Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Page | i
Page | i
WELCOME TO THE 13TH ANNUAL
SAVANNA SCIENCE NETWORK MEETING
The Meeting
The Savanna Science Network Meeting is the most important annual event for the
SANParks Scientific Services Department. It provides an opportunity for SANParks to
gauge how effective our research programmes are and also to assess the progress in
meeting SANParks‘ objectives for biodiversity conservation. This meeting is intended to
encourage researchers and prospective researchers to share ideas, their research
findings and to provide a platform for dialogue between scientists. Scientific Services
has a strong team of scientists working in different fields who, together with external
scientists, conduct research in many topics. These include, for example, biodiversity
monitoring, population studies, fire behaviour, vegetation monitoring and aerial game
census techniques. Please visit http://www.sanparks.org/conservation/scientific/ for
more information.
Meals and General Arrangements
Lunches will be served at the Restaurant. All dinners will be held at the Skukuza Golf
Club except for Wednesday when it will at the Conference Centre. All meals and teas
are for registered delegates and invited guests only. There will be an information board
setup in the auditorium foyer for news / events and updates. Please feel free to post any
announcements on this board. Finally, mugs have been provided in your Network Bags,
without this mug you will not be able to have tea / coffee during the regularly scheduled
tea-breaks.
Page | ii
SUNDAY 8 MARCH 2015
TIME EVENT DETAILS/VENUE
14:00 to 17:30 Registration
Nombolo Mdhuli Conference Centre, Skukuza
All delegates are requested to bring an electronic copy of their presentation please. These will be loaded into the correct slot on the programme to prevent any delays to
presentations
18:00 DINNER- Skukuza Golf Club : Registered delegates only
MONDAY 9 MARCH 2015
CHAIR TIME PRESENTER TITLE
Ton
y Sw
emm
er
08:00 Botha JM Welcome and housekeeping
08:10 Scholes B Big-picture ecology for a small planet
Science Communication
08:40 Strydom T & Mabuza S Keeping it Short and T(s)weet: Using Social Media for Science Communication
Climate and Climate Change as system driver
08:45 Hetem RS, Maloney SK, Fuller A et al Heterothermy in large mammals: inevitable or implemented?
08:50 Boyers M, Parrini F, Erasmus BFN et al Inanition hypothermia in gemsbok in the arid Kalahari
POSTER Thaker M, Chelliah K, Vanak AT et al When the going gets hot, the hot get going: African elephant, movement and body temperature.
08:55 Munyai CT & Foord SH Ant communities and dominancy hierarchy across an elevation transect, Soutpansberg Mountain, Limpopo Province
09:00 O‘Keefe Kimberly & Nippert JB Physiological mechanisms of drought and cold tolerance in coexisting woody species from South African savannas
Global change as system driver
09:15 Bond WJ Global change and the future of African savannas
09:30 Stevens N, Erasmus BFN, Archibald S et al
Bush encroachment over the last 70 years: overgrazing, global change or extinction aftershock?
09:45 Bunting EL, Fullman TJ, Kiker GA at al Simulated dynamics of vegetative cover and large herbivore distributions under climate change, water management and elephant population scenarios in Kruger National Park
10:00 Gaylard A SANParks Research Needs: Science Management Interactions
10:05 QUESTIONS
Page | iii
10:15 TEA
Fire as system driver N
avas
hn
i Go
ven
de
r
10:45 Levick SR, Andersen A, Beringer J et al Top-down and bottom-up controls in the world‘s largest intact savanna
11:00 Smit IPJ, Asner GP, Govender N et al High Intensity Fires – does it slow down bush encroachment or speed up loss of tall trees?
11:15 Beckett H, Wills CET &
Bond WJ In the Aftermath of a Firestorm
11:30 Brando P, Balch J, Nepstad D et al The effects of experimental surface fires on the stability, structure, and composition of a southeast Amazon forest
11:45 Whitecross MA & Howes CG How do savanna evergreens respond to fire?
12:00 Vanak AT, Chelliah K, Thaker M et al ―Playing with fire‖ – influence of fire on movement of African elephant in the Kruger National Park
12:15 Frizzo TL M, Campos R & Vasconcelos HL Contrasting effects of fire on arboreal and ground‐dwelling ant communities of a Neotropical savanna
12:20 Maravalhas JB & Vasconcelos HL Ant responses to variable fire regimes in the savannas of central Brazil
12:35 Cardoso AW , Medina JA , Malhi Y et al Playing with fire: Thresholds and trade-offs in tropical west African forest seedlings across a savannah-forest
12:40 QUESTIONS
13:00 LUNCH
Fire/Herbivory interaction as system driver
Ala
n A
nd
erso
n
14:00 Burkepile DE, Thompson D, Fynn R et al
Fire frequency, herbivore size, and habitat selectivity influence top-down control of plant communities in a southern African savanna
14:15 Dabengwa AN, Gillson L & Bond WJ Untangling herbivore and fire patterns in human-affected landscapes from a sedimentary fossil record: a case study from KwaZulu-Natal
14:30 Swemmer T Too slow to get big: low recruitment and growth rates preclude large trees from landscapes with fire or elephants.
14:45 Thaker M, Vanak AT, Shannon G et al Where have all the large trees gone? Fire, elephant and woody vegetation structure in the Kruger National Park
15:00 Coetsee C, Wigley BJ, Zytkowiak R et al The root of the problem: below-ground traits of woody savanna plants along environmental and disturbance gradients
15:15 Govender N , Ruecker G, Ribeiro N et al Comparing two fire management strategies in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park: consequences for fire regimes and biodiversity.
15:30 Mabuza S, Midgley J & Kruger L From seed to established seedling: Effects of granivory, fire and herbivory on seedling recruitment and survival of Acacia nigrescens, Combretum imberbe and Sclerocyara birrea in the Kruger National Park.
15:35 Hofmeyr M SANParks Research Needs: Horticulture and Nursery
15:40 QUESTIONS
18:00 DINNER- Skukuza Golf Club : Registered delegates only
Page | iv
TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2015
Fire/Climate interaction as system driver
Kat
e P
arr
08:00 Honda EA & Durigan G On how the suppression of fire has reduced the effective rainfall in the Brazilian Savanna
08:15 Humphrey GJ & Gillson L The role of humans in the complex fire, climate and vegetation regimes of North-east Namibia‘
Fire/Nutrient interaction as system driver
08:30 Hedin, L Reconciling determinants of bi-stability in the Kruger Savanna ecosystem
Herbivory as system driver
Izak
Sm
it
09:00 Hempson GP, Archibald S & Bond WJ Characterising African herbivory regimes: a continent-wide assessment of herbivore biomass and functional guilds
09:15 Henley M & Scott PA A continental perspective on deminishing giants: elephants and hardwoods
09:30 Page BR & O‘Connor TG The relationship between elephant density and impact on vegetation
09:35 Scogings PF, Hjältén J, Engdahl F et al Contrasting morphological responses of two Acacia species to exclusion of large herbivores reflect differences in growth strategies
09:40 Botha JM , Siebert F ,Scogings P et al Long-term exclosure research: what are we excluding?
09:55 Siebert F & Botha JM Herbivore effects on woody species diversity and structure
POSTER Combrink A, Siebert F & Botha JM Woody regeneration in response to herbivory
10:10 Andersen AN, Arcoverde G & Setterfield S Ant responses to grazing in tropical savannas of northern Australia
10:25 QUESTIONS
10:40 TEA
Herbivory/Climate interaction as system driver
Co
rli W
igle
y-C
oet
see
11:10 Wigley B, Bond W, Fritz H et al
The Effects of Mammalian Herbivory and Rainfall on Acacia Palatability, Defence and Growth.
Creation of grazing lawns
11:25 Prins, HHT Grazing lawns - how they function and how they can be created
11:55 Pretorius Y Creating grazing lawns in degraded sourveld
Animal personality as system driver
POSTER Forssman K Linking animal personality and social rank with immunity and exposure to pathogens and parasites: buffalo behavioural disease ecology.
Alien invasives as system driver
Page | v
12:00 Assis GB, Durigan G Structural changes and diversity losses in Neotropical savannas due to invasive grasses
12:15 Sibiya TE, Esler KJ & Foxcroft LC Riparian plant community change and alien plant invasions following geomorphological change in the Sabie River, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Chemical system drivers - Secondary metabolites
12:20 Schmitt MH, Ward D & Shrader AM Have African elephants evolved physiological mechanisms to deal with plant secondary compounds?- Large body size and tannin-binding proteins in a non-ruminant
12:25 Schmitt MH, Ward D & Shrader AM Incorporating secondary metabolites, tannin-binding proteins, and diet breadth into carrying capacity models for a large, mixed feeder
12:40 QUESTIONS
12:55 LUNCH
Invertebrates as system driver
Hen
dri
k Si
tho
le
14:00 Parr CL, Evans T, Davies AB et al Do the ‗little‘ things run the world? Exploring the functional importance of ants in a South African savanna
14:15 De Swardt DB, Coetsee C & O‘Connor T Investigating the effects of Imbrasia belina on soil fertility in the Mopane Bushveld of Venetia Limpopo Reserve, South Africa
POSTER Lind BM, Hanan NP & Uys VM Continental patterns of termite diversity in southern Africa
14:30 Lagendijk G, Davies A, Eggleton P et al The elephant-termite feedback loop: truth or myth?
Chemical system drivers - Nutrients
14:35 February EC, Higgins SI & Keretetse M Negative feedback on plant available nitrogen may restrict the advance of trees in C4
savannas
14:50 van Coller H & Siebert F Species diversity-productivity relationship in the herbaceous layer of a nutrient hot spot site
15:05 Veldhuis MP, Hulshof A, Berg MP et al Consumer-driven nutrient cycling determines plant nutrient limitations in African savannas
Nutrients/Water interaction as system driver
15:20 Trisos M, Picker M, Parr CL et al Nutrient and water addition in a Kruger savanna: cascading effects on insect diversity
15:35 QUESTIONS
18:00 DINNER- Skukuza Golf Club : Registered delegates only
Page | vi
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015
"Landscapes of Fear" as system driver
An
gela
Gay
lard
08:00 Ferreira S Carnivore, herbivore and human gradients of fear landscapes
Predation as system driver
08:30 Davies AB, Tambling CJ & Asner GP Lion hunting habits in relation to vegetation structural heterogeneity and climatic factors
08:45 Martin J & Owen-Smith N Contrasting responses of wildebeest and zebra to proximity with lions
09:00 Courbin N, Loveridge AJ, Chamaile-Jammes S et al
Flight decisions of zebras after encounters with lions shape the lion-zebra spatial game at large spatial but short temporal scales in Hwange NP, Zimbabwe
09:05 Yiu SW, Keith M, Parrini F et al Settling into a new home: post-release movement and home range establishment of reintroduced lions (Panthera leo) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
09:10 Wallach AD Big predators for a small world
09:25 Stears K & Shrader AM Increases in food availability can result in oribi antelope taking greater risks at both large and small spatial scales
Disease as system driver
Dan
ny
Go
ven
de
r 09:30 Beechler BR, Medlock J, Juleff N et al Mechanisms of persistence of FMDV in African buffalo populations
09:45 van Heerden H, Hassim A, Ledwaba MB et al Assumptions and facts of the dissemination of anthrax
10:00 Govender D SANParks Research Needs: Disease
10:05 QUESTIONS
10:20 TEA
Monitoring large mammals
Ern
est
Dae
man
e
11:00 Knight G, Strauss WM & Ferreira SM Adaptive sampling to estimate rare antelope population variables in Kruger National Park
11:05 Marchal AFJ, Lejeune P & de Bruyn PJN Blueprints for unique footprints: sex, age and individual identification from digital 3D models of lion (Panthera leo) paws
11:10 Postma M, Weyer N ,Fuller A et al Mobile, automated photogrammetry of Aardvark
11:15 Traill LW, Erasmus BFN & Owen-Smith N Determining the population structure and trend of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes t. taurinus) populations in Kruger National Park through individual-based data
Resource use extraction as driver
Page | vii
11:20 Twine W & Holdo R Model answer: incorporating coppice dynamics in simulations of fuelwood wood supply and demand
11:25 van Staden N, Siebert F , Siebert S et al Anthropogenically disturbed Mopaneveld: Is the ecosystem getting even?
POSTER Twine W, Vagen TG & Winowiecki L
Fine-scale modelling and mapping of soil functional characteristics and vegetation across landscapes: A case study from communal lands of Bushbuckridge
POSTER Mograbi PJ, Witkowski ETF, Erasmus BFN et al Does size matter? Size-class specific growth rates in communal rangelands
Methods for measuring erosion rates and patterns
Juss
i Baa
de
11:40 Glotzbach C, Paape A, Reinwarth B et al Long-term cosmogenic 10
Be catchment-wide erosion rates in the Kruger National Park
11:45 Reinwarth B, Baade J, Glotzbach C et al Contemporary sediment yield in the Kruger National Park: high-resolution surveying and sediment mapping in reservoirs
11:50 Miller J, Rowntree K, Schroeder D et al Identification of Sediment Sources Using Sediment Fingerprinting Methods in Catchments in the Kruger National Park
Water as system driver
11:55 Nippert JB & Swemmer AM Drivers of riparian forest change in Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa
12:10 Morris T L, Holdo RM & Mack MC Resprouting dynamics of savanna trees across resource gradients in Kruger National Park.
12:25 Valls Fox H, Fritz H, De Garine-Wichatitsky M et al
To drink or not to drink? Elephant movement strategies as surface water availability declines in a semi-arid savanna.
POSTER Strydom T , Riddell E, Swemmer AM et al Monitoring Hydrological Processes along the Letaba River
12:40 QUESTIONS
13:00 LUNCH
Freshwater system health
Ro
bin
Pe
ters
en
14:00 Riddell ES, Petersen R , Govender D et al The State of Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation in the Kruger National Park: Where to from here?
14:15 Petersen R, Govender D, Sithole H et al State of the Rivers, Kruger National Park
14:30 Palmer CG, Munnik V, du Toit D et al Diverse sense-making in a co-operative water quality management process towards improving the social-ecological health of the Crocodile River
14:45 Govender D &
Huchzermeyer D Fish health surveys: What have we learnt?
15:00 Botha H, Pienaar D, Bowden J et al Nile Crocodiles as Sentinels of Environment Health of the Olifants River Basin
15:05 Woodborne S, Govender D, Pienaar D et al Dietary reconstruction of Nile crocodiles using stable light isotopes
Page | viii
15:10 Lerm RE & Swemmer AM Long-term monitoring of water-dependant avifaunal communities of the Olifants and Ga-selati rivers
15:15 Stembile MS, Shakki K, Beaven U et al Water quality of water pans and small dams in and around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
15:20 Mohlala TD & Venter J Fishladder post-construction issues: analysis of distribution, attraction and passage efficiency metrics at the Engelhard fish ladder,Letaba River KNP.
15:25 Potgieter D Groundwater Quality in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
POSTER Simms C, MacFadyen S, Govender D et al Building an informative wetland layer for Kruger National Park
15:30 Petersen R SANParks Research Needs: Freshwater
15:35 QUESTIONS
16:00 POSTER SESSION/CHEESE AND WINE - Nombolo Mdhuli Conference Centre, Skukuza
18:00 DINNER- Nombol Mdhuli Conference Centre : Registered delegates only
THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2015
Vultures as driver and responder to a changing landscape
Mar
na
He
rbst
08:00 Murn C, Van Heerden H, Botha A et al Vultures, anthrax, movement ecology and large mammal mortality in Kruger National Park
08:30 Howes CG, Symes CT, Roxburgh L et al Understanding seasonal movements of Cape (Gyps coprotheres) and White-backed (G. africanus) Vultures in southern Africa
08:35 Scholtz R, Murn C & Duckworth GD The dynamics of A. nigrescens and the implications on patterns of nesting White-backed vultures in Kruger National Park
Poster van Niekerk CS, Dekker EH , Botha A et al Assessing the potential role of vulture populations of the Kruger National Park in the life cycle of Bacillus anthracis.
Human/Wildlife interface
Sam
Fer
reir
a
08:50 Swemmer LK Costs, benefits and making the tradeoffs – A case study of the Kruger National Park
09:05 Bunn D, Midzi S & Auslander M
Edge Effects: Rumours and Uncanny Animals in the Boundary Management of South Africa‘s Kruger National Park
09:20 Richardson PRK, Wood J, Jordan E et al Lessons learn‘t from Baboon Management on the Cape Peninsula
09:25 Caron A, Cornelis D, Miguel E et al Buffalo/cattle interactions along the Limpopo River and consequences for pathogen transmission in the Great Limpopo TFCA
Page | ix
09:40 Cook RM, Henley M & Parrini F
Changes in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) movement patterns at various distances from villages
09:55 King, L The Elephant and Bees Project: Using bees as a natural deterrent for crop-raiding elephants
10:10 Mauda EV, Foord SH & Munyai CT Ant diversity in an arid peri-urban landscape of the Vhembe Biosphere, South Africa
10:15 QUESTIONS
10:30 TEA
Human/Wildlife interface - Poaching
Lou
ise
Swe
mm
er
11:00 Di Minin E, Laitila J, Montesino-Pouzols F et al Identification of policies for a sustainable legal trade in rhinoceros horn based on population projection and socioeconomic models
11:15 Tantsi N & Ferreira SM Influence of local media framing on rhino poaching in Kruger National Park
11:20 Hannweg K, Hofmeyr M & Grové T The Pepperbark Initiative: Are we any closer to efficiently propagating Warburgia salutaris?
Remote Sensing and Modelling for mapping and long-term monitoring
11:25 Aplin P, O‘Regan H J, Marston C et al Multi-scale observation of vegetation canopy cover change in southern KNP from 2002 to 2014
POSTER Odipo VO, Hüttich C & Schmullius C SAR-Optical synergy in savanna ecosystem fractional vegetatin cover mapping
POSTER Palmer T A comparison of the trends in WUE between 2000 and 2013 in a range of land cover classes and land-use systems in South Africa.
POSTER Whitecross MA, Archibald S & Witkowski ETF Assessing the prevalence of early-greening in Burkea africana woodlands across southern Africa using MODIS NDVI over 14 years
POSTER Ibrahim S, Balzter H & Tansey K Mapping Savanna vegetation phenology using NDVI time series derived from MODIS
11:40 Balzter H, Ibrahim S, Smit IPJ et al Geomorphology and savanna vegetation structure in Kruger National Park from 12 m resolution Tandem-X IDEM data
POSTER Baade J, Schmullius C & Smit IPJ Catchment properties in the Kruger National Park derived from the new TanDEM-X based Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
11:45 Fisher JT, Witkowski ETF, Erasmus BFN et al What lies beneath: Detecting sub-canopy changes in savanna woodlands using a 3D classification method
POSTER Schmullius C, Hüttich C, Odipo V et al Spatio-temporal Earth Observation Contribution to the BMBF/SPACES-project ―Adaptive Resilience of Southern AFRICAN Ecosystems (Ars AfricaE)‖
POSTER Falge E, Brümmer C, Schmullius C et al SPACES Project ARS AfricaE – Adaptive Resilience of Southern African ecosystems
POSTER Thiel-Clemen TH, Lenfers U, Hüning CH A Benefit for KNP-Ecologists - Massive Multi-Agent Simulation with MARS
Page | x
Complex Socio-Ecological Systems and Bioregionalism
11:50 Gillson L Complexity thinking and objectives setting in complex socio-ecological systems
12:05 Ament J & Cumming GS Effectiveness and Social-Ecological Spillover of Protected Areas: understanding scale dependencies
12:20 Swemmer LK SANParks Research Needs: Social
12:25 QUESTIONS
12:50 LUNCH
Tourism
Enri
co d
e M
ini 14:00 Herbst M Protected areas tourism – for the benefits of our National Parks
14:30 Hausmann A, Slotow R & Di Minin E Tourists‘ preference for sense of place and less charismatic biodiversity: unveiling new opportunities for conservation
14:45 Pape I, Lubbe B & de Bruyn PJN The impact on visitation and the relative importance of iconic animals as tourist attraction in selected SANParks.
POSTER Mabika CT An assessment of the effects of tourism on vegetation in Mana Pools National Park
Ecosystem services
Ch
enay
Sim
ms
15:00 McHale MR,Twine W, Cadenasso M.L et al Democratization of ecosystem services – a radically revised framework for assessing nature‘s benefits to communities
15:15 McKean S An estimate of ecosystem service value of grassland in KwaZulu-Natal.
15:20 Cluett C, Nichols E , Litzenberger T et al The IMAGINE Program – Interdisciplinary research with communities to address water related challenges in the Kruger National Park social-ecological system.
Vegetation patterns and processes
15:25 Lewis J & February EC Another look at the savannah conundrum: evidence of niche segregation and competition avoidance with grasses in establishing trees
15:40 Leitner M, Robertson MP, Davies AB et al Agents of plant litter decomposition in African savannas: effects of rainfall and bush encroachment
15:45 Pilon NAL & Durigan G Potential of topsoil and hay transfer to restore the Brazilian savanna grassland
POSTER Cunliffe R, Attorre F, Martini F et al Classification and mapping of the vegetation of the Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
POSTER Bester JJ, Vorster T & van der Merwe IJ Towards a National Framework for Monitoring Savanna and Other Forests – the National Forest Resources Assessment (NFRA)
15:50 Freitag- Ronaldson S Wrap Up
16:05 Botha JM Thank you and closing
18:00 DINNER- Skukuza Golf Club : Registered delegates only
Page | 1
Abstracts
Big-picture ecology for a small planet
Scholes B.
University of the Witwatersrand
The extensive ecosystems of southern Africa have for a number of years been a test-bed for ideas and techniques which
may be useful for studying and managing complex systems everywhere, and in particular for tackling issues of global
change.
The first contribution has been observational: the availability of long data records on climate, vegetation and animal
dynamics and disturbances (fire in particular) have been useful in building and testing models of how the world works at
large space and time scales. The observational techniques have evolved over time, from notes kept by individuals, to
systematic measurements by organisations, to continuous and sophisticated measurements made by automated systems
such as satellites and flux towers.
The second contribution has been experimental, exploring the notion that ecosystems can be the subject of deliberate
experimentation. Sometimes this has taken the form of large-scale treatments, such as fire trials or herbivore exclusion
plots. Often it has made use of ‗natural experiments‘; exploiting the contrasts which exist due to natural or human-induced
gradients. This has required rethinking some of the fundamentals of experimental design, such as ‗what is the meaning of
a control?‘ and ‗what constitutes replication?‘
The third contribution has been theoretical. How do warm arid and semi-arid ecosystems function, and how does this
contrast with the cool, moist ecosystems that dominate the textbooks? What are the roles of disturbance and competition
is maintaining ecosystem diversity and top down versus bottom up control in maintaining ecosystem structure?
The fourth contribution has been to do with ecosystem management. How, in practice, do you implement adaptive
management? What advantages and challenges does participatory co-management offer? How can the gap between
science and policy be narrowed?
Page | 2
KEEPING IT SHORT AND T(S)WEET: Using Social Media for Science Communication
Strydom T. & Mabuza S.
Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected] For a long time, social media was regarded as a superficial, unprofessional platform where internet users would submerge
themselves in a virtual world, detached from real-life issues. Slowly, the myths and stigmas surrounding the use of social
media has faded as more and more professionals and scientists have learned to positively exploit this platform. In a digital
age where instant access to information is the norm, scientists should co-evolve and ensure that their work is just as
accessible and appealing, without the unnecessary jargon.
Currently, science is mostly restricted to a very particular audience and conveyed in one direction only. Using a social
media platform such as Twitter challenges scientists to convey their work in a very concise manner using simpler
terminology. Furthermore, it may open dialogue with fellow Twitter users and result in a virtual discussion to compensate
for the usual one-way form of communication.
Twitter can serve as a useful tool for active engagement at conferences. Not only does it ―break the ice‖ between
delegates but most importantly, it ensures that findings from conference presentations are communicated to a much wider
audience than only those in attendance. This idea was tested at the previous Savanna Science Network Meeting in 2014,
where the hashtag #ssnm was used in order to create a filter whereby all tweets which included #ssnm could be identified
and followed.
More than 63% of the Twitter users who participated in the #ssnm hashtag were actually not present at the conference.
These external ―delegates‖ were interested individuals from five different continents and in different professions. This
highlights how social media can be exploited at scientific conferences to ensure that key messages are conveyed beyond
the immediate audience at the event.
Page | 3
Heterothermy in large mammals: inevitable or implemented?
Hetem R.S.1, Maloney S.K.
2, 1, Fuller A.
1 & Mitchell D.
