitat for Cape mountain zebra, blesbok, and black wildebeest within the envisaged mega-reserve, thus indirectly identifying priority areas for the conservation of these endemic species. I show that the potential incorporation of these priority areas within the envisaged mega-reserve will contribute considerably to the conservation of all focal species. In addition, the potential incorporation of these priority areas will contribute to PA expansion and significantly improve connectivity between existing PAs within the envisaged C-MZ mega-reserve. The importance of adequately-sized PAs to support viable populations of focal species is thus evident, and will ensure their long-term survival and ability to persist by allowing population and evolutionary scale processes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
- Authors: Davis, Kristen
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Mammals -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63711 , vital:73590
- Description: Conservation planning has focused extensively on representation of species in protected areas (PAs), rather than achieving the persistence of these species in PAs. Consequently, most PAs do not support viable populations of many species represented within them, particularly large mammals, resulting in extinction debt risks. The challenge is therefore to identify opportunities to achieve viable populations and to develop and implement conservation plans to achieve this, e.g., expand and connect existing PAs. A recent meta-analysis provides a minimum viable population (MVP) estimate of 5 000 individuals for mammals. This value was used as the target for modelling conservation opportunities for the South African endemic Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra), blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi), black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and co-existing medium- and large-sized mammal species. This study focused on the region between the Camdeboo and Mountain Zebra national parks (ca. 736 000 ha). Within the envisaged Camdeboo-Mountain Zebra (C-MZ) mega-reserve, a spreadsheet model was used to estimate potential herbivore population sizes, spatial requirement data were used to estimate potential omnivore and insectivore population sizes, and herbivore densities were used to estimate potential large carnivore population sizes. I show that 12 (the three endemic grazers and nine co-existing species) of the 28 modelled medium- and large-sized mammal species will potentially exceed 5 000 individuals, the MVP target, within the envisaged mega-reserve. The remaining 16 species show potential to reach substantial population sizes, however, will likely require ongoing metapopulation management. Using a conservation planning approach, I identify priority areas for the conservation of suitable habitat for Cape mountain zebra, blesbok, and black wildebeest within the envisaged mega-reserve, thus indirectly identifying priority areas for the conservation of these endemic species. I show that the potential incorporation of these priority areas within the envisaged mega-reserve will contribute considerably to the conservation of all focal species. In addition, the potential incorporation of these priority areas will contribute to PA expansion and significantly improve connectivity between existing PAs within the envisaged C-MZ mega-reserve. The importance of adequately-sized PAs to support viable populations of focal species is thus evident, and will ensure their long-term survival and ability to persist by allowing population and evolutionary scale processes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
Socio-economic and ecological correlates of leopard-stock farmer conflict in the Baviaanskloof mega-reserve, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Minnie, Liaan
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Baviaanskloof , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Effect of human beings on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1044 , Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Baviaanskloof , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Effect of human beings on
- Description: The leopard, Panthera pardus, is particularly threatened outside conservation areas in South Africa. This has been attributed to a reduction in natural habitat, decreasing natural prey populations, and commercial exploitation such as trophy hunting, and most importantly, persecution by stock farmers (Woodroffe 2001). The leopard population in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve (BMR) has undergone a substantial decrease in range and numbers in the past 200 years, resulting in a highly fragmented population in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, and is regarded as being insecure. There is thus a need to investigate the nature and extent of leopard-stock farmer interactions to provide the foundation for an effective leopard conservation plan. Here I investigated the ecological and socio-economic factors influencing leopard-stock farmer conflict via landowner surveys and estimated potential leopard numbers using a prey-based density model. Leopards are not necessarily the most important causes of livestock mortality in the BMR. On average, leopards killed significantly less livestock (0.7 percent livestock per year) than black-backed jackals (4.7 percent per year) and caracal (2.5 percent per year), yet 67 percent of farmers had negative attitudes towards leopards. These negative attitudes were not significantly related to stock losses. However, most of the farmers that had negative attitudes towards leopards did not have any stock losses attributed to leopards. Thus if predator-stock conflict is not reduced it will result in the retaliatory killing of leopards. This will have severe consequences for this relatively small population (estimated at 59 – 104 individuals by the prey-based model), which may ultimately lead to the local extinction of these leopards (Woodroffe & Ginsberg 1998).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Minnie, Liaan
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Baviaanskloof , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Effect of human beings on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1044 , Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Baviaanskloof , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Effect of human beings on