1
1Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, 7 York
Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa 2School of Anatomy, Physiology, and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
[email protected] Advances in biologging techniques over the past 20 years have allowed for the remote and continuous measurement of
body temperatures in free-living mammals. While there is an abundance of literature on heterothermy in small mammals,
fewer studies have investigated the daily variability of body core temperature in larger mammals. Here we review
measures of heterothermy and the factors that influence heterothermy in large mammals in their natural habitats,
focussing on large mammalian herbivores.
The degree of heterothermy, as measured by the 24h amplitude of body core temperature rhythm, was independent of
body mass and appeared to be driven primarily by energy and water limitations. When faced with the competing demands
of osmoregulation, energy acquisition and water or energy use for thermoregulation, large mammalian herbivores appear
to relax the precision of thermoregulation thereby conserving body water and energy. But that relaxation may entail a cost
in that an animal moves closer to its thermal limits for performance. Maintaining homeostasis requires trade-offs between
regulated systems, and homeothermy apparently is not accorded highest priority; large mammals are able to maintain
optimal homeothermy only if they are well nourished, hydrated, and not compromised energetically.
We propose that the amplitude of the 24h rhythm of body core temperature provides a useful index of any compromise
experienced by a free-living large mammal and may predict the performance and fitness of an animal.
Page | 4
Inanition hypothermia in gemsbok in the arid Kalahari
Boyers M, Parrini F, Erasmus B, Owen-Smith N & Hetem R
Central for African Ecology, School of Animals, Plants and Environmental Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
[email protected] [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The maintenance of body temperature above ambient temperature requires an endotherm to use energy. If food intake is
limited, an endotherm may not be able to gain sufficient energy to maintain the high metabolic rate required to maintain a
high body temperature. To test this hypothesis, we measured body core temperature, using implanted data loggers, and
GPS locations of four gemsbok (Oryx gazella gazelle) free-ranging in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana.
We used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a standardized index of vegetation greenness, which can be
considered a proxy for vegetation productivity and quality. We extracted NDVI values from MODIS images at each GPS
location of the gemsbok.
Using a GLMM, with individual gemsbok as a random factor, we found that minimum 24h body core temperature was
more influenced by NDVI than minimum 24h ambient temperature (miniature black globe temperature on the gemsbok‘s
collar). The gemsbok had a lower minimum 24h body core temperatures during the dry season, when forage quality and
quantity was limited (low NDVI), than in a period shortly after summer rains when forage was abundant and green (high
NDVI), while ambient temperatures were similar in the two periods. We speculate that under conditions of low food
availability, the cost of thermoregulation may become exorbitantly expensive. Therefore, when food resources are limited,
gemsbok may be forced to ―trade off‖ energy conservation and thermoregulation and gemsbok appear to prioritize the
conservation of energy over the maintenance of a high body temperature.
Page | 5
POSTER
When the going gets hot, the hot get going: African elephant, movement and body temperature
Thaker M.1, Chelliah K
.1, Vanak A.T.
2, 3, & Slotow R.
3
1Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
2Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India 3School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Landscape scale movement decisions of animals are most often driven by a function of abiotic (e.g. forage, water) and
biotic (e.g. competitors, predators) factors in the environment. However, the physiological condition of the animal can be
an important determinant of movement decisions, yet these are often overlooked, mainly because the data are
unavailable.
Using data from thermochrons mounted on the GPS collars of female African elephant in Kruger National Park, we
explore the effects of temperature on habitat use and movement patterns. As expected, we find a clear circadian rhythm
of temperature, but we also find that body temperatures are influenced by environmental factors, such as habitat type,
vegetation density, and distance to water.
Regardless of these abiotic factors, movement rates of elephants strongly correlate with temperature, such that elephants
move farther and faster as temperatures rise. We further discuss the temperature-dependent movement strategies of
elephant, as they thermoregulate in the African savanna.
Page | 6
Ant communities and dominancy hierarchy across an elevation transect, Soutpansberg Mountain, Limpopo Province
Munyai C.T.1 & Foord S.H.
2
¹Centre for Invasion Biology and Department of Ecology & Resource Management, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, P. Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa
Centre for Invasion Biology, SARChi Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and Department of Zoology, University of Venda, P. Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Competition has been described as the ‗hallmark‘ of ant ecology. It is for this description that the differences in social
organisation and ant behaviour rank species into a competition hierarchy. Here we focus on ants across an elevation
transect in the Soutpansberg mountain range. We aim to determine ant species composition at baits, assign species to a
dominance hierarchy and determine how this dominance hierarchy vary across elevations, habitat types, season and time
of the day. Ant activity patterns were observed at cat food, oats and sugar baits in each of the four seasons, three times
during the day and once at night between November 2011 and October 2012. A combination of numerical and
behavioural dominance was used to rank ant dominance hierarchies.
Dominant species were considered to be those species that had monopolised most of the baits where they occurred and
had the highest dominancy scores. We sampled a total of 88 species. The lower elevation sites had the most species at
baits while the high elevation sites had the least species but highest abundance. Eight species were identified as
dominant, six as subdominant and the rest of the species as subordinate. Dominant ants controlled and monopolised baits
at highest elevations and they were least abundant during dry seasons and in the afternoon. The dominance hierarchies
established in this study can be used to determine the role of ant dominance in controlling ant assemblages across the
Soutpansberg Mountain.
Page | 7
Physiological mechanisms of drought and cold tolerance in coexisting woody species from South African savannas
O’Keefe K.1 & Nippert J.B.
1
1Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
[email protected], [email protected]
In southern Africa, the distribution of Mopane and Acacia-Combretum savannas are determined by strong latitudinal
gradients in temperature and water availability. However, the physiological mechanisms constraining these distributions
are currently unknown. Our goal was to characterize differences in drought and cold tolerance among Mopane seedlings
and coexisting woody species. Colophospermum mopane, Combretum apiculatum, Acacia nigrescens and Cassia
abbreviata seedlings were grown in a greenhouse under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. Nine-month-old
seedlings were then transferred to an environmental growth chamber and exposed to three consecutive nighttime freezing
events where the temperature in the chamber was slowly reduced to -5°C each night. Physiological traits were measured
on each individual before and after each freezing event, and following a one-week recovery period.
We found significant differences in response to water-stress and freezing among species. In general, C. mopane was
more drought-tolerant but also more cold-intolerant compared to the other species. Nighttime freezing reduced
photosynthetic rates similarly across all species and water treatments, but A. nigrescens and C. abbreviata almost fully
recovered after one week. Conversely, C. mopane photosynthetic rates did not recover after one week and this was
associated with a greater loss in leaf hydraulic conductivity and leaf water potential compared to other species. Thus,
cold-intolerance of C. mopane is likely associated with freezing-induced loss of hydraulic function. These results provide
mechanistic evidence describing C. mopane‘s historic distribution in warmer, drier regions, and can be used in landscape
models predicting savanna community compositional changes in the future.
Page | 8
Global change and the future of African savannas
Bond W.J.1, 2
1South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), NRF, P/Bag X7, Claremont 7735 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town
[email protected], [email protected] Projections for the future of African savannas are remarkably divergent. Embedded in the projections are major
assumptions about how the world is assembled. Traditional, climate-based models predict future Africa as being the most
ecologically stable region on earth. Emerging ideas on savannas as alternative states to forests in higher rainfall regions,
argue that fire plays a major role in maintaining savannas where forests could grow.
Projections based on these views are very different with future Africa acting as a global tipping point with the potential for
rapid change from grassy to forested systems. South African studies support the latter historical trend. However there are
many uncertainties, not least of which is whether changes observed on relatively fertile South African soils will also occur
on the deeply weathered ferralitic soils of the tropics. I discuss the conceptual basis for future projections and when,
where and why we need better understanding to build better models.
Page | 9
Bush encroachment over the last 70 years: overgrazing, global change or extinction
aftershock?
Stevens N.1, 4,
Erasmus B.F.N2, Archibald S.
2, 3, and Bond W.J.
1, 4
1Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
2School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, South Africa
3Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
4South African Environmental Observation Network, Fynbos Node, Private Bag X7, 7735, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, South
Africa Woody encroachment is a global problem. Both local and global drivers, particularly elevated CO2, have been implicated
in these increases. The debate on their relative importance remains unresolved as very few multi-site, multi land-use,
large-scale evaluations of woody plant encroachment exist. We compared tree cover change over 1000km2 in four
different land uses (commercial ranching, conservation with/without elephants and communal rangelands) in South
African savannas. These land-uses, across the rainfall gradient, form a natural experiment from which to investigate the
magnitude and trajectory of tree cover change.
They also provide the opportunity to tease apart the importance of local versus global drivers of tree cover change. Each
land use should have different trajectories of tree cover change, unless a global driver is causing the increases. Tree
cover change was measured between 1940 and 2009 using the aerial photo record. Detection of woody cover from each
aerial photograph was automated using eCognitions‘ Object based image analysis (OBIA). Tree cover increased in all
land uses across the rainfall gradient, except in the presence of elephants in the low rainfall areas.
Our results suggest that elevated CO2 is an important driver of tree cover increase across South African savannas. It also
highlights that widespread megaherbivore extinctions can be driving changes in semi-arid savannas. The tree cover
increase highlights the vulnerability of the savanna regions to the negative ecological and economic impact of woody
encroachment.
Page | 10
Simulated dynamics of vegetative cover and large herbivore distributions under climate change, water management and elephant population scenarios in Kruger National Park
Bunting E.L.
1, Fullman T.J.
1, 2, Kiker G.A.
1, 3 & Southworth J.
1
1University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
2The Wilderness Society, Anchorage, AK, USA
3School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Researchers, conservationists, and most policymakers widely agree that the Earth‘s climate is changing. However, what
is open to debate is the degree to which terrestrial landscapes and herbivore populations will change under future climate
conditions and management policies. Potential shifts in distributions of woody species and cover along with five large
herbivore species in Kruger National Park (KNP) were investigated using the SAVANNA landscape ecology model
operating at a 5 km2 grid resolution, a weekly time step and a 90 year (1990-2080) simulation period. Calibration of the
historic portion of the model (1990-2010) was completed via parameters developed by Kiker (1998) and Hielbers et al.
(2014) and includes extensive field-based data on fire location, climate trends, borehole distribution, and hydrological
variation. For future climate conditions (2010-2080), three specific IPCC emission scenarios were utilized (A1B, A2, and
B1), each of which exhibited differing assumptions of global socio-economic and environmental utilization/intensification.
When combined with water and elephant management alternatives, 27 different future scenarios were simulated with
SAVANNA.
Under most future KNP conditions, the projected change is small for precipitation (+/- 1%) with more significant changes
forecast for temperature (1.5 - 3.5° C). Even with these scenarios, the vegetated state of KNP could look quite different
by 2080 with local shifts in net primary productivity, woody/herbaceous biomass ratios and total woody cover dependent
on soil (granite/basalt) and climate (north/south) conditions. For herbivore populations, scenarios were assessed using
directional persistence and repeated measures analysis of variance. Patterns across herbivore species differ between
climate scenarios, encouraging monitoring of herbivore distributions to assess where shifts occur under changing climatic
conditions. Altering artificial water availability has little effect on park-wide persistence of herbivore densities, but strongly
influences overlap within- and between-species. Finally, elephant numbers only influence conditions under the most
extreme population increases. Collectively, findings from this research improve understanding of the patterns of
vegetation/herbivore distribution and along with the impacts of potential management decisions.
Page | 11
Top-down and bottom-up controls in the world‟s largest intact savanna
Levick S.R.1, Andersen A.
2, Beringer J.
3, Cook R.
2, Hacker J.
4, Hutley L.
5, Maier S.
5, Richards A.
2, Setterfield S.
5 &
Trumbore S.1
1Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07745 Jena, Germany
2CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, PMB 44 Winnellie, NT, Australia
3School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia,
Crawley, WA, Australia 4Airborne Research Australia, School of the Environment,
Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia 5Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods,
Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0810, Australia
[email protected] Tropical savannas cover almost 2 million square kilometres of northern Australia, representing the largest intact expanse
of the biome worldwide. The distribution, composition and structure of these savannas have coevolved with fire, but
changes in land-management, climate, and the spread of invasive species is rapidly altering fire regimes in this region. In
order to predict future trajectories of vegetation dynamics, reduce uncertainty in global models, and meet land-
management objectives (biodiversity, carbon sequestration, agriculture), we need better understanding of how fire regime:
i) shapes woody structure; ii) influences greenhouse gas emissions; and iii) interacts with climatic drivers such as rainfall.
In this talk I will provide an overview of some unique insights that are developing in Australian savannas through the
integration of airborne LiDAR with ecological research along large-scale climatic gradients, long-term experimental fire
manipulations, and eddy covariance flux towers. I will draw parallels with on-going fire and vegetation dynamics research
in Kruger and discuss the management implications of our findings in Australia. Lastly, I will give a brief introduction to an
exciting new savanna research programme (SAVANNA-4D) that will explore the disparity between potential and realised
savanna vegetation structure in Africa, Australia and Brazil, by quantifying fine-scale three-dimensional (3D) changes in
ecosystems over time.
Page | 12
High Intensity Fires – does it slow down bush encroachment or speed up loss of tall trees?
Smit I.P.J.1, 2
, Asner G.P.3, Govender N.
1 & Vaughn N.
3
1Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
2Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private
Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa 3Carnegie Institution, Stanford, USA
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Structural homogenization of the woody vegetation layer is of concern in parts of Kruger National Park (KNP), with
previous studies suggesting bush encroachment in the lower height classes and high rates of tree losses in the taller
height classes. This may result in dense shrubland savanna expanding at the expense of open savanna. One
management approach suggested to counter bush encroachment is the use of high intensity fires, assuming
disproportionate topkill of bushes in the fire-trap, whilst tall trees outside the flame zone will largely ―escape‖ fire effects.
However, there are also arguments suggesting that high intensity fires may result in the opposite outcome, toppling a
significant proportion of tall trees and stimulating coppicing and multi-stemming of lower bushes.
As such, a fire experiment employing both low and high intensity fire treatments was conducted in KNP in an area where
management identified bush encroachment as a concern. This allowed an opportunity to weigh up the ―benefit‖ (i.e.
reducing low bush cover) against the ―cost‖ (i.e. loss of tall trees) of high intensity fires as compared to low intensity fires.
In this presentation we will use LiDAR derived vegetation structure measurements derived before and after low and high
intensity fires (so-called ―firestorms‖) in southern KNP to answer these pertinent management questions by considering
whether these high intensity fires can be used to counter bush encroachment, and at what incidental ―cost‖ in terms of tall
tree losses. Did the firestorm achieve its desired outcomes, or did it backfire?
Page | 13
In the Aftermath of a Firestorm
Beckett H.1 Wills C.E.T.
1 &
Bond W.J.
1, 2
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3,
Rondebosch, 7700, Cape Town 2South African Earth Observation Network (SAEON)
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Mesic savannas are increasingly being invaded by forest and thicket vegetation. Forest/thicket and savanna patches in
these vegetation mosaics are known to be maintained by positive feedback loops with fire. This bi-stability is well
understood, however there is a lack of research regarding the impact of extreme events (i.e. Firestorms) in driving biome
level change. A number of extreme fire events in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park provided us with the opportunity to investigate
whether or not firestorms can cause a biome level shift and revert invaded savannas to their original state.
Using repeat transects we tracked changes in species composition in burnt thicket and forest patches to determine if the
observed changes constitute a biome shift. Understanding the effects of these firestorms on vegetation dynamics is
becoming increasingly relevant in the context of climatic change. Extreme fire events, or firestorms, are triggered by the
presence of sufficient fuel and favourable fire weather conditions (high temperatures, high wind speed, and low humidity).
Uncertainty over the future prevalence of these conditions and the effect of firestorms will hinder the effective
management of mosaic systems.
Page | 14
The effects of experimental surface fires on the stability, structure, and composition of a southeast Amazon forest
Brando P.1, 2
, Balch J.3, Nepstad D.
4, Silvério D.
2, 5 & Santos C.
2
1Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama St., Stanford CA 94305
2Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia (IPAM), Av. Nazaré 669, 66035-170, Belém, PA, Brazil
3The University of Colorado-Boulder, Department of Geography, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
4Earth Innovation Institute, 3180 18th Street, Suite 205, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
5Departamento de Ecologia Bras lia, Universidade de Bras ılia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Interactions between climate and land-use change are expected to alter forest fire regimes, pushing some Amazonian
forests to new stable states. Yet, the stability, composition, structure, and function of these fire-disturbed ecosystems are
poorly understood. To fill these gaps, we established a large-scale, long-term fire experiment located in a southeast
Amazonian forest—a region that is highly vulnerable to changes in fire regime, climate change, and the interactions
between the two.
Based on experimental fires conducted during the peak of the dry season, we found that interactions between understory
fires and a regional drought resulted in abrupt increases in fire-induced tree mortality. In turn, forest understories became
4-5ºC warmer and substantially drier, less diverse, and dominated by African grasses, which invaded 32-35% of forest
edges of the burned areas (versus <3% of an unburned area). Our results suggest high-intensity fires resulting from
drought events could promote abrupt fire-mediated transitions from forests to new stable states in the southeast Amazon.
Page | 15
How do savanna evergreens respond to fire?
Whitecross M.A. & Howes C.G.
School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected]
Globally evergreens are found in low nutrient, high moisture soils; however, they persist in lower moisture, higher nutrient
soils in the predominantly deciduous southern African savannas. Evergreens tend to occur mainly in areas where a low
fire frequency exists, such as sodic sites, as their tendency to burn is high. Fire is one of the key drivers in savannas and
it has been suggested that savanna evergreens are vulnerable to this disturbance.
Our study investigated the impacts of a severe late dry season fire, which occurred from the 18th – 20
th September 2013 in
the Nylsvley Nature Reserve on three species of evergreens Euclea crispa, E. natalensis and Strychnos pungens. We
tagged and monitored 30 individuals of each species divided into three categories of ten individuals: Fully burnt, partially
burnt and unburnt. The overall damage was recorded as a percentage for each individual after the fire together with the
maximum height of burn relative to the total height of the individual.
Recovery was measured two months after the fire and again one year later. Height loss of fully burnt canopies post-fire
was evident across all species, exposing damaged individuals to further potential damage from future fires. Fully and
partially burnt individuals resprouted mainly through coppicing. Partially burnt E. crispa and S. pungens showed
stimulated growth after the fire. Savanna evergreens are susceptible to fires through decreased growth and loss of
biomass, which may explain why they tend to occur in low fire frequency areas in southern Africa.
Page | 16
“Playing with fire” – influence of fire on movement of African elephant in the Kruger National Park
Vanak A.T. 1, 6
, Chelliah K.2, Thaker M.
2, Guttal V.
2, Iyer S.
3, Govender N.
4, Prins H.
5, 6, de Boer F.
5 & Slotow R.
6
1Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India 2Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 3Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
4Scientific Services, SANPARKS, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa
5Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Netherlands
6School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
It is well known that elephants and fires are considered to be ―global herbivores‖ and are major engineers of savannah
ecosystems. The combined and interactive effects of elephant and fire on savanna structure are also well recognised.
However, little is known about the direct interactions between these two ecosystem engineers. Using a large dataset on
movement of female African elephant and of fire occurrences in Kruger National Park (KNP), we find that elephants are
influenced by fire at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
This is not surprising, given that an average of 16% (range = 01- 70%) of elephant home-ranges in KNP burn at least
once every year. We find that elephants move rapidly away from the source of fires, but the distance travelled depends on
how close they were to the fire. Since fires are known to change the quality and quantity of available forage, the
occurrence of fires determines elephants‘ use of the landscape in the medium to long-term as well.
Although elephant use of burnt patches varies, we find an increase in intensity of use from 6 onwards, peaking at 12
months post-fire. Following this peak, there is a fluctuating decrease in occupancy over time. The use of fire patches,
however, is also mediated by several factors including habitat type, the size of fire patches, proximity to water sources
and other landscape features. We discuss these findings in light of KNP‘s fire management policies, and its implications
for elephant movement, home-range sizes, foraging, and savanna vegetation structure.
Page | 17
Contrasting effects of fire on arboreal and ground‐dwelling ant communities of a Neotropical savanna
FrizzoT.L.M.1, Campos R.I.
2 & Vasconcelos H.L.
1
1Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), CP 593, 38400‐902, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
2Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), 36570‐000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
[email protected] , [email protected], [email protected]
Ants are a dominant group in tropical savannas and here we examined the responses of the arboreal and ground‐dwelling
ant fauna to a fire in a Neotropical savanna (cerrado) reserve in Central Brazil. Ants were collected using pitfall traps and
baits placed in trees and on the ground beneath each tree. Of the 36 trees marked along two transects, half (from each
transect) were burned and half not. The same trees were sampled 1 wk before and again 3 and 12 mo after the fire.
Rarefaction curves and ordination analyses using data from all trees from each side of each transect indicated that overall
ant species richness and composition did not change after fire.
Fire, however, reduced the mean number of ant species per tree, and increased the mean number of species on the
ground. Fire increased the average abundance of specialist predators, Camponotini, and opportunistic species, and
decreased that of arboreal specialists. Changes in the ground‐dwelling fauna were only detected 12 mo after the fire,
while those in the arboreal fauna occurred earlier and were no longer apparent 12 mo after the fire. We suggest that these
contrasting results represent mainly an indirect response of the ant communities to fire‐induced changes in vegetation.
Given the temporary and small scale nature of the effects detected and the overall resilience of the ant fauna, our results
indicate that a single fire in the cerrado vegetation does not greatly impact the structure of ant communities in the short
term.
Page | 18
Ant responses to variable fire regimes in the savannas of central Brazil
Maravalhas J.B.1 & Vasconcelos H.L.
1
1Institute of Biology and Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU),
Uberlândia, Brazil
[email protected] , [email protected]
Ants are a key group of insects in tropical savannas and in this study we evaluate the influence of different fire regimes on
the structure of ant assemblages in the cerrado savannas of central Brazil. We compared the number and composition of
ant species foraging on the ground and in trees among experimental treatments with three fire frequencies (unburned for
37 years and burned every 2 or 4 years for the past 16 years) and three seasonal timings (early, mid and late dry season)
of fire with a biennial frequency.
We address the following questions: (i) To what extent does variation in fire frequency or in the timing of fire cause
differences in the richness and/or composition of ant communities? (ii) Are fire-mediated differences in species richness
and composition similar for the tree- and ground-dwelling faunas? (iii) To what extent do variable fire regimes increase
habitat heterogeneity? (iv) To what extent do variable fire regimes maintain a greater number of coexisting ant species at
the study site level?
Results indicate that although fire disturbance has little influence on species richness it affects the composition of the
arboreal and ground-dwelling ant assemblages. Unlike studies in the savannas of Australia and South Africa, the
observed differences in ant species composition were not just restricted to highly contrasting fire regimes, but to relatively
fine differences in fire frequency and seasonality. Variable fire treatments promoted heterogeneity in the structure of the
vegetation and increased ant diversity at the landscape level.
Page | 19
Playing with fire: Thresholds and trade-offs in tropical West African forest seedlings across a savannah-forest
Cardoso A.W.1 , Medina J.A.
2 , Malhi Y.
1 , Adu-Bredu S.
3 , Ametsitsi G.K.D.
3 , Djagbletey G.
3 , van Langevelde F.
4 ,
Veenendaal E.2 & Oliveras I.
1,2
1Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
3Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana
4Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Forest encroachment into savanna has been well documented in several southern African savannas as well as multiple
regions in tropical Africa and is facilitated by the crossing of fire thresholds. Contrary to previous studies, no evidence of
the fire-resistance threshold was found in this system. Although herbaceous biomass decreased below a threshold
canopy openness, this decrease was associated with neither a suppression of fire nor an increase in tree seedling
survival. Evidence of the fire resistance threshold in this system was found, with seedlings above a threshold height
showing a greater survival rate through fire than shorter seedlings.
Trade-offs between competitive ability, as measured by growth, and ability to recover from fire, as measured by below-
ground starch storage capacity, were found to exist. These trade-offs were correctly hypothesised to lead to differential
species survival rates across vegetation types. Seedlings that had high root and leaf starch concentrations survived better
in savanna environments while seedlings that had greater growth traits survived better in mixed/transition and forest
environments. Bombax buonopozense had the highest number of surviving seedlings, with most of these surviving in the
savanna. This was likely as a result of its higher starch concentrations that would have aided its survival through both
drought and fire in the open canopied, fire prone savanna. It is proposed as an excellent indicator species of forest
encroachment into tropical mesic West African savannas.
Page | 20
Fire frequency, herbivore size, and habitat selectivity influence top-down control of plant communities in a southern African savanna
Burkepile D.E.1, Thompson D.I.
2,3, Fynn R.W.S.
4, Koerner S.E.
5, Eby S.L.
5, Govender N.
6, Hagenah N.
3, Lemoine N.P.
1,
Matchett K.J.3, Wilcox K.R.
5, Collins S.L.
7, Kirkman K.P.
3, Knapp A.K.
5 & Smith M.D.
5
1Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151
st St, North
Miami, FL 33181, USA 2South African Environmental Observation Network, Ndlovu Node, Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Private Bag
X1021, Phalaborwa 1390, South Africa (Primary Affiliation) 3School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa
4Okavango Research Institute, Private Bag X285, Maun, Botswana
5Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523,
USA 6Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350, South Africa
7Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
Herbivory and fire are dominant forces shaping plant abundance and diversity in African savannas. However, little is
known about how different sized herbivores (e.g. elephant vs. zebra vs. impala) impact savanna dynamics across
disparate fire regimes. Different sized herbivores may play distinctive roles depending on fire frequency due to unique
habitat selection preferences that fire frequency mediates.
In a seven year experiment in Kruger National Park, we separated the effects of large vs. small herbivores on plant
communities using two different types of exclosures spread across annually burned, triennially burned, and unburned
areas. Full exclosures excluded all herbivores >0.5 kg (e.g. elephant, zebra, impala) while partial exclosures allowed
access to animals with shoulder heights ≤0.85 m (e.g. impala, steenbok). Herbivore exclusion affected plant diversity in
unburned areas, but declines in diversity were most evident only after exclusion of small herbivores (mostly impala). In
contrast, exclusion of larger herbivores (e.g. zebra, wildebeest) drove the declines in plant diversity on annual burns, with
minimal influence from smaller herbivores.
Grazers such as wildebeest and zebra were most abundant on annual burns while impala were more diffuse but were the
most common herbivore in unburned areas. Multiple forces including attraction to forage and avoidance of predation risk
likely drove these differences in habitat selection. There is increasing focus on the role of different sized herbivores in
community dynamics, and our work emphasizes how balancing the conflicting demands of habitat selection for different
herbivore species can shape the spatially heterogeneous top-down impacts of diverse herbivore guilds.
Page | 21
Untangling herbivore and fire patterns in human-affected landscapes from a sedimentary
fossil record: a case study from KwaZulu-Natal
Dabengwa A.N., Gillson L. & Bond W.J.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
Millennial to decadal fire and herbivore patterns in tree-grass systems are affected by biophysical and anthropogenic
factors. Attributing which factor dominates in driving vegetation dynamics in the Late Holocene can be difficult due to
complex socio-ecological interactions. A sedimentary core was collected from the Blood River Vlei system 850m.a.s.l. in
Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The vegetation surrounding the vlei was hypothesised to have recently switched from grassland to savanna due to
warmer Holocene climate and human activities. Changes in herbivory, vegetation composition, nutrient status, and fire
history over time were reconstructed using dung fungal spores, stable light isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, and charcoal
abundance. There was evidence of a gradual switch from C4 to C3 photosynthetic pathway c.1300cal years BP, indicating
thickening of woody vegetation, and consistent with the hypothesis of a grassland-savanna switch.
The period 1500-1200cal years BP was characterised by low herbivore and fire activity while the subsequent 1200cal
years BP to present suggests a threshold was reached that led to increased herbivore and fire activity associated with
establishment of savanna vegetation. However, there was no significant relationship between herbivore and fire activity.
This is not surprising because it appears that fire and herbivory are determined by different environmental drivers:
whereas the periods of high fire activity coincide with climatic phenomena the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice
Age, increased herbivore activity was caused by humans. The results suggest that palaeoecological proxies can provide
reliable evidence for understanding the interactions between complex ecosystem processes in landscapes.
Page | 22
Too slow to get big: low recruitment and growth rates preclude large trees from landscapes with fire or elephants
Swemmer T.
SAEON, Phalaborwa, Kruger National Park
The tree layer in the Kruger National Park (KNP), and many other protected areas, has been undergoing two major
changes: a loss of tall trees and an increase of short trees (i.e. bush encroachment). Management actions proposed to
halt or reverse these changes are expensive and controversial, and ecological theory is not yet capable of predicting
whether any practical actions would be effective. A critical knowledge gap is the demography of the tree species involved.
To address this problem, long-term annual monitoring of dominant trees was initiated, from 2008 onwards, at 7 savanna
sites in the central Lowveld, including 3 within KNP.
Results for the first 3 to 5 years revealed low rates of recruitment and growth. Annual height increases were low across all
sites, ranging from means not statistically distinguishable from zero (Colophospermum mopane) to a maximums less than
30cm per year (Albizia harveyii). Seedling densities were generally low (<1 per ha) and mortality high, with no recruitment
into the smallest height class (30cm) for most species, with the exception of some known bush encroachment species.
Mortality was very low, even for individuals pollarded or uprooted by elephants. Annual burning at one of the sites was the
only factor that increased mortality significantly. These results indicate that large trees of semi-arid savannas require at
least a century of minimal disturbance to reach full size. It is therefore unlikely that tall trees could persist over significant
parts of the landscape in presence of even relatively low elephant densities.
Page | 23
Where have all the large trees gone? Fire, elephant and woody vegetation structure in the Kruger National Park
Thaker M.1, 3
, Vanak A.T.2, 3
, Shannon G.3, Smith A.
3 & Slotow R.
3
1Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
2Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India 3School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Large trees are key structural components of the savanna landscape, playing a major role in ecosystem function through
the provision of forage, shade, and refuge. There is however, ongoing concern about the loss of large trees, typically due
to the impacts of elephant and fire. Previously, we have shown the additive and synergistic effects of elephant and fire on
the probability of mortality of large trees in the Kruger National Park. Here, we show how repeated monitoring of individual
trees can reveal patterns about ongoing damage and decline.
From transects that were monitored over a five year period, we find that only 17% (n = 422 of 2522) of trees were spared
elephant or fire damage during the study period (2006-2011), and as expected the majority survived. On the flipside, 18%
of trees suffered mortality, mainly due to repeated elephant and fire-induced damage. We highlight how trees of some
species (e.g. Spirostachys africana) and in some landscape types (e.g. Thickets of the Sabie and Crocodile rivers) are
less prone to fire and elephant damage, whereas others are facing catastrophic decline (e.g. 40% decline in Acacia
nigrescens over 5 years). We discuss these findings in terms of possible changes in woody vegetation composition, and
the implications for fire regimes and control of elephant impacts in the Kruger National Park.
Page | 24
The root of the problem: below-ground traits of woody savanna plants along environmental and disturbance gradients
Coetsee C.1, Wigley B.J.
2, Zytkowiak R.
3 & Jagodzinski A.
3
1SANParks, Skukuza, Kruger National Park,
2SNRM, NMMU, George Campus Saasveld
3Polish Academy of Science, Institute of Dendrology, Parkowa, Poland
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected]
The variation in below-ground plant traits among species, communities and along environmental gradients is poorly
understood. This is especially true for savanna woody species (past studies have focussed on herbaceous species),
where few studies have examined below-ground traits. Savanna trees are exposed to high levels of disturbance (fire and
herbivory), while many savanna species are also deciduous.
Savanna woody plants therefore often have underground starch (TNC) reserves stored in belowground tubers or roots
and these allow for resprouting after topkill, defoliation and winter drought. On the other hand, underground starch
reserves may make roots more attractive to herbivores and they are often excavated and eaten, especially by elephant, in
the dry season. In this study we explore how TNC, root nitrogen (N) and root carbon to nitrogen ratios (C:N) vary
according to levels of soil fertility, browsing pressure and fire frequency. We will also examine if these root traits are
affected by their taxonomic relatedness (phylogeny).
Page | 25
Comparing two fire management strategies in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park: consequences for fire regimes and biodiversity
Govender N.1 Ruecker G.
2, Ribeiro N.
3 & Abacar A.
4
1South African National Parks, Scientific Services, KNP, Skukuza, South Africa
2ZEBRIS GbR, Lipowskystr. 26, 81373 Muenchen, Germany 3Campus Universitario, P.O.Box 257, Maputo,Mozambique
4Park Warden, Limpopo National Park, Masingir, Mozambique
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
African flora and fauna have evolved with fire for millennia. However, fire implementation in the GLTP can be described as
two very different strategies. The South African component (Kruger National Park - KNP) has a long history (over 60
years) of very structured and intensive fire management (FM) supported by national and international fire research and
policy implementation whilst the Mozambican counterpart (Limpopo National Park - LNP) is unstructured and has a more
hands off approach.
The effects on elements of the fire regime (fire frequency, fire intensity and size of fire) were compared for the two parks.
There after the consequences on biodiversity (vegetation and small mammals) for each of the individual parks were also
looked at. An integrative approach utilizing a combination of remote sensing and field data collection techniques was
implemented. The fire history (from 2000 onwards) for LNP and KNP was reconstructed and contrasted using MODIS
burned area products and the MODS Active Fire Product.
The consequence on biodiversity (vegetation – Adapted point center quadrant method) and small mammals (Sherman
traps) for high and low fire frequency on two soils (Granite and Basalt) for KNP and three soils (Nwanbia Sandveld,
Mopane shrubveld on calcrete and the Lebombo north soils) for LNP was determined. Potential use of the findings to
different management strategies in the parks and the consequences on biodiversity are discussed.
Page | 26
From seed to established seedling: Effects of granivory, fire and herbivory on seedling recruitment and survival of Acacia nigrescens, Combretum imberbe and Sclerocyara birrea in
the Kruger National Park
Mabuza S.1, Midgley J.
2 & Kruger L.
3
1Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
3Organisation for Tropical Studies, Skukuza, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
There has been a considerable amount of research on the adult phase of savanna trees in general, more specifically in
the Kruger Park. For Instance studies on gradual loss of large trees, elephant impacts, elephant and fire impacts as well
as fire impacts. However, there have been relatively few studies on recruitment ecology.
An understanding of recruitment ecology is important because i) models of savannah dynamics are poorly parameterised
for seedlings and ii) impacts of on-going changes in herbivory and fire regime in KNP (elephants up, smaller herbivores
down) on plant demographics are not well understood. Due to the importance of this, this study aims to improve our
current understanding of the bottlenecks occurring at the recruitment phase of three important savanna tree taxa in KNP.
Objectives of the study are to i) determine the fate of seeds through granivory and dispersal ii) determine the importance
of fire and burial on seed germination and iii) determine the importance of herbivory and fire on seedling establishment.
Seeds were put out in the EPB‘s to test out the effects of burial and fire on germination rates, and later germinated in the
nursery. Preliminary results of the fire and burial experiment will be presented and progress discussed. This study will add
the knowledge on seed recruitment ecology in African savanna systems.
Page | 27
On how the suppression of fire has reduced the effective rainfall in the Brazilian Savanna
Honda E.A.1,2
& Durigan G.1
1Laboratory of Hydrology and Forest Ecology, Assis State Forest, Forestry Institute of São Paulo State, Brazil
2Center of Water Resources and Applied Ecology, School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
[email protected], [email protected]
Within the hydrological cycle, a proportion of rainfall is retained by the vegetation before reaching the ground, a process
named rain interception. This arrested water does not participate in the plant and soil water relationships nor contribute to
the water production in a watershed. The rain interception by a particular plant community over a year depends on the
rainfall regime and plant biomass, ranging from 4% in shrub lands up to 39% in temperate coniferous forests. When fire is
suppressed from savanna ecosystems, there is a worldwide tendency of increasing canopy cover and biomass, thus
decreasing the effective rainfall reaching the ground. In a 1312 ha area protecting the Brazilian savanna, a remarkable
change due to fire suppression was recorded over a 44 years period, with most of open savannas turning into forest
vegetation.
Monitoring the rain interception over a year across the biomass gradient in this site, we found the effective rainfall
decreasing from 95% of gross rainfall in the typical savanna (7m2 ha
-1) to 75% in the forest type (27 m
2ha
-1). Annual
rainfall locally recorded is 1440 mm and potential evapotranspiration is 1200 mm. Modelling water production on the basis
of biomass under this climate, we predicted the effective rainfall matching the evapotranspiration when basal area
reaches 25 m2/ha. If vegetation changes progresses in the whole watershed, we expect some springs just disappearing
unless fire is reestablished as a management tool. The impact of fire suppression on water production can have been
neglected in the whole savanna biome.
Page | 28
The role of humans in the complex fire, climate and vegetation regimes of North-east Namibia
Humphrey G.J. & Gillson L
Plant Conservation Unit (PCU), University of Cape Town (UCT)
[email protected], [email protected]
Humans are an integral part of southern Africa‘s fire regimes. Contemporary fire literature describes rural communities as
the primary cause of wildland fires. The occurrence of such fires, however, whether caused naturally or by human
intervention, is also influenced by ecological conditions such as vegetation type and status and climatic trends. This
research aims to explore the human-ecological-fire regime interface, past and present, to understand the complex social-
ecological determinants of fire regimes in north-east Namibia.
Preceding 1990, this area was subjected to three decades of war, inter - ethnic conflict, deforestation, and resultant
pressures over diminishing natural resources. In 1888, a policy of fire suppression was instated, and in 2006, early
burning management strategies were implemented in the region. The successes of these policies are largely
undocumented.
The objective of this study is to relate fire events to land use, vegetation change, and climatic variation over the past
century. The study will use ground survey methods, historical aerial photography, MODIS products and palaeoecological
techniques. Social methods include interviews with communities‘ residing in Bwabwata National Park (BNP) and
Namibian stakeholders.
We discuss preliminary results of interviews that took place in three communities in BNP in Kavango East concerning
traditional use of fire and current burning patterns, and perceptions of stakeholders of the prevailing fire regime in the
Zambezi Region. Results are of interest to conservation managers concerned with the complexity of combining human,
climatic and ecological fire regime characteristics into an adaptive fire management framework within savanna-woodland
biomes in southern Africa.
Page | 29
Reconciling determinants of bi-stability in the Kruger Savanna ecosystem
Hedin L.O.
Princeton University, USA
One of the greatest challenges to our understanding and management of savanna ecosystems is resolving the factors,
and the interaction of factors, that determine the bi-stability of the savanna-forest landscape. Based on recent and
historical findings from Kruger National Park, I will here review three different perspectives of key interactions – each of
which is capable of generating feedbacks that can govern the relative abundance, distribution, and dynamics of grass vs.
trees across the Kruger landscape.
First, I will consider the idea that trees and tree-fire dynamics are central for causing the patterns and dynamics of
vegetation across soil and rainfall gradients. This discussion will center on patterns and dynamics across the Kruger
landscape, but will also consider what is known about this key interaction from other African savannas, with particular
attention to findings from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi.
Second, I will examine the growing evidence of influence of megaherbivores in general and elephants in particular, as a
mechanism that contributes not only to the emergent vegetation dynamics, but also to the conditions for bi-stability. I will
raise questions about the conditions under which such herbivore effects may disproportionately influence the grass vs.
trees in the Kruger savanna, and as a function of soil resources.
Third, I will consider the role of the grass-fire feedback, and the growing evidence that grass interacts with soil resources
to disproportionately influence the structure and dynamics of vegetation. In all three cases I will ask whether, and how,
the key dynamical interaction is influenced by resource gradients in soil nutrients, in geological parent materials, and in
rainfall. To the degree possible, I will seek to highlight the potential for species and community-level effects, either as
drivers or as consequences of these three potential key feedbacks.
My goal is not to solve these thorny issues, but rather to raise critical issues and to identify unresolved questions within
the context of what we know about the Kruger savanna ecosystem and – ultimately – to seek understanding of how the
Kruger savanna works at a high level of synthesis and integration.
Page | 30
Characterising African herbivory regimes: a continent-wide assessment of herbivore biomass and functional guilds
Hempson G.P.1, 2
, Archibald S.2 & Bond W.J.
1, 3
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
2School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
3SAEON, Fynbos Node, Kirstenbosch, Claremont, South Africa
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected]
Herbivore impacts on ecosystem dynamics are increasingly under focus, yet unlike fire patterns which can easily be
assessed using remote sensing, the fundamental large scale patterns of the form and intensity of herbivory pressure
remain to be assessed. This places notable limits to our understanding of how herbivores might have shaped the
evolution and hence ecology of different systems. Africa, with its relatively intact large mammal fauna, provides an
opportunity to bridge this knowledge gap. To this end we have compiled an extensive database of herbivore census data
from across Africa, and modelled herbivore densities at either vegetation type, regional or continental scales.
These species-level density estimates were combined with information on herbivore species distributions, habitat
preferences and body mass, which, in conjunction with vegetation type and environmental data, enabled us to produce a
continental scale biomass surface layer estimate for 92 herbivore species. Herbivore functional trait data were then used
to delimit and assign species to a set of herbivore functional types. Finally, we analysed distributional patterns of
herbivore functional type biomass to identify a set of African herbivory regimes. Here we present these herbivory regimes,
examine the environmental envelopes they occupy, and assess how they relate to fire regimes and human impact at a
continental-scale. This work enables an assessment of how top-down drivers interact at large-scales, provides
suggestions for how dynamic global vegetation models could be populated with herbivores, and provides a new lens
through which to assess conservation priorities.
Page | 31
A continental perspective on deminishing giants: elephants and hardwoods
Henley M. 1, 2
& Scott P.A.3
1Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of South
Africa, Private Bag X5, Florida 1710, South Africa.
2Elephants Alive, P.O. Box 960, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa.
3Incomati Conservação Lda, Rua Hanhane, N◦ 658, Hanhane, Matola, Moçambique.
[email protected], [email protected]
Elephants can be described as ecosystem engineers, key-stone species, natural fertilizers, path finders or makers, seed
dispersers and umbrella species to the ecosystems they occupy but are also considered money spinners to humans.
Long-lived hardwoods provide shelter, food and nesting sites to many species. They prevent soil erosion, can lessen the
effects of flash floods, function as nutrient pumps and play an important role in buffering climatic imbalances both globally
and at micro-climate level. The industrialised scale at which both elephants and trees are being removed across Africa far
outweighs the natural interaction between them and calls for global action by policy makers to prevent further loss.
Poaching, habitat loss and human-elephant-conflict are considered the major threats to elephants with poaching having
reached unsustainable levels. The loss of suitable habitat and primary producers such as old growth hardwood plant
species due to charcoal production exacerbates the potential threats involved. The charcoal trade represents one of the
largest domestic industries in some African states and promotes deforestation. We examine the rate of decline in both
elephants and hardwoods in neighbouring Mozambique and discuss some of the far reaching implications involved in the
loss of these ecological giants.
.
Page | 32
The relationship between elephant density and impact on vegetation
Page B.R.1 &
O’Connor T.G.
2, 3
1School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban, South Africa
2SAEON, P.O. Box 2600, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
3School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected]
Elephant populations are currently managed by confining them to fenced reserves and manipulating numbers by culling
and contraception. The assumption underpinning these management actions is that as elephant numbers increase, so the
impact on vegetation increases. It is also assumed that if numbers can be kept low enough significant changes in
vegetation physiognomy will be prevented and elephant induced plant mortality will be kept below the recruitment rate so
that species loss will be prevented. Whilst this assumption is intuitively beguiling, it's validity in terms of the forging
ecology of elephants and the demographics and survival responses of the plants involved, has never been seriously
evaluated.
Precisely what the threshold of elephant numbers is for which change would be prevented in any particular locality is not
known. We examine data on impact under different elephant densities from several sources to determine what the
relationship between elephant density and impact is. Whilst the data are equivocal it appears that impact increases as a
hyperbolic function with increasing elephant density, indicating that even at very low elephant densities high impact can
be expected. We use what is known about elephant foraging ecology to explain the shape of the curve, and examine the
consequences in terms of impacts on biodiversity. We conclude by making recommendations about conserving
biodiversity impacted by elephants.
Page | 33
Contrasting morphological responses of two Acacia species to exclusion of large herbivores reflect differences in growth strategies
Scogings P.F.1, Hjältén J.
2, Engdahl F.
2, Johansson T.
2 & Rooke T.
3
1Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, South Africa ([email protected])
2Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
3Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden
Increased spinescence and shoot growth have been widely observed among browsed plants of various Acacia species.
We hypothesised that exclusion of large herbivores would lead to fewer/smaller spines and smaller shoots/leaves
compared to non-exclusion. We tested our predictions by sampling Acacia grandicornuta and A. exuvialis saplings (<1.6
m) in the Nkuhlu Large-scale Long-term Exclusion Experiment, which was established in 2002 on the premise that
excluding large herbivores would allow their effects to be determined.
Although the intensity of browsing was the same for the sampled plants of each species when exposed to herbivory, A.
grandicornuta did not respond morphologically to herbivore exclusion, while A. exuvialis responded according to our
predictions. We interpret our observations as legacy effects of herbivory that differ between species. Our results suggest
that A. exuvialis saplings respond to relaxation of browsing more rapidly than A. grandicornuta, i.e., the legacy of
herbivory persists longer in A. grandicornuta than in A. exuvialis. We propose that the long-lasting legacy of herbivory is
seen in A. grandicornuta because its apical dominance over lateral growth is low, which is an indication of slow growth
rate and hence slow response times.
Page | 34
Long-term exclosure research: what are we excluding?
Botha J.M.1, Siebert F.
2 ,Scogings P.
3, Swemmer T.
4, Riddell E.
5,Lorentz S.
6 & Manganyi A.
1
1Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza
2Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University
3Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand
4SAEON Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa
5Conservation Management, SANParks, Skukuza
6Centre for Water Resources Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg
[email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] ,
[email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]
The monitoring programme at the long-term herbivore exclosures along the Sabie and Letaba rivers respectively has
been running for 12 years. Most of the on-going research at these sites is devoted to vegetation responses to herbivore
exclusion, specifically aimed at quantifying elephant impacts on vegetation structure and diversity. In addition, a factorial
fire treatment (burnt versus not burnt) provides an opportunity to investigate any interactive effects of fire. To date, woody
and herbaceous vegetation (i.e. diversity and structure) have been monitored on six sampling occasions at the two sites.
Results produced thus far include the effects of herbivores, with or without elephant, on woody plant structure, density,
diversity, regeneration and defence responses. Herbaceous vegetation patterns are receiving increasing attention,
including diversity across herbivore treatments in both exclosure sites, and annual sampling of peak standing biomass at
the drier Letaba site, and browsing intensities of forb species across a catenal sequence. Automated weather stations
have been in operation at both sites since 2002 together with soil moisture sensors which record matric potential at 12
minute intervals, at each representative catena element.
A full soil hydraulic characterisation and hydro-pedological classification of the hillslopes at both sites has been
completed, along with sapflow characterisation of water use of selected tree species. At one of the sites, camera traps
provide an indication of elephant visitation and seasonal movements over the past two years. A number of
interdisciplinary research projects have taken place and these will be briefly summarised. Future projects will include
detailed plant functional trait analyses and linking vegetation patterns to hydrological sequences and animal movement.
Detailed species lists and vegetation maps have been compiled for both sites, and the tree layer was mapped with air-
borne LiDAR in 2008 and again in 2010. Since 2002 data on approximately 140 000 plant individuals have been
accumulated. More ideas on how research in these exclosures could assist management will be discussed, as will
challenges with maintaining monitoring and elephant-proof exclosures.
Page | 35
Herbivore effects on woody species diversity and structure
Siebert F.1 & Botha J.M.
2
1Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University
2Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza
[email protected], [email protected]
A critical component of current savanna research is the effects of large herbivores, especially elephant on the diversity
and structure of woody vegetation. Several studies have held elephants responsible for large-scale changes in savanna
vegetation structure and diversity. Long-term vegetation monitoring at two exclosure experimental sites along the Sabie
and Letaba rivers in the Kruger National Park is aimed at ultimately devising science-based management policies. The
experimental sites include two exclosure types (one excluding all large herbivores and the other designed to exclude
elephant) and a control area.
Baseline vegetation surveys were conducted at both sites in 2001/2002 prior to herbivore exclusion. Although monitoring
was repeated 5 years after exclusion, results revealed minor changes for the Nkuhlu (Sabie River) site. Vegetation
surveys were conducted again in 2012 and 2013/2014 for the Letaba and the Nkuhlu sites respectively, which revealed
some significant effects of herbivore exclusion on woody species diversity and structure. Despite minor changes in
species composition, the exclusion of herbivores, with or without elephant positively affected woody species richness and
diversity.
However, species richness of woody recruits seemed to be stimulated by herbivores at the Letaba site. There has been
densification across all treatments (including the control site), although the effect was enhanced by the presence of all
herbivores (with or without elephant), especially in the lower height classes. The number of larger trees (>5m) declined in
the presence of all herbivores, including elephant. Results from the more heterogeneous Nkuhlu site will also be
presented.
Page | 36
POSTER
Woody regeneration in response to herbivory
Combrink A.1, Siebert F.
1 & Botha J.M.
2
1Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University
2Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza
[email protected] , [email protected]
In savanna protected areas wild herbivores depend on woody resources, either directly for forage, or indirectly for shelter.