- Description: The leopard, Panthera pardus, is particularly threatened outside conservation areas in South Africa. This has been attributed to a reduction in natural habitat, decreasing natural prey populations, and commercial exploitation such as trophy hunting, and most importantly, persecution by stock farmers (Woodroffe 2001). The leopard population in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve (BMR) has undergone a substantial decrease in range and numbers in the past 200 years, resulting in a highly fragmented population in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, and is regarded as being insecure. There is thus a need to investigate the nature and extent of leopard-stock farmer interactions to provide the foundation for an effective leopard conservation plan. Here I investigated the ecological and socio-economic factors influencing leopard-stock farmer conflict via landowner surveys and estimated potential leopard numbers using a prey-based density model. Leopards are not necessarily the most important causes of livestock mortality in the BMR. On average, leopards killed significantly less livestock (0.7 percent livestock per year) than black-backed jackals (4.7 percent per year) and caracal (2.5 percent per year), yet 67 percent of farmers had negative attitudes towards leopards. These negative attitudes were not significantly related to stock losses. However, most of the farmers that had negative attitudes towards leopards did not have any stock losses attributed to leopards. Thus if predator-stock conflict is not reduced it will result in the retaliatory killing of leopards. This will have severe consequences for this relatively small population (estimated at 59 – 104 individuals by the prey-based model), which may ultimately lead to the local extinction of these leopards (Woodroffe & Ginsberg 1998).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
The spatial ecology and activity patterns of leopards (Panthera pardus) in the Baviaanskloof and Greater Addo Elephant National Park (GAENP), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: McManus, Jeannine Stephanie
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Leopard -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal populations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5823 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007601 , Leopard -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal populations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The conservation of leopards in the Eastern Cape Province requires a holistic approach that considers both predator-human interactions as well as the biology of the carnivore. Numerous studies have been conducted on leopards within protected areas; however more information regarding the species is needed outside these areas to facilitate effective management of predators. The spatial ecology of the leopard (Panthera pardus) were studied in the Baviaanskloof and GAENP in the Eastern Cape. The Baviaanskloof is an extensive area of mountainous terrain (approximately 2665km²) which has a mosaic of land uses, and leopards move from conservation areas to farmland where they come into contact and conflict with farmers. This study examined the spatial ecology of leopards living on farmlands adjacent to protected land. The space utilization and activity patterns of six leopards were analysed. These animals were caught and released on farmlands in the Baviaanskloof (n=4) or translocated (n=2) when not possible to release on site. The animals were caught by means of fall-door, walk-in traps and fitted with Vectronic GPS collars that facilitated the collection of high quality GPS fixes from each animal. Data was collected using VHF and UHF telemetry to download data. An understanding of spatial requirements in areas with different land use, and the extent of overlap of space use with other leopards allow, for the first time in the region, the calculation of possible maximum population size. Analysis of range size was carried out using two methods: minimum convex polygon, and Kernel Utilization Distribution. Finally, a key predictor of space use is prey availability. I assessed the prey base using a grid of camera traps. The studied leopards revealed large range utilization with minimal overlap. The activity patterns suggest there is no preference between diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns and the population density was estimated between 0.3 - 1.3 leopards per 100km². Large home range sizes and low population densities suggest that leopards require large areas of suitable habitat, and that conservation efforts need to be extended beyond protected areas to ensure the long-term viability of leopard populations in such areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: McManus, Jeannine Stephanie
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Leopard -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal populations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5823 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007601 , Leopard -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leopard -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal populations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The conservation of leopards in the Eastern Cape Province requires a holistic approach that considers both predator-human interactions as well as the biology of the carnivore. Numerous studies have been conducted on leopards within protected areas; however more information regarding the species is needed outside these areas to facilitate effective management of predators. The spatial ecology of the leopard (Panthera pardus) were studied in the Baviaanskloof and GAENP in the Eastern Cape. The Baviaanskloof is an extensive area of mountainous terrain (approximately 2665km²) which has a mosaic of land uses, and leopards move from conservation areas to farmland where they come into contact and conflict with farmers. This study examined the spatial ecology of leopards living on farmlands adjacent to protected land. The space utilization and activity patterns of six leopards were analysed. These animals were caught and released on farmlands in the Baviaanskloof (n=4) or translocated (n=2) when not possible to release on site. The animals were caught by means of fall-door, walk-in traps and fitted with Vectronic GPS collars that facilitated the collection of high quality GPS fixes from each animal. Data was collected using VHF and UHF telemetry to download data. An understanding of spatial requirements in areas with different land use, and the extent of overlap of space use with other leopards allow, for the first time in the region, the calculation of possible maximum population size. Analysis of range size was carried out using two methods: minimum convex polygon, and Kernel Utilization Distribution. Finally, a key predictor of space use is prey availability. I assessed the prey base using a grid of camera traps. The studied leopards revealed large range utilization with minimal overlap. The activity patterns suggest there is no preference between diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns and the population density was estimated between 0.3 - 1.3 leopards per 100km². Large home range sizes and low population densities suggest that leopards require large areas of suitable habitat, and that conservation efforts need to be extended beyond protected areas to ensure the long-term viability of leopard populations in such areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
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