Several studies have reported on how large mammalian herbivores shape savanna vegetation structure and diversity,
although little is known about woody regeneration in areas exposed to, and withdrawn from herbivory. For this baseline
study, all woody individuals <1m were identified, counted and assigned to a specific nursing type in 47 200m2 plots across
different herbivore treatments (i.e. (1) fully fenced, (2) partially fenced to exclude elephant, and (3) a control site) at the
Nkuhlu exclosures study site.
Species were classified as either a woody encroacher or a non-encroacher species to compare responses between these
ecologically distinct woody functional groups. We compared species composition of established woody individuals with
recruits, which revealed no significant differences, even across herbivory treatments. At a local scale, catenal sequence
remained the dominant driver of plant species composition. As expected, encroacher and non-encroacher species
responded differently to herbivory.
Significantly more recruits of non-encroacher species were recorded in the no-herbivore treatment, inferring that
regeneration of non-encroacher species benefitted from herbivore exclusion. In contrast, recruits of encroacher species
were more abundant in areas exposed to herbivores, although results suggest that elephant may suppress recruitment of
encroacher species. Recruits of the most common encroacher species at the site, Dichrostachys cinerea, revealed no
association with nursing, although Pappea capensis, a non-encroacher, palatable woody species, revealed some
significant nursing associations. Increased biomass in the herbivore exclosure seemed to suppress D. cinerea
regeneration, but supported regeneration of P. capensis.
Page | 37
Ant responses to grazing in tropical savannas of northern Australia
Andersen A.N.1, 2
, Arcoverde G.1, 2
& Setterfield S.2
1CSIRO Land & Water Flagship, Darwin, Australia
2Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
[email protected], [email protected] , [email protected]
Grazing by native and/or introduced mammalian herbivores is a ubiquitous disturbance in tropical savannas and at high
intensity can have a major impact on ecosystem structure and function. In our presentation we will describe responses of
ant communities to grazing by cattle in Australian savannas.
Ants have been widely used as bio-indicators of the ecological impacts of grazing, and a recent review identified four
global patterns of ant response: (i) Soil and vegetation type have a far bigger impact on ant community composition than
does grazing; (ii) Grazing modifies species composition but often not total ant richness and abundance; (iii) A species‘
response often varies between habitats; and (iv) Between 25-50% of the species that can be statistically analysed are
affected by grazing.
We test the extent to which these response patterns hold in Australian savannas by describing impacts of grazing on ant
communities using cross-fence comparisons of areas of different grazing intensities at Lakefield Station (located 460 km
south of Darwin and experiencing 1000 mm mean annual rainfall), and using distance from water as a surrogate of
grazing intensity at Henbury Station near Alice Springs (200 mm mean annual rainfall). We will also test the hypothesis
that grazing has a greater impact in areas of higher rainfall, because it has a more pronounced effect on the structure of
the grass layer.
Page | 38
The Effects of Mammalian Herbivory and Rainfall on Acacia Palatability, Defence and Growth
Wigley B., Bond W.,
Fritz H. & Coetsee C.
School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, George campus, South Africa
Five sets of herbivore exclosures situated in mesic and semi-arid savannas in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa were
used to investigate the effects of mammal browsers and savanna type on plant traits relating to palatability, defence and
growth in seven Acacia species. Mostly, browsing did not significantly affect leaf palatability but for a few species (i.e.
increasing foliar N and P, decreasing C/N and total polyphenols). Browser effects on structural defences tended to be
more pronounced than for palatability and chemical defences, particularly for semi-arid species, resulting in longer, thicker
and denser spines and a lower bite size index on browsed plants for most semi-arid species. Browsing had no significant
effect on growth rates for all species.
Secondly, we investigated the effect of savanna type (mesic vs. semi-arid) on the same set of plant traits and growth
rates. A trade-off in defence strategy was evident where mesic species had less palatable leaves and invested more
heavily in growth and chemical defences, while semi-arid species generally had more palatable leaves and invested more
in structural defences and higher levels of ramification. These findings suggest that the previously documented trade-off in
plant growth, resprouting ability and architecture between herbivore vs. fire adapted savanna woody species can be
extended to include browse palatability and defence type.
Page | 39
Creating grazing lawns in degraded sourveld
PretoriusY.
Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria
Thatch grass encroachment is typically found in areas where soils have been disturbed such as on old planted crop fields.
The high fibre content and poor nutrient quality of thatch grass renders it of little value to large herbivores. Especially in
the northern parts of South Africa, thousands of hectares of recently established wildlife reserves now face the challenge
of having to rehabilitate these degraded areas to enable maintenance of fenced-in herbivores. The importance of nutrient
hotspots for herbivores in natural environments have been well described and these frequently utilized areas often lead to
the formation of grazing lawns.
However, grazing lawns have also been shown to exist on old ―kraal‖ sites where cattle were kept in the past. Because of
the net deposition of nutrients in the past, the grass in these areas are high in nutrients and therefore, currently serve as
important grazing sites for wild herbivores. Using the same principle that lead to the formation of these ―artificial‖ grazing
lawns we developed an experiment where buffalo were used to concentrate in areas encroached with thatch grass. Our
preliminary results show a dramatic decrease in thatch grass cover.
Page | 40
POSTER
Linking animal personality and social rank with immunity and exposure to pathogens and parasites: buffalo behavioural disease ecology
Forssman K.
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute University of Pretoria, South Africa
Individual differences in personality in the animal kingdom are a widely recorded occurrence, but have, historically, been
considered unimportant, non-adaptive expressions. This phenomenon has not been properly considered by researchers,
instead adaptive average behaviour that occurs throughout a population has been the focus. Recent work suggests that
individual differences in personality play an important ecological and evolutionary role with implications for aspects such
as population persistence, demography, adaptive potential, community dynamics and disease transmission, immunity and
risk of infection.
To better understand disease outbreaks, and how to control them, it is vital to recognise the role that personalities play in
disease ecology and the impact that they have on infectious disease prevalence and transmission through a population.
The social structure and disease profiles of buffalo herds in Kruger National Park (KNP) make them an ideal subject to
assess these relationships.
Buffaloes in KNP are known to host a diverse array of parasites and pathogens and a study of a number of key examples
would provide the opportunity to i) determine whether personality and behavioural profile is linked to an individual‘s
exposure to that pathogen or parasite and ii) establish a detailed and empirical assessment of their social network
structure (and possible link to personality and rank). This study will assess aspects influenced by individual variation in
personality such as social interactions, contact with conspecifics and ability to learn, and its likelihood to be linked to an
individual‘s exposure and susceptibility to certain pathogens.
Page | 41
Structural changes and diversity losses in Neotropical savannas due to invasive grasses
Assis G.B.1 , Durigan G.
2
1Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens Research Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2Forestry Institute of São Paulo State, Assis State Forest, São Paulo, Brazil
[email protected],[email protected]
Plant invasion is one of the most serious threats to biodiversity conservation in the Brazilian savanna, the African grass
Urochloa decumbens standing out by the huge areas invaded over the last four decades. The invasion process usually
advances from fragment edges, but can also start from small isolated patches randomly distributed within the natural
ecosystem.
We assessed the impact of invasion – changes in structure and species losses – in twenty of these patches, distributed in
five sites of cerrado grassland in southeastern Brazil. In each patch and in paired patches of non-invaded vegetation, we
sampled four 1 m2 plots, totaling 80 m2 sampled for each community type. In each plot we identified and counted all
individuals of trees, shrubs, sub-shrubs and forbs, and estimated the ground cover by native and exotic grasses. Density,
richness and coverage of native plants were considered as response variables to the invasion process, losses being
quantified by the difference between invaded and non-invaded plots.
The two communities differ remarkably in species richness and plant density, except for trees and shrubs. Forbs suffered
the highest impact (51% less richness and 52% less density), followed by sub-shrubs (38.5% and 58% less, respectively)
and native grasses (38% less richness and 72% less cover). The relatively recent invasion of cerrado grasslands by U.
decumbens has caused remarkable changes in the community structure and diversity losses, particularly for small plants
of the ground layer, which will hardly survive the invasion by exotic grasses in the long term.
Page | 42
Riparian plant community change and alien plant invasions in the Sabie River, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Sibiya T.E.1, Esler K.J.
2 & Foxcroft L.C.
1
1South African National Parks, Scientific Services, Skukuza
2Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Rivers are known hotspots of invasion for alien plants. They are rich in limited resources such as water and nutrients.
Additionally, they experience a varied degree of disturbance to create open patches within riparian zones, thus making
them vulnerable to invasion. However, not every patch is favourable for invasion; that is substrates differ in their ability to
retain water and nutrients.
The geomorphology of the Sabie River is influenced by its underlying bedrock structure, which determines the physical
habitat and consequently available habitat for plants to establish. The deterministic role of the geomorphology has been
established with indigenous plant species, however the controlling effects of geomorphology on the establishment of
invasive alien plants is less well understood. This study aims to examine the distribution of invasive alien plants within two
deterministic geomorphological hierarchies (geomorphic unit and channel) over time.
The concept is based on the premise that these patch hierarchies differ in channel metamorphosis and thus they should
vary in the degree of invasibility. The main objectives are to:
1. Characterise the change in geomorphology of the channel reach (400m width) in each channel type and
geomorphic unit, between 2004 and 2014.
2. Explore the relationship (species presence and increased species richness) between invasive alien species
and the two geomorphological hierarchies (channel type and geomorphic units) over time (2004 and 2014).
Page | 43
Have African elephants evolved physiological mechanisms to deal with plant secondary compounds? - Large body size and tannin-binding proteins in a non-ruminant
Schmitt M.H., Ward D. & Shrader A.M.
School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Two important factors drive the foraging decisions of mammalian herbivores: body size and digestive physiology. The Jarman-Bell principle suggests that larger animals have lower mass-specific metabolic requirements than smaller animals, but that they have larger overall nutrient requirements. Ultimately, this means that larger animals like elephants (Loxodonta africana) can ingest lower-quality food and still meet their metabolic requirements. An added benefit for elephants is that they are hindgut fermenters. This allows them to ingest greater amounts of low quality high-fibre food compared to ruminants, as fibre does not limit passage rate and thus daily intake. However, one unexplored factor that may also affect the foraging of these large herbivores is plant secondary metabolites. Recent studies have reported that elephants tend to avoid items high in these metabolites. Ultimately, this suggests that plant secondary metabolites may lower food quality to such a level to where even megaherbivores (>1000 kg) are affected. If true, then elephants may have evolved physiological adaptations to help them tolerate these low-quality foods, and thus allow them to exploit a wider range of plant species. In line with this prediction, we found that elephants have salivary tannin-binding proteins that reduce the amount of tannins ingested by ~75%. These results indicate that despite the advantages of being large, elephants are greatly affected by plant secondary metabolites. Moreover, the extent of this effect is such that elephants are forced to employ both behavioural (i.e. avoidance) and physiological (tannin-binding proteins) mechanisms to obtain a sufficient nutritional intake.
Page | 44
Incorporating secondary metabolites, tannin-binding proteins, and diet breadth into carrying capacity
models for a large, mixed feeder
Schmitt M.H.1, Ward D.
1 & Shrader A.M.
1
1School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Elephant populations have been historically difficult to manage and have sometimes been subjected to drastic
management procedures. One way to monitor elephant populations to estimate a sustainable carrying capacity is through
the use of standing-crop carrying-capacity models. Previous carrying-capacity models designed for grazers have posed
issues when applied to browsers such as elephants, predicting much higher carrying-capacity estimates than are realized
in nature. This is most likely attributed to the level of total polyphenols, which limit the available nitrogen in browse
material that browsers and mixed feeders encounter while foraging.
Elephants have a physiological mechanism to tolerate a portion of encountered tannins in the form of salivary tannin-
binding proteins. As a result, we aimed to construct an optimal-foraging model for carrying capacity that incorporates the
negative effects of plant secondary metabolites and the neutralization of these chemicals by the tannin-binding affinity of
elephant saliva. In addition, our model includes diet breadth and dietary contribution of browsed species, browse quality,
and the available standing crop of browsed species.
Ultimately, our model produced more plausible estimates of elephant carrying capacity when compared with the estimates
calculated using a standing-crop model. Moreover, as the key variables needed for the model can be obtained easily, our
model is not limited to elephants, but rather can be applied to a wide range of browsing herbivores.
Page | 45
Do the „little‟ things run the world? Exploring the functional importance of ants in a South African savanna
Parr C.L1. , Evans T.
2, Davies A.B.
3 & Eggleton P.
4
1School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GP, UK
2National University of Singapore, Singapore
3Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, USA
4Natural History Museum, London, UK
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Given the rapid rate of global biodiversity loss caused by habitat change and degradation, it is essential to understand the
implications of species declines and local extinctions for ecosystem processes. While biodiversity as a whole is
considered integral to many ecosystem processes and services, surprisingly, there has been very limited quantification of
the contribution different taxa make to ecosystem services and functioning in natural systems at large-scales. In tropical
and sub-tropical systems, ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are the dominant terrestrial invertebrate group, making up
around 75% of all individuals in tropical forests and up to 50% in more arid areas. Their functional value was highlighted
by E.O. Wilson (1987) who famously declared invertebrates are the ―little things that run the world‖.
However, while it is generally accepted that ants fulfil important functions, few studies have tested these assumptions and
demonstrated what happens in their absence. Here I report on a novel large-scale field experiment in undisturbed
savanna habitat where we explored how ants influence the abundance of other invertebrate taxa in the system, and affect
the processes of decomposition and herbivory. Our preliminary experiment demonstrated ants suppressed the abundance
and activity of beetles and termites, and also influenced decomposition rates and levels of herbivory. Further studies are
needed to elucidate the effects ant communities have on other aspects of the ecosystem (e.g. soils, nutrient cycling, the
microbial community) and how their relative importance for ecosystem function varies among ecosystem types (e.g.
savanna vs. forest).
Page | 46
Investigating the effects of Imbrasia belina on soil fertility in the Mopane Bushveld of Venetia Limpopo Reserve, South Africa
De Swardt D.B.
1, Coetsee C.
1, 2 & O’Connor T.
3
1Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University, George Campus
2South African National Parks
3South African Environmental Observer Network
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Mopane worms have long been a valuable natural resource for rural communities in Mopane Veld areas. The use of this
natural resource has come under pressure in recent times due to population growth and ready markets. The Mopane tree
is also harvested for wood as the demand for affordable energy is growing. Declining mopane worm populations have
been reported, highlighting the need of protected areas for source populations and strategic planning for future harvesting
of the worm and wood resources. Little is known about the ecological role of mopane worms in Mopane Veld but
incidental evidence suggests mopane worms may play an important role in nutrient cycling.
This research aimed to investigate the role of mopane worms in nutrient dynamics. To test whether mopane worms affect
soil fertility; soil, frass and leaf samples were collected on Venetia Limpopo Reserve and rates of decomposition were
measured. Samples were analysed for carbon and macronutrients. Other data collected was worm density, canopy
volume and frass production. Results indicate that mopane worms increase soil macronutrients directly beneath the
canopy of trees in which worms occur. The large volumes of frass dropped by mopane worms decompose quicker than
conventional leaf litter. We suggest that mopane worms play an important role in nutrient cycling in mopane veld and as
such makes up an important component of functioning mopane dominated ecosystems.
Page | 47
POSTER
Continental patterns of termite diversity in southern Africa
Lind B.M.1, Hanan N.P.
1 & Uys V.M.2
1Geographic Information Center of Excellence, South Dakota State University
2Biosystematics Division, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Although termites have far-reaching effects in arid systems, the factors that regulate their distribution and diversity at
broad scales remain unclear. We generated multiple species distribution models (SDMs) to explore the spatial distribution
and functional composition of termite assemblages within southern Africa, south of 15° latitude.
The database used originates from extensive termite surveys conducted by Dr. W.G.H Coaton during the National Survey
of Isoptera and provides presence-absence information for more than 50 termite genera in 57% of quarter degree squares
of South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The resulting analysis compares termite diversity along productivity gradients, across various biomes, in prominent
conservation areas, and provides insights on the physical and climatic drivers of termite diversity in southern Africa.
Page | 48
The elephant-termite feedback loop: truth or myth?
Lagendijk G.1, Davies A.
2; Eggleton P.
3 & Slotow R.
1
1Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
2Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, USA
3Natural History Museum, London, UK
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
A positive feedback loop between termites and elephants, both ecosystem engineers, has been postulated in the
literature. Termites contribute to nutrient cycling, enriching the soil and concentrating nutrients, creating nutrient hotspots
with increased foraging quality. Elephants may select these high quality vegetation patches and supply woody debris
through their wasteful feeding habits, while also providing dung for termites. Although elephants are known to select for
these more nutrient-rich patches, it is not known if and how elephant presence or absence affects termites, and thus there
is little empirical evidence for a feedback loop.
We tested this hypothesis using the Sand Forest long-term herbivore exclusion experiment in Phinda Private Game
Reserve. Cellulose baits were used to sample termites inside and outside the elephant exclosure. Termite activity
(frequency and intensity of attack of baits) was recorded as well as termites sampled for species composition. Termite
activity tended to be higher where elephants were present, however, this was not significant. Species compositions of
either wood or soil feeding termites were also not affected by elephant presence. Except for one genus (represented by
only one specimen) all genera were encountered in both treatments.
The postulated positive feedback loop between termites and elephants does not hold, at least not in Sand Forest.
However these findings do not dispute that areas with high termite activity influence herbivore foraging, but only that
elephant foraging does not affect termite activity, suggesting that elephant impacts have little consequence on termites
and the fundamental roles they play in ecosystems.
Page | 49
Negative feedback on plant available nitrogen may restrict the advance of trees in C4 Savannas
February E.C.2, Higgins S.I.
1 & Keretetse M.
2
1Department of Botany, University of Otago PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701,
South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Several lines of research suggest that tree biomass in savanna is increasing regardless of the conservation status of the
area. The suggestion is that this increase is primarily related to increases in anthropogenic CO2. Here we examine the
hypothesis that progressive nitrogen limitation could potentially retard this invasion. We analysed controls on nitrogen
mineralisation rates by manipulating rainfall and the cover of grass and tree elements against the backdrop of the
seasonal temperature and rainfall variation.
We found that the seasonal pattern of nitrogen mineralisation was strongly influenced by rainfall, and that manipulative
increases in rainfall could boost mineralisation rates. Additionally, mineralisation rates were considerably higher on plots
with grasses and lower on plots with trees. Our findings suggest that shifting a savanna from a grass to a tree dominated
state can substantially reduce nitrogen mineralisation rates, resulting in a reduction in plant available nitrogen thereby
potentially creating a negative feedback on the CO2-induced invasion of savannas by trees.
Page | 50
Species diversity-productivity relationship in the herbaceous
layer of a nutrient hot spot site
van Coller H.1 & Siebert F.
1.
1Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University
[email protected], [email protected]
The relationship between species diversity and productivity in heterogeneous herbaceous plant communities have been
described as unimodal, or a ‗hump-back‘ form. The hump-back model predicts highest species richness at intermediate
levels of biomass, and low species numbers in least and most productive habitats. Sodic patches of semi-arid savannas
are considered ‗nutrient hotspots‘ by producing high quality forage, often appearing disturbed due to overgrazing. The
impact of biomass reduction (due to overgrazing) and biomass accumulation (in the absence of herbivores) on
herbaceous species richness and diversity is still unknown for these nutrient hotspots.
We tested the relationship between biomass and herbaceous species richness/diversity in savanna sodic sites across
varying biomass levels obtained through different herbivore exclosures. Lowess–and quadratic regression analyses
revealed a unimodal species richness/diversity-biomass relationship for biomass <2500 kg/ha. Species richness and
diversity in the sodic zone peaked at 1300 kg/ha, followed by a steady decline. At biomass levels exceeding 2500 kg/ha,
i.e. where herbivores have been excluded for 10 years, the decline in species richness and diversity stabilized.
Despite many debates surrounding unimodal relationships and the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, this study
however confirmed a peak in species richness and diversity at intermediate biomass levels in an ecosystem adapted to
herbivory. Herbivores drive ecosystem heterogeneity and enhance herbaceous species richness and diversity by keeping
biomass at intermediate levels (i.e. <2500 kg/ha for this particular sodic site).
Page | 51
Consumer-driven nutrient cycling determines plant nutrient limitations in African savannas
Veldhuis M.P., Hulshof A., Berg M.P. & Han O.
Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
Nutrients are an important resource for plants and plant growth is frequently limited by a lack of nutrients in both aquatic
and terrestrial ecosystems. Historically, research on plant nutrient limitations has focused on external factors like geology,
substrate age and differences in external inputs and how plants cope with these nutrient limitations. However, the
emerging field of ecological stoichiometry has shifted the focus towards biotic factors determining plant nutrient limitations,
i.e. consumer-driven nutrient recycling.
Besides the difference in stoichiometry between plant and consumer that determine the rate and ratio of limiting nutrients
recycled, nutrient cycles also differ in their pathways of recycling, with open cycles being more susceptible to nutrient loss,
especially nitrogen. Therefore, the question arises to what extend plant nutrient limitation is determined by internal
(nutrient cycling) and external factors (parent material, rainfall).
Here, we show that in savanna ecosystems the internal factors determine nutrient limitation of plants. Furthermore we
show that plants that are part of an open cycle (lawn-herbivore, bunch-fire) are more nitrogen limited while closed cycles
(woody species-detrivores) are co- or phosphorus limited. We suggest that the constant loss of nitrogen trough ammonia
volatilization (herbivores) or N2 emission (fire) prevents buildup of nitrogen into the system, resulting in a nitrogen limited
vegetation. These results help to understand the patterns of nutrient limitations found worldwide that are currently
debated.
Page | 52
Nutrient and water addition in a Kruger savanna: cascading effects on insect diversity
Trisos M., Picker M., Parr C.L. & February E.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Nutrient deposition, mainly in the form of nitrogen (a key nutrient for plants), and climate change are two of the major
current and future anthropogenically mediated influences on biodiversity at both local and global scales. Nitrogen addition
is known to lead to biodiversity loss in plant communities, but the extent of this effect in tropical and subtropical African
ecosystems is poorly known. Likewise, climate niche models applied to species on a single trophic level predict that
climate change, in part through changes in rainfall, will lead to losses in biodiversity in many biomes.
However, studies of the extent to which changes in biodiversity—species abundances and composition—at lower trophic
levels (e.g. plant primary producers) affect community structure and species richness at higher trophic levels are notably
rare. One promising approach to understanding the dynamics of biodiversity change across trophic levels, linking these to
global change is to manipulate selected anthropogenic drivers at more local scales where detailed surveys of plant and
animal communities are possible.
Based on experiments and field data from KNP, we test the hypothesis that additions of water and nitrogen will
significantly alter the plant primary producers which will then cascade to the community composition of both grasshoppers
and ants. We determined that changes in grass species composition, grass biomass and the nitrogen content of grass are
the result of changes in available nitrogen and water. These changes are key determinants of related changes in insect
community structure.
Page | 53
Carnivore, herbivore and human gradients of fear landscapes
Ferreira S.
South African National Parks, Scientific Services, Private Bag x 402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
Conservation management evolved from balancing nature to allowing nature‘s flux. Importantly, the influences of
carnivores, herbivores and humans on conservation values do not associate with numerical, but with spatial dynamics.
Managers replaced stocking rates and carrying capacities with heterogeneity focusing on restoring or mimicking drivers
that influence where species are spending time. I illustrate this evolution and the advent of landscape-informed herbivore
and social-informed carnivore management decisions. But, what is missing?
Managers restore spatial limitations of landscapes, and when that is not possible in small protected areas they control
populations. Effects of herbivores, carnivores and humans, however, are not only primarily dependent on how intense
they use landscapes dictated primarily by spatial and secondarily by numerical dynamics, but also on behaviour of
individuals when they are at a particular place. A key element that dictates that are agents of fear – in landscapes
perceived to be dangerous animals move faster and have higher vigilance than those less fearful.
Time budgets for behaviours that impact on conservation values, thus, become variable. I illustrate how landscape of fear
is a key concept that can assist with managing herbivore, carnivore and human-wildlife conflict. Managers of protected
areas have an additional challenge in mimicking the landscape of fear that human presence would have created, a key
process now absent. I conclude that creating gradients of fear landscapes is most likely the future evolutionary phase of
conservation management of the effects of carnivores, herbivores and humans on conservation objectives.
Page | 54
Lion hunting habits in relation to vegetation structural heterogeneity and climatic factors
Davies A.B.1, Tambling C.J.
2 & Asner G.P.
1
1Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, USA
2Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth,
South Africa
[email protected], [email protected] [email protected]
Large carnivores, such as lions, are being increasingly confined to protected areas, while at the same time being re-
introduced to smaller conservation areas in an attempt to restore ecosystem integrity and maximise tourism. An
understanding of how such carnivores interact with their environment is essential for the adequate conservation and
management of these remaining and new populations. An area of key interest to ecologists and managers is the hunting
habits and success of such predators because it determines the impact they will have on ecosystems. However,
sustainable predator-prey interactions are difficult to achieve in small protected areas.
We investigated lion hunting habits in relation to 3D vegetation structure obtained from LiDAR as well as climatic variables
in Addo Elephant National Park. Lion kill sites from male and female lions were located over four years using GPS
telemetry data and compared to non-kill sites that had been occupied by lions. Lion kills occurred more often in areas of
dense vegetation and when wind speeds were higher, supporting an ambush style of attack.
In contrast to a recent study from Kruger National Park, there were no interactions between lion sex and environmental
variables, although female lions tended to make kills in denser vegetation than males, also opposite to Kruger patterns.
Differences in the social structure of the Addo lions, as well as the markedly different ecosystem, thicket vs. savanna, are
suggested as drivers of these contrasting patterns
Page | 55
Contrasting responses of wildebeest and zebra to proximity with lions
Martin J. & Owen-Smith N.
Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
[email protected], [email protected]
Kruger National Park supports a high abundance of lions relative to the populations of their herbivore prey. These
predators affect the dynamics of prey populations not only through the mortality inflicted, but also via how they restrict
habitat selection and influence foraging time and movement patterns of herbivores. Potential victims respond not only to
the broad ―landscape of fear‖ represented by the probability of encountering a lion, but also more immediately when lions
appear nearby.
Herbivore responses to proximity to lions should be influenced by the habitat occupied by the prey, by whether the
potential encounter occurs at night or during the day and, of course, by how close the lions are. Specifically, should an
ungulate move off when it detects lions nearby, or stand firm in the habitat where it is best able to evade an attack? We
compared the responses of wildebeest, with home ranges narrowly restricted to open habitats with short grass, with those
of more wide-ranging zebra to proximity to lions in the Orpen region.
GPS collars placed on selected ungulate herds and on both lion prides in the region enabled the simultaneous
movements of all three species to be documented. Lions were more frequently in close proximity to wildebeests and
zebras at night than during the day. Zebras commonly moved away after lions had approached within <1 km, while
wildebeests stayed put or soon returned to the open patches where they appeared to be most secure. Nevertheless, the
activities of the wildebeest were disrupted during periods when lions remained nearby.
Page | 56
Flight decisions of zebras after encounters with lions shape the lion-zebra spatial game at large spatial but short temporal scales in Hwange NP, Zimbabwe
Courbin N.1, Loveridge A.J.
2, Macdonald D.W.
2, Fritz H.
3, Valeix M.
3 , Makuwe E.T.
4 & Chamaillé-Jammes S.
1
1Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS UMR 5175, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5,
France 2Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, Tubney House, Abingdon OX135QL, United Kingdom
3Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS UMR 5558, 43 bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne,
France 4Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Scientific Services, Hwange Main Camp Research, Hwange
National Park, Zimbabwe
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Prey change their landscape use as predation risk varies. In particular, encounters with predators should lead to strong
spatial immediate responses of prey. The use of their recent experiences could also affect their future landscape use. Very
little is known, however, about the spatial and temporal scales at which reactive responses occur. We filled this gap by
studying the response of GPS-collared zebras to nighttime encounters with GPS-collared lions in Hwange National Park,
Zimbabwe. We found that zebras met lion every 35 days on average. Zebras displayed two strategies upon an encounter:
they either stayed in the encounter area for a few hours or fled immediately.
However, all zebras left the encounter area during the night of the encounter and reached areas ~4km away from the
encounter site. The following day zebras did not select open grasslands more than when no encounter occurred the night
before. Zebras that had fled immediately used areas near waterholes again (as zebras usually do during the day),
whereas zebras that delayed their flight remained far from water. The night following the one of the encounter, and the
second day after, habitat selection and space use of zebras did not differ from periods with no recent encounters. Overall,
we concluded that encounters with lions shape zebra space use of the landscape at a large spatial scale (several km),
affect zebra use of key-landscape areas (waterholes), but only over a short-time scale.
Page | 57
Settling into a new home: post-release movement and home range establishment of reintroduced lions (Panthera leo) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
Yiu S.W.
1, 3, Keith M.
2, 3, Parrini F.
3 & Karczmarski L.
1
1The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
2Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria
3Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Post-release monitoring and an understanding of spatial behavioural ecology of reintroduced animals are critical for
successful reintroductions. Behavioural responses of reintroduced animals to a new environment are reflected in their
post-release movements, home range establishment and interspecific interactions. Areas where reintroduced animals
choose to settle determine the quantity and quality of resources they can acquire, which in turn affects their fitness,
reproductive success and ultimately survival. Therefore, the understanding of how reintroduced animals adapt to and
settle in a new environment can facilitate informed management decisions maximising the reintroduction success.
We studied the home range establishment and habitat selection of lions and cheetahs introduced into the newly
established Dinokeng Game Reserve, northern Gauteng, and identified environmental factors and variables that could
have affected their behaviour. The cumulative home ranges of both lions and cheetahs increased upon their release,
indicating an exploration period. Time taken for settling within a defined and stable home range varied, with a much
shorter period for cheetahs (approximately 10 weeks) when compared to lions (up to one year).
For all lions and cheetahs the core areas within the home ranges remained restricted (< 5km2) throughout the study.
Mating, territorial competition, change in group membership and introduction of new individuals were all found to influence
home range and habitat use of the reintroduced animals. Results suggest that intra- and inter-specific interactions
between top-order predators might represent the key factors that determine their spatiotemporal pattern of space use and
habitat selection.
Page | 58
Big predators for a small world
Wallach A.D.
Churchill Fellow, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, Australia
Globalization is continually mixing previously isolated species, transforming historic communities into never-before-seen
novel ecosystems. The spread of species into new terrains has generated alarm amongst conservation biologists, in
particular when they are associated with the decline of natives. A relentless global effort has thus ensued to eradicate
introduced species.
In Australia, some introduced species (e.g. foxes and cats) have been major drivers of extinctions. In response, killing
‗invasives‘ has become the main focus of conservation. This approach has significant economic, environmental and
ethical costs. Despite intensive efforts, ‗pest control‘ has made little headway in achieving its aims, and has often
backfired. Once species establish in a new region, they become embedded within a complex web of interactions, making
it virtually impossible to extract them without triggering a chain of unintended consequences. An alternative is to enhance
ecological mechanisms than enable better native–non-native coexistence. One approach is to protect big predators.
Apex predators limit populations of their prey and smaller predators and are therefore vital for the health of ecosystems.
The dingo, Australia‘s apex predator, suppresses smaller predators and herbivores, both native and introduced. Since
European settlement, dingoes have been persecuted across the continent. The loss of top-down regulation has resulted in
population irruptions and extinctions. The presence of stable dingo populations is one of the main predictors of threatened
species persistence. Apex predators offer an alternative response to invasive species that simultaneously reduces the
harm they cause, reduces the harm society feels compelled to cause them, and capitalizes on their values.
Page | 59
Increases in food availability can result in oribi antelope taking greater risks at both large and small spatial scales
Stears K.1 & Shrader A.M.
1
1School of life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected]
Differences in food availability and predation risk across habitats can influence how herbivores utilise landscapes. As a
result, trade-offs between the costs and benefits associated with certain habitats can influence habitat and patch
selection. To determine how oribi antelope (Ourebia ourebi) weigh up these costs and benefits, we measured foraging
decisions using giving up densities. First, we determined large-scale habitat use, and second, explored how both large-
and small-scale variables explained patch use within habitats.
When the availability of food across the different habitats was equal, oribi preferred to feed in short and tall grasslands
and avoided woodlands. Furthermore, the avoidance of woodlands extended out into the surrounding grasslands (~15 m)
resulting in less intensive feeding in these areas. Within the grassland habitats, small-scale rather than large-scale
variables influenced patch selection. Specifically, oribi preferred to feed in patches close to tall grass (i.e. escape cover)
and where they could see beyond 2 m.
These results suggest that oribi select habitats and patches in relation to perceived predation risk. However, when we
increased food availability within woodlands, oribi increased their large-scale risk-taking behaviour and fed in the unsafe
woodlands. Furthermore, this increased risk-taking extended to small-scale foraging decisions whereby within these
woodlands oribi fed closer to potential ambush sites and ate more from these patches as food availability increased.
Ultimately, our results highlight how changes in food availability can determine the degree to which herbivores are willing
to increase their risk-taking behaviour, and how these changes can affect overall landscape use.
Page | 60
Mechanisms of persistence of FMDV in African buffalo populations
Beechler B.R.1, Medlock J.
1, Juleff N.
3 & Jolles A.E.
1, 2
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
2Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
3Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, UK
Extremely contagious pathogens, such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that cause acute disease are among the most
important global public and animal health concerns, because of their high burden of morbidity and mortality, their violent
outbreaks, and as potential threats to biosecurity. Our research in Kruger National Park investigates how FMD, arguably
the most significant trade-restricting animal disease in the world, persists in its reservoir host populations - African buffalo.
Shockingly, very few studies have investigated the ecology of this globally important pathogen in its natural hosts; -
despite decades of research and investment, we still do not understand the primary mechanism of inter-annual
persistence in FMDV.
Mathematical models of FMDV dynamics in African buffalo populations suggest that transmission between successive calf
cohorts alone is not a plausible mechanism for long-term FMDV persistence in realistically sized buffalo populations, and
that carrier animals must play a key role in disease persistence. Two possible triggers for recrudescence of such carrier
hosts are: (i) protein-calorie restriction during the dry season and (ii) co-infections with respiratory pathogens. In addition,
behavioral data from our buffalo study herd show pronounced heterogeneity in contact frequency among individuals,
which may accentuate variation among hosts in their contribution to FMDV transmission. Understanding persistence
mechanisms will be invaluable for identifying inter-epidemic troughs that can be exploited for targeted intervention and
effective control strategies in at-risk livestock populations.
Page | 61
Assumptions and facts of the dissemination of anthrax
van Heerden H.1, Hassim A.
1, Ledwaba M.B.
1, van Niekerk C.S.
1, Basson L.
1,2, Dekker E.H.
3, Rossouw J.
2, van
Schalkwyk L.3 & Beyer W.
4
1University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Tropical Diseases, Onderstepoort, 0110 2National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, Johannesburg
3Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Office of the State Veterinarians, Mpumalanga, Skukuza, 1350
4Institute of Environmental and Animal Hygiene, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Bacillus anthracis is a soil-borne pathogen and the causal agent of anthrax. Despite the long history of anthrax, the
ecology and aspects of B. anthracis life cycle is still poorly understood. Various vectors like insects (blowflies Chrysomya
marginalis and C. albiceps and biting flies), scavengers and water have been incriminated in the dissemination of anthrax
in Kruger National Park (KNP). However, low B. anthracis spore counts have been recorded in vulture faeces and
vegetative cells, carried by scavengers or blowflies shortly after opening a fresh carcass were shown to have only little
chance to survive in environmental habitats.
In water B. anthracis spores have been reported to decline over time. Despite these facts, or is it assumptions, blowflies,
vultures and water are regarded as vectors. The aim of this project is to combine bacteriological, molecular and spatial
data of B. anthracis from wildlife, environment, flies and vultures from 2012-2014 to provide insight in the dissemination of
B. anthracis in KNP. We hope to unravel the actual role of vulture, blowflies, various water sources and other possible
vectors in the epidemiology of this disease that will influence management strategies.
Page | 62
Adaptive sampling to estimate rare antelope population variables in Kruger National Park
Knight G.1, Strauss W.M.
2 & Ferreira S.M.
3
1Air Services, SANParks, Skukuza, South Africa
2Department of Environmental Sciences, UNISA, South Africa
3Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Rare animal populations consist of individuals that are difficult to find due to low numbers or clumped distribution within
large areas. Conservation management often focuses on trying to increase the abundance of rare species, but an
evaluation of the status and persistence of species is required before conservation management actions can be
formulated. Evaluating threats to rare populations, or the consequences of conservation action on such populations,
invariably hinges on detecting population trends. Four antelope species - eland, roan, sable and tsessebe - are rare in the
Kruger National Park following substantial population declines during the 1990s.
Moreover, current population trends for these species are unknown. Detecting trends is a trade-off between the variance
in estimates, magnitude of change to be detected, survey intervals and the number of surveys in a time series. Given that
estimate variances are often negatively correlated with population size, precise estimates may seldom be generated for
rare populations. We‘ve developed an adaptive sampling approach, where ―hotspots‖ of rare antelope presence are
defined using historical observational data. We present data to illustrate the benefits associated with using an adaptive
sampling approach to estimate the rare antelope species in the Kruger National Park.
Page | 63
Blueprints for unique footprints: sex, age and individual identification from digital 3D models of lion (Panthera leo) paws
Marchal A.F.J.1, 2
, Lejeune P.2 & de Bruyn P.J.N.
1
1Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
2Unit of Forest Management, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege,
Belgium
[email protected], [email protected]
The interaction between terrestrial mammals and substrate is inexorably marked by the presence of tracks. Hunter-
gatherer communities used these tracks for millennia as an integral part of hunting. Traditional trackers and images or
drawings of tracks are often used to study wildlife populations. However, scepticism as to the robustness of the technique
persists, mainly due to a poor two-dimensional recording technique, and the non-consideration of the substrate and
manipulator effects. Furthermore, no studies have focused on the feet making the tracks.
We studied the individual-discriminating power for lion paws before they even touch the substrate. In Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Park, a total of 37 known wild lions, from both sexes and different age groups, were captured and their paws were
sampled via photogrammetry. Landmarks were positioned on digital three-dimensional (3D) models and measurements
including lengths, angles, surfaces, volumes and shape indexes were extracted. These biometrics were subjected to an
algorithm based on multivariate statistical analyses that aims at identifying the sex, the age and ultimately the individual.
The algorithm and its different test models produced significant results (p<0.05) for the correct identification at the three
different levels. The fact that lion paws possess enough biometric characteristics for the correct identification of the sex,
age and individual provides evidence that the same information should also be ‗3D readable‘ in the tracks - a next step in
our research. Furthermore, it is likely that this method is useful for other large felids and other species with distinctive
features on their feet.
Page | 64
Mobile, automated photogrammetry of Aardvark
Postma M.1, Weyer N.
2, Fuller A.
2 & de Bruyn P.J.N.
1
1Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield
0028, South Africa 2School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, South Africa, Parktown
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Many mammals are notoriously difficult to monitor in their natural environment as a result of factors including their elusive
nature, remote location or species rarity. The difficulty associated with sampling these species ultimately reduces our
ability to effectively manage and conserve them through lack of knowledge. Sampling life history parameters such as body
mass, of elusive mammals, without immobilisation has proven to be challenging. Traditional camera-trapping, while
useful, is incapable of precisely monitoring changes in body size or mass.
We use a well-established volumetric photogrammetric mass estimation method combined with basic camera-trapping
principles to build a mobile automated photogrammetry camera-trap system to assess mass variation in Aardvark
(Orycteropus afer) over a temporal scale. Photogrammetric volume and body mass were accurately correlated by
physically weighing and photographing aardvark. Ten GoPro cameras were attached to a mobile arena that was placed
over the entrance of an Aardvark burrow; the cameras were controlled by motion sensors to enable simultaneous shutter
release for all 10 cameras, effectively freezing the subject in its tracks.
These images allow creation of 3-D models for further analysis using the de Bruyn volumetric mass estimation technique
(de Bruyn et al. 2009 Aquat Biol). Mobile automated photogrammetry camera traps enable the remote monitoring of
individual mass change over a theoretically unlimited time with minimal disturbance. An automated method that can
sample data on body mass variation is advantageous and suitable for wide application in our effort to model complex
ecosystems and the individuals that inhabit them.
Page | 65
Determining the population structure and trend of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes t. taurinus) populations in Kruger National Park through individual-based data
Traill L.W, Erasmus B.F.N. & Owen-Smith N.
Centre for African Ecology, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050 South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Blue wildebeest in the Kruger National Park (KNP) suffered a substantial population decline during the 1970‘s affecting
mainly the west-central subpopulation that had formerly migrated beyond the park boundary. Recent census totals
suggest that a broader decline in wildebeest numbers is underway across the entire park. Establishing the causal
influences contributing to this population decline requires detailed information on the population demography, especially
when mortality is being incurred at the life history stages most vulnerable to elevated mortality.
An opportunity to establish these mortality patterns in such detail is potentially provided by the stripes, or brindles evident
on wildebeest applying capture-mark-recapture technology photographically. Here we outline the development of a
photographic database of wildebeest in two regions of KNP. This will provide us the ability to distinguish the likely drivers
of population trends, including bush encroachment through climate change.
Page | 66
Model answer: incorporating coppice dynamics in simulations of fuelwood wood supply and demand
Twine W.1 & Holdo R.
2
1School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
2Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri
[email protected], [email protected]
Much concern has been expressed about the sustainability of fuelwood harvesting in African communal rangelands.
Almost all fuelwood models predict that demand will outstrip supply within a few decades, resulting in severe woody
biomass depletion. However, despite substantial impacts of harvesting on woody vegetation structure, the ―fuelwood
crisis‖ predicted since the 1970s has not materialized. Addressing weaknesses in previous models, we developed a local
fuelwood model that is demographically and spatially explicit, and that incorporates coppice dynamics.
The model was developed for southern Bushbuckridge, a rural area adjacent to the greater Kruger National Park. It
tracks the dynamics of multiple tree stem size classes (seedling, sapling, pole, and adult) across space, and simulates
villagers‘ harvesting decisions based on fuelwood availability and village demand across the landscape. Importantly, we
specify size-dependent coppice production of cut stems, and the probability of progression of coppice shoots into larger
size classes, after accounting for self-thinning of shoots.
In general, our model projections suggest that current levels of harvesting (barring changes in human population size) are
relatively sustainable, with only moderate declines in woody biomass and adult trees. Loss of intact stems of sapling size
was more than offset by increases in coppiced stems. The results of the model suggest that tree resprouting ability plays
an important role in the resilience of the system to wood removal.
Page | 67
Anthropogenically disturbed Mopaneveld: Is the ecosystem getting even?
van Staden N.¹, Siebert F.¹, Siebert S.¹ & Swemmer A.M.2
¹Unit for Environmental Science, North West University
2SAEON Office, Ndlovu Node, Kruger National Park
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] [email protected]
Human-induced transformation of natural vegetation is assumed to negatively affect diversity suggesting reduced
ecosystem stability and performance. The Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld, a semi-arid savanna type in South Africa,
is exposed to various land-uses and differing management regimes ranging from natural areas (koppies and mopaneveld)
with limited human impact, to communal rangelands and intensively managed mining areas. This study investigates the
changes in species diversity patterns in the herbaceous layer in response to anthropogenic disturbances of a semi-arid
savanna ecosystem.
Vegetation was sampled in 210 1 m² quadrants. Non-metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) and Similarity percentage
(SIMPER) analyses indicated that land-uses are associated with distinct herbaceous plant species assemblages.
Communal areas displayed higher species richness and density than natural mopaneveld, and significantly higher
richness than mine dumps and koppies. Species richness on koppies were lower than all other land-uses due to various
natural limiting factors, although evenness was significantly higher, suggesting that evenness is a valuable measure of
sensitivity to disturbance.
As expected, natural mopaneveld displayed the highest diversity, although not significantly higher than the communal
lands. Results therefore suggest that land-use practises in mopaneveld induce changes in herbaceous species
composition, evenness and diversity in the herbaceous layer. The most pronounced disturbance effect was observed for
mining areas having lowest diversity and evenness. Intermediate disturbance, experienced at communal rangelands
yielded higher species richness but lower evenness than natural areas. Evenness is a more appropriate measure to
detect disturbance effects on species diversity patterns than species richness and diversity.
Page | 68
POSTER
Fine-scale modelling and mapping of soil functional characteristics and vegetation across landscapes: A case study from communal lands of Bushbuckridge
Twine W.1, Vagen T-G.
2 & Winowiecki L.
3
1School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
2World Agroforestry Centre, GeoScience Lab, Nairobi, Kenya
3International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Soils Research Area, Nairobi, Kenya
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
High resolution data on key ecological traits at the landscape scale is important for spatially-explicit assessment of
ecosystem health. However, sampling intensity and spatial extent of field-based ecosystem assessments usually
precludes extrapolation to the landscape scale. This study utilized field-based inventories to develop statistical
predictions of ecosystem health indicators across landscapes.
A spatially balanced sampling design was applied to survey two 100 km2 landscapes near Bushbuckridge in 2013.
Indicators of ecosystem measured included soil organic carbon, herbaceous cover, tree and shrub densities, soil erosion,
root depth restrictions, land-use history, and infiltration capacity. A total of 320 composite topsoil samples (0-20cm) and
318 composition subsoil samples (20-50cm) were collected. Mean organic soil organic carbon was 12.2 and 8.1 g kg-1 in
top and sub soil, respectively. Mean soil pH values were 6.5 and 6.7 for top and sub soil, respectively. Fine resolution
maps (~5 m) of soil organic carbon, pH and soil erosion were produced using RapidEye imagery from 2013.
Validation results for land degradation indicators were 80% (kappa=0.58) for erosion prevalence and 79% (kappa =0.52)
for root depth restrictions. Validation results for the soil property maps were: R2 =0.83 for SOC and R
2=0.78 for pH.
These data can be used to inform strategic land management decisions on rangelands and protected areas.
Page | 69
POSTER
Does size matter? Size-class specific growth rates in communal rangelands
Mograbi P.J. 1, 2
, Witkowski E.T.F.1, Erasmus B.F.N.
2, 3 & Asner G.P.
4
1Restoration and Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University
of the Witwatersrand 2Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
3Global, Change and Sustainability Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
4Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Fuelwood harvesting is a major driving force in woodland degradation in semi-arid ecosystems in South Africa. Previously,
we found woody biomass increased at three communal rangelands in Bushbuckridge from 2008 to 2012. Yet, biomass
increases are not necessarily indicative of woodland recovery as the gains are almost solely attributable to shrub level
increases. This bush encroachment signal across the communal rangelands is likely an interactive combination of newly
established woody encroachers and strong coppice regrowth in harvested species, closely associated with anthropogenic
disturbance.
We intend investigating whether wood harvesting is acting as a ‗bush thinning‘ mechanism, changing the size specific
growth rates, particularly in coppice regrowth from stumps with fully-developed root systems. We propose quantifying
height-class specific changes in individual trees in communal rangelands, using small footprint, discrete return light
detection and ranging (LiDAR) data from the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO).
This research will provide a dynamic view of the change in structure of individual organisms over large extents and
contribute to the absence of information on size-class specific growth rates. This would be essential for research on the
implications of bush encroachment effects, the sustainability of harvesting different size-classes and potential feedbacks
and buffer capacity on landscape (and global) scales. Anthropogenic influences, especially in a natural-resource
harvesting scenario, are fundamental to pattern and process and they will play a role in height-class changes in savanna
woodlands.
Page | 70
Long-term cosmogenic 10Be catchment-wide erosion rates in the Kruger National Park
Glotzbach C.1, Paape A.
1, Reinwarth B.
2, Baade J.
2, Miller J.
3, Rowntree K.
3
1Institute of Geology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
2Department of Geography, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany
3Geography Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
In this study we estimated long-term catchment-wide erosion rates in the central and southern Kruger National Park with
cosmogenic 10
Be analyses. Samples were collected in small catchments (2-100 km2) upstream of dams, which were used
by Reinwarth et al. (this conference) to determine short-term sediment yield rates. 10
Be-derived erosion rates vary from 4-
15 mm/kyr. Although there are significant site-specific differences in geomorphic parameters and precipitation we could
not identify a single parameter controlling long-term erosion.
Geomorphic fieldwork reveals that an unknown fraction of sampled sand-sized channel sediments derived from partly
extensive and up to a few-meters deep gully erosion, which may lead to an overestimation of 10
Be-derived erosion rates.
Cosmogenic nuclide production is rapidly decreasing with depth and consequently the measured 10
Be concentration of
stream sediments is a mixture of (i) sand with high 10
Be concentration from colluvial creep or sheet flow from hillslopes
and (ii) sand with low 10
Be concentration from gully erosion. Without further knowledge the calculated erosion rates (4-15
mm/kyr) are maximum values, which may be lower if gully erosion is significant.
Future work will concentrate on the characterisation of the cosmogenic 10
Be concentrations of intact hillslopes and gully
side walls. Combined with quantitative estimates of the relative contribution of topsoil and gully walls from 137
Cs
measurements will be used to provide accurate estimates of long-term erosion rates for the Kruger National Park.
Page | 71
Contemporary sediment yield in the Kruger National Park: high-resolution surveying and sediment mapping in reservoirs
Reinwarth B.1, Baade J.
1, Glotzbach C.
2, Miller J.
3 & Rowntree K.
3
1Institut für Geographie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany
2Institut für Geologie, Leibniz-Universität Hannover, Germany
3Geography Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Republic of South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Since their establishment between the 1930s and 1970s, more than 50 small dams within the Kruger National Park (KNP)
trap sediment delivered from upstream areas. The reservoir catchments vary in size, climate, relief, geology, soil and land
type. This sets an ideal frame for an assessment of sediment yield and soil erosion in a pristine Savanna ecosystem. In
2014, we started to map deposits in dried-out and decommissioned reservoirs located in the southern and central KNP.
The volume of the post-dam deposits is determined from investigations of excavation pits and soil augering at up to 60
locations per reservoir. The deposits are sampled in order to determine horizontal and vertical variations of dry bulk
density and to further characterize the sediment properties. High-resolution GNSS-based surveying of the reservoir basins
is undertaken to estimate the reservoir's storage capacity and sediment trap efficiency. Sediment source tracing is carried
out using a combination of magnetic and geochemical signatures to determine which areas of each catchment are
contributing sediment (Miller et al., this conference).
Currently available data from 5 dams (Silolweni, Nhlanganzwani, Lugmag, Marheya and Rabelais) broadly confirm
previous results from a pilot study undertaken in 2008. Estimates of contemporary mean area-specific sediment yield will
be compared with long-term total mean denudation rates calculated from 10
Be measurements (Glotzbach et al., this
conference) and contemporary sediment yield rates for cultivated areas outside of the KNP.
Page | 72
Identification of Sediment Sources Using Sediment Fingerprinting Methods in Catchments in the Kruger National Park
Miller J.
1, Rowntree K.
1, Schroeder D.
1, Reinwarth B.
2, Baade J.
2, Glotzbach C.
3 & Paape A.
3
1Geography Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa 2Department of Geography, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany
3Institute of Geology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Sustainable land use requires contemporary information on the dynamics of the environment for management objectives
to successfully combat the global problem of soil erosion. There is little known information on natural erosion rates. If
these rates are known, soil loss benchmarks can be established. For effective management it is important to identify and
analyse the source of the sediment, allowing for informed decision making and context specific management approaches
to be introduced. Sediment fingerprinting can be used to identify sediment sources.
This study creates a sediment fingerprint for the Kruger National park, South Africa, using environmental magnetism and
radionuclide tracing (137
Cs and 210
Pb). The Kruger National Park has been a conservation area since 1898; therefore, no
agricultural activities have altered the landscape, enabling this study of natural erosion rates to be conducted. The aim of
this study is to apply the sediment fingerprinting techniques to assess the relative contribution of potential catchment
sources to sediment deposited in the reservoirs.
The first part of this study involves the characterisation of the sediment signatures of the catchment samples, and the
second part is to use the signatures to find matches to sediment samples from the reservoirs. Surface samples were
taken from as many geological zones and soil types as possible in the catchments of 7 reservoirs. Subsurface samples
were taken in gullies and channels. One core was taken in the deepest area of each dry reservoir. Results from the first
part of the study will be presented.
Page | 73
Drivers of riparian forest change in Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa
Nippert, J.B.1 & Swemmer, A.M.
2
1Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
2SAEON Ndlovu Node, Kruger National Park, Phalaborwa, 1390 South Africa
[email protected], [email protected]
Riparian forests in Mapungubwe National Park have undergone dramatic loss of cover over the past 3 decades. Potential
drivers of change include groundwater abstraction, altered flow in the Limpopo and Shashi Rivers, climate change
(drought and flood frequency and intensity) and increases in elephant densities. Resampling of trees originally marked in
1990 revealed declines in the populations of A. xanthophloea, F. albida, and F. sycomorus. Populations of Philenoptera
violacea and Xanthocercis zambesiaca are stable, while the sub-canopy species Croton megalobotrys is expanding. Plant
stem and soil samples were collected for stable isotope analyses in late summer and late winter from 2012-2014. These
data allowed us to determine the proportional use of the various sources of water available to these species.
Results show multiple strategies: groundwater use (X. zambesiaca, P. violacea), river-water and surface soil water (F.
albida), and plastic water-uptake strategies (F. sycomorus). Spatial proximity to the river did not alter these water-use
patterns. In addition, our data shows that C. megalobotrys uses nocturnal dew formation as a source of water – a novel
water source for African tree species. Of the declining species, F. albida was the most sensitive to reduced surface water
availability, F. sycomorus suffered the greatest losses following flood years, and X. xanthophloea was the most sensitive
to elephant damage. These results illustrate variable responses to drivers of change by species. An integrated
management strategy, addressing both elephant impacts and reduced river flow, will be required to prevent the complete
loss of this unique ecosystem.
Page | 74
Resprouting dynamics of savanna trees across resource gradients in Kruger National Park
Morris T.L.1, Holdo R.M.
2 & Mack M.C.
1, 3
1Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, USA
2Division of Biology, University of Missouri, USA
3Department of Biology, University of Florida, USA
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] There is a great amount of interest and concern in Kruger National Park as to how tree communities will respond to
increasing elephant population densities, novel fire regimes and climate change. This response is in part determined by
resprouting dynamics of savanna tree species. A major objective of our study was to understand how resprouting
response of savanna trees is mediated by resource availability. We hypothesize that trees in resource-limited areas will
exhibit weaker resprouting responses than trees in areas with greater resource availability.
Three saplings of Combretum apiculatum, Colophospermum mopane and Terminalia sericia were cut 25 cm above
ground and fenced at ten sites along the north-south Kruger rainfall gradient in early 2013. Preliminary measurements of
resprouting response indicated that after three months resprout basal areas were similar across species. After twelve
months however, T. sericia exhibited the greatest resprouting ability, followed by C. apiculatum, with C. mopane exhibiting
the lowest resprout basal area.
In addition, after three months, no pattern existed in resprout basal area across the rainfall gradient whereas after twelve
months, trees in the wetter south exhibited greater resprout basal area than trees in the drier north. Colophospermum
mopane, however, exhibited a decrease in total basal stem diameters along the increasing rainfall gradient both after
three and 12 months. These results, when assessed in combination with associated tree growth data, will contribute to
understanding the growth and regrowth processes of savanna tree species, essential for generating meaningful
predictions of tree community dynamics in Kruger and beyond.
Page | 75
To drink or not to drink? Elephant movement strategies as surface water availability declines in a semi-arid savanna
Valls F.H.1, 2
, Fritz H.2, 3
, De Garine-Wichatitsky M.2, 4
, Makuwe E.T.5 & Chamaillé-Jammes S.
1, 2
1Centre d‘Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE-CNRS (UMR 5175), Montpellier, France
2Hwange LTER, Hwange Safari Lodge, P. box 62, Dete, Zimbabwe
3Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, LBBE-CNRS, (UMR 5558), Université de Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
4Animal et Gestion Intégrée des Risques, CIRAD (UR AGIRs), Harare, Zimbabwe
5Scientific Services, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
Water provision for wildlife is a common practice in Southern Africa. Sometimes the viability of populations in protected
areas is increased by, or even depends on, this provision. In these cases the distribution in space of perennial water
sources is crucial, but so far little is known about the water-driven movement strategies of animals: as water sources
dwindle and forage depletion occurs, should individuals make long trips far away from water to obtain better foraging
prospects or short trips close to water to guarantee drinking opportunities? This affects where animals will impact their
environment.
We analyzed GPS relocation data of elephant breeding herds during the 2013 and 2014 dry seasons in Hwange National
Park, Zimbabwe. Elephants prefer drinking at periodic time intervals every 24h, 48h and 72h. The average number of
visits to water doubled from June to October due to the addition of short (about 4h) commuting trips between waterholes.
As of September, 72h-trips disappeared, however the number of 48h-trips, reaching 5-8 km from water, remained
constant. The number of 24h-trips increased and they were made at higher speed. As a result, during those trips,
maximum distance to water increased from 2.5 to 4km, suggesting the avoidance of depleted foraging sites located close
to water.
Our study confirms that there is a threshold distance beyond which elephants cannot use the landscape during the dry
season, but more importantly it reveals that below this distance elephants are able to adjust their use of the environment
to foraging constraints
Page | 76
POSTER
Monitoring Hydrological Processes along the Letaba River
Strydom T.1, Riddell E.
2, Swemmer T.
3, Nel J.
4 & Jarmain C.
5
1South African National Parks, Scientific Services, Skukuza, South Africa
2South African National Parks, Conservation Services, Skukuza, South Africa
3SAEON, Ndlovu Node, South Africa
4GCS Consulting, Pretoria, South Africa
5Private Consultant – Agrometeorology, Stellenbosch, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] In many catchments in South Africa, the Environmental Water Requirement (EWR) flows are being negatively-affected by
significant changes in land-use and poor water resource governance. In order to meet the determined EWR as well as to
ensure that all water-users receive their allocated water supplies, dedicated flow management is required through the
efficient management of water abstraction and dam outflows.
The Letaba River is a model river where Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) is currently being implemented to ensure
adaptive and sustainable water resource management. This unique approach is facilitated by the institutional interaction
between dam operators (from the upstream Tzaneen Dam) and stakeholders including Kruger National Park. However,
there are huge uncertainties surrounding natural water losses (e.g. evapotranspiration) or gains (e.g. groundwater
discharge) in the real-time model currently being used by dam operators.
Our research project aims at attempting to narrow down the uncertainty by understanding and quantifying the natural
hydrological processes between the two dominant land-uses along this river, i.e. agriculture and protected areas. This
project will contribute significantly to management strategies by using a precise hydrological approach which will aid in
improving estimates of water supply in the Letaba River.
This research project is part of the initial development phase of a long-term hydrological monitoring site by SAEON. These
Hydrological Observatories are aimed at monitoring the key aspects of the hydrological cycle in order to study the effects
of climate change and land-use change on hydrology.
Page | 77
The State of Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation in the Kruger National Park: Where to from here?
Riddell E.S.
1, Petersen R.
2 , Govender D.
2 , Sithole H.
2, Venter J.
2, Mohlala T.
3 ,Strydom T.
2, Venter F.
1 & Freitag S.
2
1Conservation Management, Skukuza, Kruger National Park
2Scientific Services, Skukuza, Kruger National Park
3South African Environmental Observation Network, Phalaborwa, Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park (KNP) has been at the forefront of river ecosystems research for over 30 years. The knowledge
and extensive collaboration in scientific research and management has influenced both water resources management
policy in South Africa and given rise to now widely adopted conservation philosophy and practice, such as Strategic
Adaptive Management.
In this paper we track the implementation of freshwater ecosystem conservation and through the lens of the KNP take a
look at the present ecological state of the river systems in the savanna lowveld region. We focus on three key aspects we
call the game-changers, shocks, and the unknown unknowns, that may or may not have led to dynamic change in the
ecological integrity of the freshwater ecosystems.
In the context of the current freshwater policy setting we ask, what is the present status-quo of these aquatic systems;
what are the foreseeable challenges in the future; And how may we as aquatic scientists and river managers work to
ameliorate these challenges in the medium to long term?
Page | 78
State of the Rivers, Kruger National Park
Petersen R.1, Govender D.
1, Sithole H.
1, Venter J.
1, Mohlala T.
2 & Riddell E.
1
1Scientific Services, SANParks, Kruger National Park
2SAEON
In South Africa the structure and function of as many as 80% of our riverine ecosystems and their biodiversity is
threatened or unsustainable. This includes the majority of riverine ecosystems in established conservation areas and
national parks that originate upstream of these reserves and transport stressors into these areas. The Kruger National
Park (KNP) is no exception, as the ―downstream user‖ of five major rivers, Luvuvhu, Olifants and Letaba rivers of the
Limpopo system, and the Sabie and Crocodile rivers of the Inkomati system. A key issue for the KNP has been the
progressive decline in water quantity, quality and associated fauna and flora of the rivers that traverse its area from west
to east.
To evaluate and monitor the biological and habitat integrity of these rivers we implemented the River Health Programme
(RHP) which is a biomonitoring programme based on assessing the condition of biological communities (such as fish,
aquatic invertebrates and riparian vegetation) as well as river habitats, flow and quality (drivers). Previously the drivers
and bio-responders of aquatic ecosystems were reported separately. Here we try to integrate them across space and time
to allow for a holistic interpretation to assist in identifying areas of success as far as resource utilization and protection as
well as areas of unacceptable ecological degradation.
Page | 79
Diverse sense-making in a co-operative water quality management process towards improving the social-ecological health of the Crocodile River
Palmer C.G.1, Munnik V.
1, du Toit D.
2, Griffin N.
1, Retief H.
1, Sahula, A.
1 & Chikunda C.
2
1Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 1640 2Association for Water and Rural Development P.O. Box 1919, Hoedspruit, 1380
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The WRC project Integrated Water Resource Management: towards a new paradigm (TNP) suggests that participatory
engaged research can catalyse change towards social and environmental justice, supporting the equity and sustainability
principles that drive South African policy and law. In a TNP case study, a group of nine industry and management
stakeholders have met monthly in 2013 to work towards a co-operative integrated water quality management process for
the Crocodile River that has resulted in the development of a water quality-quantity modelling application that will be the
basis of an Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency platform to communicate water quality condition to water
users.
This platform incorporates a range of knowledges sources and encourages diverse opportunities for meaningful sense-
making in an adaptive water quality management process. In this project social science and traditional science have been
used in an engaged research processes that has enabled a wide range of water users and managers to come together in
a co-operative process. The Kruger National Park is a key member of the Crocodile River stakeholder forum and the
outcomes of the research link directly to meeting the goals for river health for the Crocodile River and its associated
protected ecosystems.
Page | 80
Fish health surveys: What have we learnt?
Govender D1, 3
& Huchzermeyer D2
1Scientific Services, SANParks, Kruger National Park
2Sterkspruit Veterinary Clinic, Lydenburg
3Department of Paraclinical Studies, University of Pretoria
In the Olifants catchment pollution of freshwater systems can be linked to both point source discharges (waste water
treatment works and industrial effluents) and diffuse surface runoff (agriculture, mining and urban). These anthropogenic
causes of pollution can expose humans (as well as other life forms) to various contaminants, either through drinking water
or consumption of contaminated food items. Fish health assessments help to identify risk posed to people through food
source as well as give an indication of aquatic environmental health. Fish, because they are long lived and freely mobile
are believed to serve as good indicators for pollution at larger spatial and temporal scales. They are also representative of
various tropic levels and bioaccumulation pathways.
Over the last 10 years, various research projects have looked at fish health in impoundments and River Health
Programme (RHP) monitoring sites along the Olifants River, focusing on a number of fish species. We will look at what
the published literature and more recent data is telling us about river health more broadly as well as risk to human
consumers. We will also review if fish health assessments are a useful adjunct to the RHP offering intermediate level of
biological response to the drivers of water quality, sedimentation and hydrology.
Page | 81
Nile Crocodiles as Sentinels of Environment Health of the Olifants River Basin
Botha H.1, Pienaar D.
2, Bowden J.
3, Lowers R.
4, Guillette M.P.
5, Cantu T.
5, Bangma J.
5, Govender D.
2, Shikwambana
P.2, Kucklick J.
3, & Guillette L.J.
5
1Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Groblersdal, South Africa
2Kruger National Park – SANParks, Skukuza, South Africa
3National Institute of Standards and Technology, & Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC
4InoMedic Health Applications (IHA), Ecological Program, IHA 300, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899 USA
5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences, Medical University of
South Carolina & Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] ,
[email protected] , [email protected]
Many chemicals introduced into the environment adversely affect the health of animals. Increasing evidence indicates that
a significant proportion of disease is due to interacting environmental and genetic factors. Further, contaminants can act
to alter cellular signaling, thus compromising embryonic development and adult functioning. These observations
demonstrate that contaminants act via multiple mechanisms and do so at concentrations (ppt – low ppm) previously
thought safe.
Our study examines the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in the Olifants
River system. We collect at two locations, Flag Boshielo Dam (FB), Limpopo, and the Olifants Confluence
(Olifants/Letaba confluence region) of Kruger National Park (KNP). Analyses of whole blood for metals (15 metal
products (speciation of metals was not performed yet); these metals include Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Se, Zn, Ba, Pb, Cr, As,
Rb, Mo, V, & Ti has been performed on the Nile crocodile samples collected to date (N = 32 total; 14 from Flag Boshielo;
18 Kruger NP). AL, Cr and Hg are significantly elevated in crocodile blood at KNP versus FB. No sexual dimorphism was
observed in blood concentrations except Rb that was significantly elevated in females.
Vetscans performed on samples collected in 2012 – 2013 revealed that creatine kinase, uric acid and aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) were all significant elevated in the plasma of KNP crocodiles versus those from FB. Interestingly
about half of the KNP crocodiles had significantly elevated AST levels whereas the other half had basal levels. Further
analyses on plasma lipidomics, organic pollutants and DNA are underway.
Page | 82
Dietary reconstruction of Nile crocodiles using stable light isotopes
Woodborne S.1, 2
, Govender D.3, Pienaar D.
3, Hall G.
2, Shikwambana P.
3, Butler M.
1, Huchzermeyer D.
4 & Myburgh J.
5
1iThemba LABS, Johannesburg
2Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria
3Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza
4Sterkspruit Veterinary Clinic, Lydenburg
5Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Pansteatitis is a dietary disease, and the recent pansteatitis-related crocodile mortalities in Kruger National Park initiated
different approaches to dietary reconstruction for the species. Direct observation of feeding is problematic because of the
shy nature of animals in the wild and the low frequency occurrence of episodic feeding events. Post-mortem stomach-
content analysis yielded insufficient identifiable material.
Stable light isotope analysis (δ13C and δ
15N) is a means of identifying the position of an organism in a foodweb, and while
this does not facilitate species level identification of prey, it provides a time-integrated indication of the trophic level at
which the animals forage. The technique demands a comprehensive survey of the isotopic values of all potential prey
items, as well as knowledge of the metabolic changes in the isotope values during tissue synthesis (the diet-to-tissue
fractionation factor - DTF). In order to determine the DTF the isotopic values of skin, erythrocytes, blood plasma, scutes
and claws from different age and sex cohorts of captive Nile crocodiles fed on a fixed diet were analysed.
The results show that the DTF for Nile crocodiles differs from published values from other crocodilian species. The values
are used to interpret the isotopic values obtained from scute samples in the SANParks biobank and this suggests that wild
crocodiles in Kruger National Park rely less on fish than was previously thought to be the case. Additional samples of
crocodiles from a mining complex dam show a very distinctive isotopic signature indicative of pollution nutrient sources in
the foodweb.
Page | 83
Long-term monitoring of water-dependant avifaunal communities of the Olifants and Ga-selati rivers
Lerm R.E.1 & Swemmer A.M.
2
1,2 South African Environmental Observation Network, Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa Gate, Kruger National Park, Limpopo
Province, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected]
Many of South Africa‘s rivers are in a poor state, mostly due to the effects of anthropogenic activities such as mining,
agriculture, urbanisation and damming. One of the country‘s largest catchments, the Olifants covering the north-eastern
parts of South Africa, is no exception and changes in water quality and quantity may have varying effects on downstream
biodiversity especially, since the Olifants River enters Kruger National Park (KNP) and may affect animal communities
inside this conservation area.
Avifauna (birds) are good indicators of environmental health and may be used as surrogates for other taxa. Hence, a
long-term monitoring project of water-dependant bird communities was established during 2012. Species trends over time
will enable conservation managers to investigate causes and adapt management strategies of rivers entering KNP, if
changes in bird community structure or loss of threatened species occur. Three regions along the Olifants River and one
region along the Ga-selati River were selected to survey avifauna due to different up-stream activities affecting these
systems.
Preliminary results show that calculated densities for the family Anatidae were largest, at approximately 180
individuals.kilometre-2
. This result was obtained from the October 2014 survey along a region of the Olifants River
between KNP and a barrage. However, it must be noted that coefficient of variation values for all regions were large
ranging between 45-75%. The initial results suggest that observed patterns in species richness and densities can mostly
be attributed to the different habitat structures and -heterogeneity between and within the river regions, but water quality
may also affect these values.
Page | 84
Water quality of water pans and small dams in and around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Stembile M.S.1, Shakki K.
2, Beaven U.
3, Edwin M.
4 and Florence D.H.
5
University of Zimbabwe, Biological Sciences Department, P.O. Box MP 167 Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Chinhoyi University of Technology, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation P/Bag X7548 Chinhoyi Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Harare, Zimbabwe Université Paris-Sud 11, Laboratoire d'Ecologie,
Systématique et Evolution, France, Ecology and Limnology, France
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] [email protected]
Small aquatic water bodies are characterised by wide seasonal water level fluctuations which have profound influence on
their limnochemistry, and consequently ecology. Limnochemical aspects of selected water pans and small dams were
investigated in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, and the surrounding forestry and communal areas. The aims of the
study were: (1) to assess the water quality of small aquatic ecosystems and to compare the results with standard aquatic
guidelines; (2) to determine factors driving the functioning of water pans; and (3) to investigate the effects of pumping and
location on limnochemistry of the water pans.
Water samples were collected in the wet season and dry season in selected water pans and dams and analyzed for
classical parameters. Most of the physico-chemical parameters except conductivity, ammonia and nutrients were within
the accepted ranges of the international World Health Organisation (WHO) and regional Department of Water and
Forestry Affairs (DWAF). Ratios of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations showed that phosphorus is a limiting
nutrient in pans of Hwange National Park and its peripheries. A MultiFactorial Analysis shows that water hardness and
salinity are major parameters characterizing pan typology. Other prominent driving factors within the aquatic ecosystems
varied with seasons. Significant seasonality and spatial differences in limnochemical parameters in the pans investigated
show the influence of pumping but nor of land use.
Page | 85
Fishladder post-construction issues: analysis of distribution, attraction and passage efficiency metrics at the Engelhard fish ladder, Letaba River KNP
Mohlala T.D.
1 & Venter J.
2
1SAEON
2SANParks
[email protected], [email protected]
Fish ladders are generally conceived to re-establish connectivity among critical habitats for migratory species, thus
mitigating the impacts of the blockage of migration routes by dams. If this management tool is to be meaningful for
conserving fish species, it must provide a fully permeable connection and assure both upward and downward movements.
Fishladders need to operate effectively over a wide range of river flows, and must cater for a wide range of fish size,
varying swimming abilities and behavioural preferences.
The Construction of the fishladder at Engelhard Dam in 2011 provided an opportunity to test the effectiveness of the
ladder to help fish migrate upstream, the present study sought to determine if migratory fish and their offspring ascend
upstream to Engelhard dam. To achieve this purpose, the selectivity of the ladder in attracting fish was evaluated by
comparing the occurrence, relative abundance, composition and dominance of migratory and non-migratory species of
fish present in the fishladder below Engelhard dam, and compared the intensity of the upward movements of fish.
Samples of ichthyofauna were collected through the vertical slot fishwway using electronarcosis during low flows in winter
of 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Preliminary results indicate that abundances and diversity of fish species occurring in the fishladder has deacreased over
the three year period. Various hypotheses are suggested including seasonal effect and time of sampling. This study has
the potential to provide means to which ongoing monitoring can be successfully implemented in the park to detect critical
changes in fish community structure as a result of construction of dams and fishladders. Such an understanding is
essential for effective planning and management of rivers within protected areas as well as the improvement of strategic
adaptation responses to climate change impacts.
Page | 86
Groundwater Quality in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Potgieter D.
Department of Water and Sanitation, P/Bag X5912, Upington, 8800
[email protected] An overview of the geology and aquifer system in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, with an explanation of water qualities in different layers. Groundwater quality in the Aoub and Nossob Rivers A description on the characteristics of the water quality found in the rivers, with a comparison between the water found in each river in Maucha and Piper diagrams
Mata Mata
Quang Chemical Profiles of water in well fields at Twee Rivieren and Quang. An overview of the last fifteen years of changing water qualities at the two well fields in comparison with the water levels. Way Forward Change monitoring methods Partnership with SANParks
CircleKNaCaMg
Circle
K
Na
Ca
Mg
SO4
Cl
TAL
Page | 87
POSTER
Building an informative wetland layer for Kruger National Park
Simms C.1, MacFadyen S.
2, Govender D.
1, 3 & Petersen R.
1
1Scientific Services, SANParks, Kruger National Park
2Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
3Department of Paraclinical Studies, University of Pretoria
Although seen as high-value ecosystems, wetlands currently rank among the most threatened ecosystems in South
Africa. This is in part be due to the large number of factors influencing wetland health; including incompatible land use
practices that pose a key threat to wetlands. A large proportion of wetland research thus focuses on rehabilitation ecology
outside protected areas. In Kruger National Park (KNP) much research has taken place on the perennial rivers but its
wetlands, a key transition zone between the terrestrial and aquatic environment, remains understudied.
Before more research can be done on the wetlands of KNP, a more comprehensive wetland layer is needed. The National
Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPA) Atlas has produced the most comprehensive national wetland map
including about 300 000 wetland units covering a total area of 2.9 million hectares, or 2.4% of South Africa‘s surface area.
However local-scale data for large protected areas like the Kruger National Park (Kruger) remains coarse. Wetlands
notoriously difficult to map since they are numerous, often small in size and vary widely in physical characteristics, making
them difficult to recognize and delineate with remotely sensed imagery.
We attempted to improve the NFEPA wetland layer, by using a hydro geomorphic terrain model, together with 17 years of
late dry season ecological aerial census data demarcating surface water to identify areas of potential wetlands. These
areas were verified using satellite imagery, existing GIS layers, data from localized studies throughout the park as well as
local knowledge of Kruger‘s managers and section rangers. The improved data layer should provide a good basis to
stimulate more research into the wetlands in the park.
Page | 88
Vultures, anthrax, movement ecology and large mammal mortality in Kruger National Park
Murn C.1, Van Heerden H.
2, Botha A.
3, Ronaldson G.S.
3, Dekker A.T.
4, Hassim A.
2, van Niekerk C.
2 & van Schalkwyk L.
4
1Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8DY, England
2University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Tropical Diseases, Onderstepoort, 0110
3Birds of Prey Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Modderfontein, Johannesburg, 1645
4Directorate of Animal Health, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Skukuza, 1350
[email protected], [email protected]
Vultures are ubiquitous across Kruger National Park (KNP) and one species, the White-backed Vulture (WbV), is reasonably numerous. In this paper we combine research on 1) vulture populations and movements, 2) an endemic disease and 3) large mammal mortalities within KNP. Using aerial surveys and a plotless density estimator, we calculated there to be approximately 900 breeding pairs of WbVs in KNP and find little evidence that this population has changed dramatically in recent decades. Tracking studies show that vultures travel large distances within KNP and also vast distances outside the park to other parts of the sub-continent. Therefore, although breeding populations of vultures in KNP appear relatively stable, these movement data emphasise that vultures resident in KNP are exposed to threats that exist outside the park. We investigated the linkages between vultures and anthrax, a bacterial disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is endemic in KNP, especially in the northern Pafuri region. Herbivorous mammals in particular are susceptible to anthrax and it has been reported that insects and scavengers, such as blowflies and vultures, are two organisms that spread B. anthracis. Previous reports suggested that vultures spread anthrax through mechanical transmission (bacteria on vulture beaks, feathers and feet) and bacteria passing through the alimentary tract and being excreted in the faeces although few B. anthracis spores were found in faeces and externally on vultures. We trapped and sampled 19 White-backed Vultures and one Hooded Vulture, and detected B. anthracis spores on feathers (35%, n = 7), claws (15%, n = 3) and inside beaks (5%, n = 1) and cloaca (15%, n = 1) of the birds. B. anthracis was detected on 50% (n = 6) of vultures captured during an anthrax outbreak in the Pafuri area, and 25% (n = 2) of vultures later captured in Pafuri during a period with no known anthrax outbreaks in the area. Investigations into the spatial distribution of B. anthracis genotypes in KNP during 2012-2013 using multilocus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) indicated that the same genotype caused outbreaks in rhinoceros during 2012 in areas approximately 250 km south from an anthrax outbreak in 2013 in Pafuri. No direct evidence exists that vultures are responsible for the spread of anthrax in this specific case. Vultures have been suggested as one of the vectors of B. anthracis due to their feeding habits and ability to travel vast distances, which can lead to assumptions that vultures might have been the vector. However B. anthracis uses various means of dissemination and specific evidence for its spread should be presented. Given the wide-ranging behaviour of vultures inside KNP and the fact that anthrax outbreaks are spatially limited, we conclude that the efficiency of anthrax transmission (within, in or out of the park) by carriers such as vultures is still unclear. Finally, we used daily and intra-week movements of individual vultures to conduct a static point analysis, using nest sites and known large animal carcasses as focal points for vulture activity. Preliminary results indicate the potential for these tracking data to highlight the locations of previously unknown vulture nest sites and roost/bathing sites, or carcasses of large herbivores – potentially those that have died from anthrax or some other cause.We stress the need for further research in three areas: 1) transmission and deposition of anthrax spores by vultures; 2) group foraging behaviour of gregarious scavengers such as White-backed Vultures and 3) mortality rates affecting vultures outside protected areas in southern Africa.
Page | 89
Understanding seasonal movements of Cape (Gyps coprotheres) and White-backed (G. africanus) Vultures in southern Africa
Howes C.G., Symes C.T., Roxburgh L. & Hoogstad C.
School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Vultures provide key ecosystem services and face numerous threats. It is therefore vital to understand their movements in
order to inform conservation decisions. Vultures have been shown to exhibit seasonal movements elsewhere in Africa.
However, there is a gap in our knowledge of seasonal movements of vultures in southern Africa. We have tracked nine
Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) and five White-backed Vultures (G. africanus) for over a year (2013-2014). Tracked
points were compared over the six wettest months (1 November-31 April) and six driest months (1 May-31 October) for
variations in home range, displacement, and habitat selection. Differences between species, age ranges, and sexes were
analyzed. The reliance of birds on vulture restaurants was also investigated.
Vultures were found to increase their range and displacement during dry months and rely more heavily on vulture
restaurants during wet months. This implies that provision of food is particularly important for vultures during the wetter
months when there may be lower natural food availability. There were no habitat selection differences between seasons.
Species, age range, and sex had no effect on seasonal movement patterns. This suggests that conservation efforts
related to seasonal movements could be applied to both species with equally beneficial outcomes. Understanding
seasonal movements of vultures in southern Africa can help conservationists and managers support vulture species
during the periods when food availability is low.
Page | 90
The dynamics of A. nigrescens and the implications on patterns of nesting White-backed vultures in Kruger National Park
Scholtz R.1, 4
, Murn C.2 & Duckworth G.D.
3
1South African National Parks, Scientific Services, Skukuza, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, Mpumalanga, 1350
2Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8DY, England
3Centre for Statistics in Environment, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Statistics, University of Cape Town, Private
Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
4School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Current concerns surrounding the loss of tall woody trees in certain areas of Kruger National Park (KNP) have mainly
focussed on the causes of these landscape-scale observations. Using Acacia nigrescens as a focal species, we
investigate how changes in woody vegetation structure, in particular the occurrence of tall (>8m) trees may influence the
occurrence and spatio-temporal patterns of breeding White-backed Vultures Gyps africanus, a species that nests
preferentially in tall A. nigrescens.
To assess changes in the distribution and occurrence of tall A. nigrescens, an initial species distribution map of three
height classes (small: 0.75m-2.5m; intermediate: 2.5m-5.5m; tall: >5.5m) was constructed from data recorded in the late
1980s. Thereafter, using survey data collected during the woody Veld Condition Assessments, an occupancy analysis
was conducted to identify potential changes in the occurrence of tall (>8m) A. nigrescens over a six year period
approximately 20 years later in the mid-2000s. White-backed Vulture nests and their spatial pattern were monitored
between 2008 and 2014 across a large area of southern KNP.
Spatio-temporal patterns of White-backed Vulture nests were compared with the distribution of tall A. nigrescens using a
generalized linear model to investigate the relationship between these two variables. Whilst the distribution of vulture
nests responds to the availability of tall A. nigrescens, the finer details of this relationship, such as nesting success and
spatial dynamics of breeding colonies are more complex and likely to rely on additional factors, which require further
investigation. Our study highlights the potential for tree-nesting species such as White-backed Vultures to be indicators of
change in the structural distribution of some long-lived woody species in a protected area.
Page | 91
POSTER
Assessing the potential role of vulture populations of the Kruger National Park in the life cycle of Bacillus anthracis
van Niekerk C.S.
1, Dekker E.H.
2, Botha A.
3, Van Schalkwyk L.
2 & van Heerden H.
1
1University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Tropical Diseases, Onderstepoort, 0110
2Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Office of the State Veterinarians, Mpumalanga, Skukuza, 1350
3EWT
Anthrax, caused by the gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, which mainly affects herbivorous mammals, is endemic
to Pafuri in the Northern parts of the Kruger National Park (KNP). Due to the variable nature of anthrax outbreaks, its
ecology is poorly understood and several aspects of its life cycle, such as the means of dissemination, needs to be
studied more thoroughly. Vultures have been suggested as one of the vectors for the disease, due to their feeding habits
and ability to travel vast distances in short periods of time.
However vulture faeces has low B. anthracis spore count and vegetative cells are mainly carried on feathers and beak
with a low survival rate. In 2014, during two separate capture events, a total of 20 vultures were captured, of which 19
were African White Backed Vultures and 1 was a Hooded Vulture. From each vulture, feather clippings, along with a swab
from the beak, claw and cloaca, was taken, after which they were fitted with telemetric tracking devices.
The first capture event took place during an anthrax outbreak and 50% (n=6) of the 12 vultures caught during this time
were shown to carry anthrax spores, whereas the second capture event took place while no anthrax cases were reported
in the area, and 25% (n=2) of the 8 vultures have tested positive for the presence of anthrax spores. By combining
tracking data with B. anthracis culture results we hope to gain more insight in the role that vultures play in the anthrax life
cycle.
Page | 92
Costs, benefits and making the tradeoffs – A case study of the Kruger National Park
Swemmer L.K.
South African National Parks, Scientific Services, Kruger National Park
The focus of conservation within SANParks has changed from an emphasis on biodiversity conservation (a
human benefit, but sometimes perceived as a narrow one in a developing country) to one that also acknowledges
the role of protected areas in human beneficiation and wellbeing. Benefits may vary in type and degree of
tangibility, and often differ in importance between stakeholder groups, based on perceptions of what constitutes a
benefit. The sharing of benefits often goes hand in hand with making tradeoffs between not only benefits but also
costs within and between stakeholder groups and across scales. Managing these cost/benefit tradeoffs in order to
strive towards maximum benefit to all stakeholders is the basis for the benefit sharing approach in SANParks, as
well as one of our biggest challenges.
Managing benefits effectively, requires one to acknowledge the role of the local context in prioritizing benefit
sharing arrangements at a park level. This presentation provides a conceptual framework for how benefits are
currently perceived and shared in SANParks and uses the Kruger National Park as a case study to illustrate who
wins and who loses under what scenarios. Direct and indirect employment, local economic empowerment,
preferential procurement, capacity building, environmental education, the tourism experience and extractive
natural resource examples amongst others will be used to illustrate various costs and benefits across scales, the
tradeoffs between these and the implications of these tradeoffs at various levels.
Page | 93
Edge Effects: Rumours and Uncanny Animals in the Boundary Management of South Africa‟s Kruger National Park
Bunn D, 1 Midzi S.
2 & Auslander M.
3
1Director: Knowledge Hub for Rural Development, University of the Witwatersrand
2Section Ranger: Shangoni Section, SANParks, Kruger National Park
3Director: Museum of Culture and Environment, Central Washington University
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
This paper is about the changing ontological status of Kruger‘s boundaries. Most studies of Kruger‘s borders focus on
poaching, fence architectures, and damage-causing-animal events. We present a different kind of knowledge domain: that
of beliefs about the uncanny actions of dangerous animals, in border areas.
Drawing on long-term oral historical research, we look at five accounts of threshold-haunting lions: in testimony by retired
field ranger Charlie Nkuna, whose daughter was killed by lions at Phabene; by Thomas Mbokota, section ranger at Punda
Maria, and Wilson Masiya, senior tracker at Royal Malewane, both of whom recall lion-human transformations; and by
Steven Midzi, Shangoni section ranger.
We conclude with testimony by an anonymous Mozambican female informant, one of the few who still regularly makes the
deadly journey on foot across Kruger, at night. Kruger‘s boundary management moved through three historical phases:
colonial protectionism; grand apartheid‘s hard, racialized, border; and the post-apartheid investment in the idea of open,
adaptive co-management zone.
We examine recent attempts to find a new kind of homeostasis in the dangerous political and affective economies that
characterize the greater KNP socio-ecological system. Today, border control is increasingly in the hands of the military, in
the response by national government to worldwide pressure to combat soaring rhino poaching. For communities east and
west of the national park, and for Kruger officials themselves, an older rhetoric around witchcraft, protective muti, and
human-lion transformations, is once again being pressed into rhetorical service to explain this new war.
Page | 94
Lessons learn‟t from Baboon Management on the Cape Peninsula
Richardson P.R.K.¹, Wood J.², Jordan E.², Shaw N.S.D.¹, de Jager C.J.¹, Rode S.C.¹ & Khoury R.R.¹
¹Human Wildlife Solutions, P.O. Box 31150, Tokai, 7966, Cape Town ²Biodiversity Management, Environmental Resource Management Department, P.O. Box 16548, Vlaeberg, City of Cape
Town 8018
Eleven baboon troops have been managed on the Cape Peninsula for the past two years. These troops have been kept
out of urban areas for 98.5% of the time, by using aversive conditioning (paintball markers and bearbangers) and
selective euthanasia. This has significantly reduced human-induced baboon deaths and other aspects of human baboon
conflict.
Baboons are highly social and intelligent animals and react to management in a variety of ways depending on social
status, parental status, troop structure, individual character traits, physical disabilities, seasonal availability of food, and
neighbouring troops. Here we discuss some lessons learn‘t whilst managing these troops.
Page | 95
Buffalo/cattle interactions along the Limpopo River and consequences for pathogen transmission in the Great Limpopo TFCA
Caron A.
1,2,3, Cornelis D.
1, Miguel E.
1, Grosbois V.
1, Foggin C.
4, Hofmeyr M.
6 & de Garine-Wichatitsky M.
1,2,7
1Cirad, UPR AGIRs, Montpellier, France
2Cirad, RP-PCP, Harare, Zimbabwe
3Mammals Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
4Wildlife Veterinary Unit, Governmental veterinary Services, Zimbabwe
5Department of Veterinary Services, South Africa
6South Africa National Parks, Kruger National Park, South Africa
7Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
[email protected], [email protected] [email protected] , [email protected]
[email protected] , [email protected] ,[email protected]
Wildlife/livestock interfaces are known to be hotpots for pathogen transmission notably in Transfrontier Conservation Area
of southern Africa, There is therefore a need to understand wildlife/livestock interactions at these interfaces to mitigate the
sanitary risk.To explore buffalo and cattle interactions along the Limpopo River separating Kruger National Park in South
Africa and the Sengwe communal land in Zimbabwe, telemetry and epidemiological studies on both cattle and African
buffalo have been carried out.
Inter-species GPS location data on adult females is used to define contact between hosts that can lead to infectious
contacts. The definition of "contacts" is adapted to the modes of transmission of the pathogen under concern,
Mycobacterium bovis, brucella sp. and Theileria parva. First, home ranges of buffalos span across the South
African/Zimbabwean border indicating a potential for transboundary disease transmission. We also observed the relatively
good stability of home range size for adult females.
Contact patterns between buffalo and cattle for the 3 pathogens considered are described in terms of spatial and temporal
variation. We demonstrated that key resources in the landscape (e.g. water sources) during specific season (e.g. dry
season) constitute local hotspots for disease transmission. Recently, the telemetry study was extended to young females
and we present interesting recent results from these young females experiencing large home range variation in a few
months, redefining the spatio-temporal dimension of the interface.This eco-epidemiological approach is relevant to
investigate the risk of pathogen spread between species and particularly at wildlife/livestock interfaces.
Page | 96
Changes in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) movement patterns at various distances from villages
Cook R.M.¹, Henley M.2, 3
& Parrini F.¹
¹Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa
2Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of South
Africa, Private Bag X5, Florida 1710, South Africa
3Elephants Alive, P.O. Box 960, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The establishment of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park has enabled wildlife to move between Southern Africa‘s
Kruger, Limpopo and Gonarezhou National Parks with a consequent increase in the region‘s human-wildlife conflict levels
and in particular, human-elephant conflict. We monitored the movement patterns of seventeen collared African elephants
(ten bulls and seven breeding herd individuals) from the northern Kruger National Park over a period of eight years (2006-
2014). We compared the occurrence and displacement rates of elephant bulls and breeding herds around villages in
Mozambique and Zimbabwe across seasons and at different times of the day.
In both study sites, elephants occurred close to villages more in the dry season than the wet season, with bulls occurring
more frequently around villages than breeding herds. Both the bulls and breeding herds preferred to move through
villages and crop fields during the evening-to-night time period in both study sites with significant variability in
displacement rates between individuals. These results suggest that elephants, especially bulls are moving through
villages in Mozambique and Zimbabwe at night to potentially raid crops and that these movements are most common
during the drier months when resources are known to be scarce. This is the first known study on elephant movement
patterns around villages in this region and provides a baseline of information for both managerial and research
assessments.
Page | 97
The Elephants and Bees Project: Using Bees as a Natural Deterrent for Crop-Raiding Elephants
King L.E
Save the Elephants, P.O. Box 54667, Nairobi, 00200, Kenya
Elephants in Kenya are not confined to national parks and reserves; hence interactions with farmers and crop-raiding
elephants can pose serious social, political, economical and conservation problems. Dr Lucy King‘s research in Kenya
has proved that African elephants are aware about, and will actively avoid, the threat of African honey bees.
She demonstrated that not only do they run away from disturbed bee sounds but her team also proved that elephants emit
a unique low frequency (infrasonic) rumble that warns other elephants in the area to retreat. These behavioural
discoveries were groundbreaking, and encouraged her to develop and test a unique application for this behaviour through
the use of protective Beehive Fences around farmers‘ fields with the aim of reducing human-elephant conflict (HEC).
Since starting her research in 2006, the Beehive Fence HEC mitigation concept has spread rapidly and Beehive Fences
are presently up and running in test sites in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Mozambique, India and Sri Lanka. Her
research won her the UNEP/CMS Thesis Award 2011, The Future for Nature Award 2013 and The St Andrews Prize for
the Environment. The Elephants and Bees Project is lead by Dr Lucy King under the umbrella of the research charity
Save the Elephants in partnership with the University of Oxford and Disney‘s Animal Kingdom, Florida.
Page | 98
Ant diversity in an arid peri-urban landscape of the Vhembe Biosphere, South Africa
Mauda E.V.1, Foord S.H.
2 & Munyai C.T.
2
1SARChI- Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve
2Department of Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Arguable the greatest threat to insect diversity is a loss of habitat through landscape fragmentation and attrition. Individual
insects show measurable behavioural responses to changing land mosaic at the smallest scale; hence heterogeneous
environments are predicted to support more complex and diverse biological assemblages. We focus on a group which has
been labelled the premier soil turners, channelers of energy and dominatrices of the insect fauna, ants (Formicidae).
This study aims to investigate community response of ants to a peri-urban landscape that include urban, agriculture and
natural elements; to test the two circled method of pitfall trapping by Zhao et al. (2013) in determining abundance and
lastly to test the impacts of land use on ant diversity. The study area is within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve in the
Limpopo Province, two action sites were identified viz. Vyeboom and Ka-Ndengeza villages.
Pitfall traps were used to collect epigaeic ants. Data collected will be used to develop local agricultural practice with
invertebrates as part of the landscape, and examine the response of invertebrates in both natural and agricultural
landscape in order to better understand drivers, pressure and constraints of biodiversity and ecosystem services. To date,
a total of 36 243 with 110 species of ants have been collected between April 2014 and June 2014. Vyeboom showed the
increase number of species from agricultural to ‗semi-natural‘ with 54 species. Ndengeza showed a decreased number of
species in the ‗semi-natural‘ with 44 spp.
Page | 99
Identification of policies for a sustainable legal trade in rhinoceros horn based on population projection and socioeconomic models
Di Minin E.
1,2, Laitila J.
1, Montesino-Pouzols F.
1, Leader-Williams N.
3, Slotow R.
2, Goodman P.S.
4, Conway A.J.
4 &
Moilanen A.1
1Finnish Centre of Excellence in Metapopulation Biology, Department of Biosciences, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014 University of
Helsinki, Finland 2School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
3Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3EN, UK
4Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, P.O. Box 13053, Cascades 3202, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected] Illegal killing of both white and black rhino for their horn has escalated in South Africa since 2007, even though
international trade in rhino products has been banned since 1977. Consequently, we provide an ecological-economic
analysis to understand whether a legal trade in horn could be useful to address the emerging rhino ‗crisis‘. Our results
suggest that the southern white rhino population will be at high risk of extinction in the wild unless law enforcement is
enhanced. Legalizing the trade without enhancing law enforcement will not change the status quo. Without legalizing the
trade, enhancing the protection of the rhino population would require raising many millions of dollars year after year to
protect rhinos from poaching.
However, the funding generated by selling an effective quota every year could be used to enhance the protection of the
rhino population to levels that will undermine illegal poaching activities and allow the rhino population to increase in size.
Hence, an important contribution that the legal trade could make is to cover such costs, at least in the short term, until
other measures over some longer period lead to a reduction in demand from users in the Far East. We suggest the recent
escalation in illegal killing within South Africa, the country most effective at conserving its rhinos, makes it timely to
consider alternative options.
Page | 100
Influence of local media framing on rhino poaching in Kruger National Park
Tantsi N. & Ferreira S.
South African National Parks, Scientific Services, Private Bag x 402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected]
Kruger National Park (KNP) inhabits a wide diversity of flora and fauna, including a large number of rhinos compared to
any other protected area. However, in recent years the population of rhinos in KNP has stabilized due to the rise in
poaching incidences and are expected to decline if rhino poaching do not decrease. Rhinos are a part of the big five
animals and attract tourists in KNP, thereby contributing to South Africa‘s economy.
This makes them an important species not just ecologically, but economically as well and thus makes their protection a
key objective. However, the rise in poaching incidences despite intense anti-poaching efforts in KNP has raised attention
of wildlife managers and scientists. Media reports may play an important role in propagating poaching through
unintentional advertisement of an animal to the poacher. Studies have shown that media reports can have positive or
negative impacts on the audience depending on the message that is being conveyed.
We evaluate whether rhino killings associate with several messages that reflect information on availability, ease of access
to a commodity, the existence of a market for the commodity and management tactics. Findings will make SANParks
aware of potential media framing risks associated with rhino reporting and seek to use the information to engage with
media to create approaches for responsible reporting that aid the integrated approach that SANParks and South Africa
have embarked on to curb rhino poaching.
Page | 101
The Pepperbark Initiative: Are we any closer to efficiently propagating Warburgia salutaris?
Hannweg K.1, Hofmeyr M.
2 & Grové T.
1
1Agricultural Research Council – Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops
2SANPARKS Conservation Services
[email protected]; [email protected], [email protected]
In the last two seasons an extensive amount of research has gone into developing a method/s for propagating Warburgia
salutaris using microcuttings. The research findings have narrowed down the conditions required for propagation by
optimizing not only the microcutting type but also seasonality of cutting harvest, rooting medium, rooting hormones as well
as rooting environment.
One of the challenges in planting out rooted cuttings is the fact that, although well-developed, the roots are extremely
brittle and prone to breaking during transplanting. This results in plant stress and a high chance of plant mortality. To
reduce root damage, several methods were investigated including individually bagging microcuttings prior to rooting as
well as the use of a biodegradable container which could be planted out directly, with minimal root disturbance, when the
rooted cuttings are transplanted.
Since Warburgia salutaris is notorious for low fruit and seed set and development, due, in part, to damage by fruit flies.
These hatch as maggots which eat and cause the fruit flesh and developing seeds to rot. To determine which fruit fly
species attacks the fruit, bucket traps primed with Biolure® were set up at Skukuza Indigenous nursery as well as in the
field. Insects in the traps and fallen fruit were collected on a weekly basis over the fruiting season.
Fruit flies collected in the traps were counted and identified while maggots found in infested fruit were allowed to pupate
and hatch. The identification of the fruit fly species will facilitate the development of a fruit fly control programme which
could be implemented in a genebank/cultivation situation thereby promoting fruit set and healthy seed development. The
results of these investigations will be presented.
Page | 102
Multi-scale observation of vegetation canopy cover change in southern KNP from 2002 to 2014
Aplin P.1, O’Regan H.J.
1, 2, Marston C
, & Wilkinson D.M.
3
¹University of Nottingham, UK ²Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
3Liverpool John Moores University, UK
[email protected], hannah.o’[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Monitoring land cover change over time is invaluable for informing environmental management and conservation
practices. In Kruger National Park (KNP), changes to vegetation distributions are of particular interest, and these are
affected by both natural (e.g. climatic and biotic) and anthropogenic (e.g. artificial water resource) influences. Land cover
monitoring is typically conducted using remote sensing, and standard approaches tend to use relatively coarse spatial
resolution satellite sensor imagery such as 30m resolution Landsat Operational Land Imager data. This scale of
observation can limit the accuracy of output land cover maps, and can also constrain the thematic detail (i.e. number and
nature of land cover classes). Also, accurate land cover classification relies on corresponding reference (e.g. field) data,
and this is both expensive to obtain and historical data are scarce.
Here, we present accurate and detailed information of land cover (especially, vegetation) change in southern KNP from
2002 to 2014, using a combination of medium (Landsat) and fine resolution (e.g. 4m QuickBird) imagery, supplemented
by intensive field survey data. Specifically, we compare differences in canopy cover across these different scales of
observation. This comparative analysis answers two key questions – what thematic information is lost when using medium
resolution imagery, and how has land cover changed over the last decade? The analysis directly addresses prevailing
management concerns in KNP such as the hypothesized ‗scrubbing up‘ of the Skukuza thickets in the recent past.
Page | 103
POSTER
SAR-Optical Synergy in savanna ecosystem fractional vegetation cover mapping
Odipo V.O.1, Hüttich C.
2 & Schmullius C.
3
1Friedrich Schiller Universität-Jena, Department of Earth Observation, Institut für Geographie,
Grietgasse 6, 07743 Jena, Germany 2Friedrich Schiller Universität-Jena, Department of Earth Observation, Institut für Geographie,
Grietgasse 6, 07743 Jena, Germany 3Friedrich Schiller Universität-Jena, Department of Earth Observation, Institut für Geographie,
Grietgasse 6, 07743 Jena, Germany
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The heterogeneity in tropical savanna ecosystem poses a challenge in separation of life forms, an important aspect in
assessing biogeochemical interactions, particularly the biome‘s role in global carbon circulation. We evaluate the potential
of fusing multi-sensor optical datasets (RapidEye and Landsat) with L-band ALOS PALSAR in mapping savanna
vegetation structure with regards to seasonal phenological variability between 2009 and 2013. Additionally, the study
investigated the effects of SAR polarization, and resolution on the vegetation fractional separability in the savanna.
The vegetation was separated based on spectral characteristics of three life-forms, mainly photosynthetic vegetation
(fPV), non-photosynthetic vegetation (fNPV) and background cover (fB) using optical datasets at 6-, and 30 m resolutions.
The L-band ALOS PALSAR single (HH) and dual polarization (HH+HV) datasets were processed and resampled to the
same resolutions as the optical datasets. Backscatter intensity analysis was then performed based on polarizations, and a
logistic regression analysed on the relationship between backscatter and the fractional vegetation covers during dry, wet
and a transition between these seasons.
A linear relationship exists between the amount fPV and backscatter during the transition between dry to wet, and wet
seasons. An 86% (p<0.01) fractional discrimination was possible in the wet months of February/March, while it was not
possible in the dry months due to absence or low photosynthetic activity in both fPV and fNPV. HV backscatter showed
higher potential for separation of fPV from fNPV and fB with the peak potential in wet season. SAR has added advantage
in capturing data in cloudy tropical savanna.
Page | 104
POSTER
A comparison of the trends in WUE between 2000 and 2013 in a range of land cover classes and land-use systems in South Africa.
Palmer T.
Agricultural Research Council – Animal Production Institute, Grahamstown
Water use efficiency (WUE) is one of several unifying concepts for comparing different rangeland condition classes and
land-use options. It has been suggested that lower than expected WUE may reflect landscape-scale degradation or dys-
functionality. Recent advances in the preparation of moderate resolution (1km) estimates of net above-ground primary
production (NPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) have enabled the preparation WUE surfaces for southern Africa from 2000-
2014.
In this study I explore the trends in WUE across the boundaries of National Parks using matched pairs of equally-sized
samples. This generally provides a comparison of the land-use class: conservation versus commercial agriculture. In
order to compare changes in WUE across other land-use pairs, I also explore the concept between freehold and
leasehold land tenure arrangements.
Page | 105
POSTER
Assessing the prevalence of early-greening in Burkea africana woodlands across southern Africa using MODIS NDVI over 14 years
Whitecross M.A., Archibald S. & Witkowski E.T.F.
School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
[email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]
There is currently a major gap in our understanding of early-greening in savanna trees, particularly in southern Africa. We
have monitored the phenology of a stand of Burkea africana and the surrounding grasses in the Nylsvley Nature Reserve,
South Africa at weekly intervals over the green-up periods (August-November) between 2012 and 2014.
We compared the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values calculated from the 250m resolution MODIS
satellite imagery to our detailed on-the-ground phenological data in an attempt to detect any possible early-greening
signals in the NDVI data. We then assessed the NDVI values in other known B. africana woodlands across southern
Africa to determine the prevalence of early-greening in this species over a latitudinal gradient.
Sites selected were the Seringveld Conservancy (South Africa), Nylsvley Nature Reserve (South Africa), Kavango Region
(Namibia), Pandamatenga (Botswana), Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe), Lukulu (Zambia) and Mongu (Zambia). The
start date of green-up was compared to the start date of seasonal rainfall using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
(TRMM) estimates that showed more than 15mm of rain had fallen. If the green-up started ahead of the start of rainfall,
early-greening was recorded.
Zambian sites showed the earliest green-up (3 Oct ± 5.34), followed by South African sites (11 Oct ± 5.07). There appears
to be a latitudinal and mean annual rainfall influence on the timing of green-up in B. africana woodlands throughout
southern Africa with more arid sites greening up later. Understanding early-greening is a vital step in furthering predictive
phenological models under changing climatic conditions.
Page | 106
POSTER
Mapping Savanna vegetation phenology using NDVI time series derived from MODIS
Ibrahim S., Balzter H. & Tansey K.
University of Leicester, Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, University Road, Leicester, LEI 7RH, UK
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Savanna ecosystems are characterised by spatially varied and complex biophysical vegetation structures. In spite of the
recent advances in remote sensing, deriving spatially explicit information on vegetation composition in savannas, is still
challenging due to their variation in phenology (e.g. species composition), inter annual climate variability, and disturbance
(e.g. fire) etc. In this study, vegetation phenology parameters were assessed using MODIS NDVI time series data for one
year period (2013).
We used a four-step moving average algorithm to extract green-up dates, length of growing season and end of season for
different vegetation components in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Our results indicate that there is both spatial and
temporal variation in the vegetation components across the study area. While the procedure employed in this work proved
feasible, we encourage further research to validate such information using field data.
This study shows how time-series analysis can help understand spatial and temporal changes in vegetation and shows
that phenology analysis is a valuable instrument for providing spatial information to conservation management.
Page | 107
Geomorphology and savanna vegetation structure in Kruger National Park from 12 m resolution Tandem-X IDEM data
Balzter H.1, Ibrahim S.
1, Smit I.P.J.
2, Archibald, S.
3 & Scholes, R.
3
1University of Leicester, Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK 2South African National Parks (SANParks) Scientific Services, Private Bag X 402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
3Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics, P.O. Box 395, 0001,
Pretoria, South Africa
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The Tandem-X satellite constellation provides high-resolution, accurate measurements of digital elevation from a pair of
bistatic X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites. Such elevation data are highly useful in understanding the
relationships of the geomorphological terrain shape with the soil catena and savanna plant communities. We use
Intermediate digital elevation data (IDEM) from Tandem-X and vegetation maps to quantify soil/vegetation systems in
Kruger National Park.
The vegetation of Kruger Park is heavily influenced by the geology (mainly basalts and granites) but also modified by
disturbances (fire and herbivory), soils and topography. Therefore, the role of geomorphology in understanding the
complex vegetation communities of the Kruger Park is paramount. Gertenbach (1983) classified the vegetation of the park
into 35 separate categories which can be compared to Venter‘s (2003) geological map of the park. The vegetation types
follow the geological patterns due to the plants‘ dependence on nutrients supplied by weathering of certain rock types as
well as the soil moisture characteristics.
The Tandem-X IDEM data are available at 12 m, 30 m, and 90 m spatial resolution. Their elevation accuracy is discussed
in relation to the microwave scattering processes in the vegetation layer, which can influence the absolute height values
from the radar data processing. A comparison to airborne LiDAR data is also presented. The availability of high resolution
elevation maps is valuable for conservation management and mapping of the geomorphological and geological
preferences of plant communities.
Page | 108
POSTER
Catchment properties in the Kruger National Park derived from the new TanDEM-X based Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Baade J.
1, Schmullius C.
1 & Smit I.P.J.
2
1Institut für Geographie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany
2Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza 1350, South Africa
[email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]
Over the past three years the German radar satellite system TanDEM-X was used to acquire data for a new and truly
global Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Now, processed data sets from the first year‘s acquisition (i. e. the intermediate
DEM, IDEM) with a spatial resolution of up to 12 m are available for selected regions of the World for scientific purposes.
This includes four 1° x 1° tiles covering almost the entire Kruger National Park.
This poster presentation provides first samples highlighting the unprecedented geometric resolution of this fascinating
new satellite-based Digital Surface Model (DSM) as well as some of its limitations. In order to assess the effects of
vegetation on the surface height we present results from a comparison of the IDEM with the existing NGI 20 m Digital
Terrain Model (DTM) and high-resolution DTMs with local spatial coverage derived from RTK-GNSS-based
geomorphological mapping of dried-out reservoirs. The latter DTMs provide the opportunity to analyze in detail the
differences for surfaces devoid of woody cover (i. e. the former reservoir areas) and surfaces with woody cover in the
vicinity of the reservoirs. Finally, we present the application of the IDEM for watershed delineation and the derivation of
geomorphological catchment properties.
Page | 109
What lies beneath: Detecting sub-canopy changes in savanna woodlands using a 3D classification method
Fisher J.T.1, Witkowski E.T.F.
1, Erasmus B.F.N.
1, Mograbi P.J.
1, Asner G.P.
2, van Aardt J.A.N.
3, Wessels K.J.
4 & Mathieu
R.4
1School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of the Witwatersrand
2Carnegie Airborne Observatory, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science
3Laboratory for Imaging Algorithms and Systems, Rochester Institute of Technology
4Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected]
Increasing population pressure, socio-economic development and associated natural resource use in savannas are
resulting in large-scale land cover changes. We investigated if a 3D woody vegetation structural classification applied to
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data is better than a 2D analysis to investigate change in fine-scale woody
vegetation structure over two years in a protected area (PA) and communal rangeland (CR)?
Using airborne LiDAR data collected over 3 300 ha of CR and PA in April 2008 and 2010, we calculated four structural
metrics for 0.25 ha grid cells: Canopy Cover, Number of Canopy Layers Present, Cohesion and Number of height classes
present. The relationship between top-of-canopy and sub-canopy cover was investigated using regression. Gains, losses
and persistence (GLP) of cover at each height class and the four structural metrics were calculated. GLP of clusters of
each metric (calculated using Local Indicators of Spatial Association) were used to assess the changes.
Top-of-canopy cover did not predict sub-canopy cover, necessitating the use of a 3D classification to detect fine-scale
changes, especially in structurally heterogeneous savannas. Trees >3 m in height showed gains up to 2.2 times higher in
the CR where they are likely to be protected for cultural reasons, but losses of up to 3.2 times more in the PA, possibly
due to treefall caused by elephant and/or fire. A 3D classification approach was successful in detecting fine scale, short
term changes between land uses, and can thus be used as a monitoring tool for savanna woody vegetation structure.
Page | 110
POSTER
Spatio-temporal Earth Observation Contribution to the BMBF/SPACES-project “Adaptive Resilience of Southern African Ecosystems (Ars AfricaE)”
Schmullius C.1; Hüttich C.
1, Odipo V.
1, Lueck W.
2, Kutsch W.
3, Brümmer C.
4, Scholes B.
5, Archibald S.
5 & Baade J.
6
1Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Department for Earth Observation, Loebdergraben 32, 07743 Jena, Germany
2Forest Sense cc, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
3Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), University of Helsinki, Finland
4Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Braunschweig – Germany
5CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, Ecosystems Dynamics Research Group, South Africa
6Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Department for Physical Geography, Germany
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Ars AfricaE aims to deepen our knowledge on the functional role of structural elements in ecosystems such as species
content or biomass. One of the objectives is to combine the individual-based model with landscape information derived
from remote sensing and aerial photography. The following approach has been chosen to supply Ars Africae with the
relevant information about the observed land surface dynamics and to contribute such information in a meaningful way to
the data integration work package and its Multi-Agent Simulations: For each of six flux tower locations (Skukuza
representing one undisturbed location), a space-time cube will be generated with a lateral dimension of 5 x 5 km2 and a
temporal dimension reaching back to the first available remotely sensed images (i.e. aerial photographs from the 1920ies,
Corona espionage satellites from the 1970ies).
This poster will illustrate the approach and first results for in-going remote sensing data to the space-time data cube,
where all image pre-processing steps are being performed to establish a best-effort data collection for algorithm and
product generation to serve the ecological modeling and Multi-Agent Simulation. Early detection and action to prevent
degradation in savannas has been held back by the difficulties in making a clear distinction between the 'disturbances'
(variation with subsequent recovery) and 'degradation' (sustained loss of function). The final operational monitoring
concept will contribute to the Ars AfricaE management concept and will be developed in close cooperation with
SANPark‘s Scientific Services.
Page | 111
POSTER
SPACES Project ARS AfricaE – Adaptive Resilience of Southern African ecosystems
Falge E.1, Brümmer C.
1, Schmullius C.
2, Hüttich C.
2, Scholes R.J.
3,6, Midgley G.
4, Hickler T.
5,6, Scheiter S.
6, Twine W.
7,
Bradshaw K.8, Lück W.
9, Thiel-Clemen T
10, Mukelabai M.
11& Kutsch W.
12
1Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture (TI-AK), Braunschweig, Germany
2Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (FSU), Jena, Germany
3Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa
4Stellenbosch University, South Africa
5Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt (UFRA), Frankfurt, Germany
6Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany 7University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, South Africa
8Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
9Forest Sense, Pretoria, South Africa
10Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), Hamburg, Germany
11Zambian Meteorological Department, Lusaka, Zambia
12Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), Head office, Helsinki, Finland
Nowadays, many semi-arid ecosystems are affected by at least two different kinds of disturbances: land use (change) and
climate change. Based on this, it can be hypothesized that even very resilient ecosystems may not return to their initial
state after disturbance, but will rather adapt to a new steady-state. We name this phenomenon ―Adaptive Resilience of
Ecosystems‖ and use it as base for the research concept of ARS AfricaE.
This project wants to go beyond older approaches that only describe structural changes in savannas and their drivers. It
employs functional aspects, such as the investigation of biogeochemical cycles, but also targets a deeper understanding
of the functional consequences of ecosystem changes caused by multiple disturbances, and defines ―degradation‖ as a
sustained loss in the broad set of ecosystem services, i.e. a decrease in natural capital.
To achieve this goal, the project will
create a network of research clusters (with natural and altered vegetation) along an aridity gradient in the Greater
Karoo, Kruger National Park in South Africa, and Kataba Forest Reserve in Zambia
link biogeochemical functions with ecosystem structure, diversity of species and eco-physiological properties
describe ecosystem disturbance (and recovery) in terms of ecosystem function such as carbon balance
components and water use efficiency
build an individual-based model to predict ecosystem dynamics under (post) disturbance managements
combine this model with long-term landscape dynamic information derived from remote sensing and aerial
photography
develop sustainable management strategies for disturbed ecosystems and land use change
Page | 112
POSTER
A Benefit for KNP-Ecologists - Massive Multi-Agent Simulation with MARS
Thiel-Clemen T.1, Lenfers U.
1, Hüning C.
1 & Kiker G.A.
2
1Dept. of Computer Science, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany
2Dept. of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, University of Florida
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Multi-agent simulation (MAS) modelling has been recognized to be well suited to express the interaction between critical
conservation species and their environment. The impact of human behaviour and socio-economic influences can also be
induced. Recent simulation studies, e.g. changes in land use, show some of the potential of this promising approach. The
MARS Group at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (http://www.mars-group.org) focuses on very large-scale
simulation scenarios with several millions of individual computed active entities, so-called agents. Utilizing innovative
algorithms and methods from computer science make models conceivable in the near future that cover the whole national
parks, even the KNP, together with its adjacent areas.
The poster gives an overview about the MARS framework, its components, and how it can support the work of
conservationists. A prototype model of Kruger National Park at a resolution of 90 meters will be used as a proof of
concept. It will feature a composition of rivers, water holes, grass, and tree coverage as well as elephants and impalas
living in that environment. An outline of first results of that model and an outlook will be presented. This poster describes
clearly a work-in-progress project and the authors would like to receive comments from the KNP community.
Page | 113
Complexity thinking and objectives setting in complex socio-ecological systems
Gillson L.
Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
Many conservation questions are complex, uncertain and socially nuanced. Various approaches are being developed with
the aim of embedding conservation decision making in their socio-ecological context, and incorporating cultural, economic
and social concerns, while still taking into account ecological resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems. For
example, interdisciplinarity and resilience theory are core to the ecosystem approach, while post-normal science and
complexity thinking have emphasised the importance of narratives in understanding multiple stakeholder perspectives.
The objectives hierarchy developed in KNP and the diamond schematic, proposed by Kay et al represent two important
frameworks for decision making in complex systems. Building on these advances, here I present a planning framework
that, which aims to assist with navigating decision making in situations of high uncertainty and complexity.
Page | 114
Effectiveness and Social-Ecological Spillover of Protected Areas: Understanding scale dependencies
Ament J.M & Cumming G.S
Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
Protected areas are considered vital for the conservation of biodiversity. In order to assess the success of these
conservation strategies, it is important to know whether they adequately protect biodiversity within their boundaries;
whether they facilitate land cover change in adjacent areas; and whether areas adjacent to protected areas
disproportionally attract people. We used national and local analyses of land cover and census data in pairwise
comparisons to evaluate the combined effectiveness and spillover effects (i.e., impacts on adjacent areas) of national
parks in South Africa between 2000 and 2010.
We found a simultaneous decrease in natural cover, increase in cultivation cover, and expansion of human population in
the first 10 km surrounding South African national parks. Mean change of natural cover was found to increase with
distance from park boundary, while mean change of cultivation cover decreased with distance from park boundary,
providing evidence for negative spillover effects from protected areas to surrounding lands. However, there was
considerable variation in trends around individual national parks and conclusions about social-ecological spillover effects
from protected areas depended heavily on the scale at which the results were aggregated.
Our findings emphasize the need for high-resolution data when assessing spatially explicit phenomena such as land cover
change and population expansion and challenge the usefulness of large-scale (coarse grain, broad extent) studies for
understanding social-ecological dynamics around protected areas and their contributions to sustained conservation of
biodiversity.
Page | 115
Protected areas tourism – for the benefits of our National Parks
Herbst M.
Tourism Research,Scientific Services,SANParks
[email protected] SANParks is managing a suite of 21 National Parks and the mandate of the organisation continues to be that of
biodiversity conservation and associated cultural heritage, constituency building and responsible tourism products. The
changing and increasingly hostile global financial and ecological conditions continue to put pressure on SANParks. New
and innovative ways are needed for the financial viability of the organisation, without negative impact on the conservation
and sustainability of our biodiversity components. This calls for interesting and challenging multidisciplinary research.
The presentation will focus on the development of ecotourism research and linkages in a SANParks context. Six main
themes for ecotourism research have been identified. These include: (i) Biodiversity/natural capital; (ii) Environmental
Management Systems/Green technologies; (iii) Local communities (incl. local business enterprises/residents); (iv)
Cultural/heritage Tourism; (v) Tourism expectations and Tourism experiences; and (vi) Responsible product development.
It is important to acknowledge that all themes are overlapping and we need to identify and understand the linkages and
trade-offs as well as the different scales they operate on. A concept framework of research opportunities will be presented
with the aim to assist potential researchers to understand the SANParks specific needs and align projects to be useful and
applicable in practise.
Page | 116
Tourists‟ preference for sense of place and less charismatic biodiversity: unveiling new opportunities for conservation
Hausmann A.1, Slotow R.
1,3 & Di Minin E.
1, 2
1Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South
Africa 2Finnish Centre of Excellence in Metapopulation Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
3Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College, London, United Kingdom
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] The ‗Big Five‘, as well as other charismatic megafauna, are considered key flagships for ecotourism and conservation
marketing in sub-Saharan Africa. However, this approach has neglected the value of broader biodiversity as well as the
ecosystem services of sense of place that protected areas provide to people. By using a choice experiment approach
followed by latent class modelling, this study investigated tourists‘ perception of biodiversity and sense of place
experiences alternative to charismatic megafauna in South African protected areas. Sense of place experiences were
mostly defined by outdoor activities and wildlife viewing, which were attributes driving choices for holiday destination.
Results showed heterogeneity in preferences for a range of less-charismatic biodiversity, including small-body mammals,
reptiles, birds, amphibians, insects and vegetation, depending on individuals‘ experiences and socio-economic
background. All tourists expressed feeling of attachment, identity and dependence to the natural environments of
protected areas. By understanding the demand for sense of place and less charismatic biodiversity, the results can be
used to promote new ecotourism market segments alternative to charismatic megafauna. This is particularly important to
unveil new opportunities for protected areas, which have high biodiversity and sense of place values, but lack charismatic
species.
Page | 117
The impact on visitation and the relative importance of iconic animals as tourist attraction in selected SANParks
Pape I., Lubbe B & de Bruyn P.J.N.
University of Pretoria (Division Tourism Management)
[email protected], [email protected]
The study focuses on the introduction/re-introduction of iconic animals in selected SANParks namely Addo Elephant,
Karoo, and Mountain Zebra National Park. The purpose of the study was firstly to determine the relative importance of
iconic animal as a tourist attraction in relation to other attractions, and to determine if their presence affects the type and
number of visitors to the parks. Secondly it aimed to assess the willingness to pay to specifically view iconic animal
species.
The collected data enabled us to compile a detailed description of the visitor profile including demographics, behavioural
characteristics, purpose of visits and how these differ between the international and domestic markets. Results show that
the relative importance of iconic animals is different across the selected parks, but remained a top 10 travel motivation.
The research indicated a general tendency for an increase in visitor numbers with the introductions/re-introductions of
iconic animals but not a significant change in type of visitor. Lastly the research indicated that the majority of respondents
are willing to pay more for the presence of iconic animals in various categories.
This study supports the key research and management issue of using appropriate nature-based tourism as the best
possible financial opportunity to support and supplement conservation whilst providing sustainable high quality, nature-
based, value-for-money tourism experiences.
Further research will be done to compile a conceptual framework assessing the economic implications with regards to the
introduction/re-introduction of iconic animals to indicate the economic plausibility, assist in managerial and related
investment decisions and conservation efforts.
Page | 118
POSTER
An assessment of the effects of tourism on vegetation in Mana Pools National Park
Mabika C.T
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
Areas where consumptive tourism is not allowed to be carried out are generally believed to be the protection zones for the
flora of the world. However, the flora in these areas may be changing without us noticing. A study testing the edge effect
on vegetation is going to be carried out in Mana Pools National Park in 2015. The park will be stratified into two strata,
that is, Area of high tourism activity and an area of low tourism activity. Tourism roads in the park will be used to lay out
belt transects. The belt transects will be laid out parallel to the road at intervals.
The first transect will be 5m from the road, followed by 500m from the road and finally 1km from the road. Plots measuring
20m x 30m will be selected at random within the belt transects. At least 5 plots in each belt transect will be chosen. Non
destructive measures of vegetation are going to be taken, for example, tree height, basal circumference and canopy
depth. The species of the trees will also be taken note of. Statistical analysis will be done using Statistica Version 6.
Regression analysis will be done to determine changes in vegetation with distance from the road. Comparative analyses
will also be done to compare the vegetation in the high tourism activity zone with that in the low tourism activity zone.
Page | 119
Democratization of ecosystem services – a radically revised framework for assessing nature‟s benefits to communities
McHale M.R.1,Twine W.
2, Cadenasso M.L.
3, Ebersohn L.
4, Rivers (III) L.
2, Bunn D.N.
5, Childers D.
6, Pickett S.T.A.
7, Beck
S.2, Swemmer L.
8, Cluett C.
9 & Buscher B.
10
1North Carolina State University
2University of the Witwatersrand 3University of California, Davis
4University of Pretoria
5University of the Witwatersrand
6Arizona State University
7Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies
8South African National Parks
9The Organization for Tropical Studies
10Wageningen University
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] The concept of ecosystem services has emerged as a powerful tool for giving expression to the wide range of direct and
indirect benefits that humans derive from nature. Despite the importance of the ecosystem services concept, its current
applications have been challenged on a number of fronts. Due to the simplistic assumptions that emphasize the economic
evaluation of ecosystem services and erroneous deductions that land use is an indicator of services provided to people,
the ecosystem services framework has arguably failed to become an ideal instrument for linking human and natural
systems in planning and policy.
Perhaps the most troubling issue to date is that many ecosystem services assessments fail to take into account the
values, needs, and aspirations of many affected human communities. Thus, they are a result of an undemocratic process
that reinforces power asymmetries in society, often resulting in inequitable outcomes in their application at the local scale.
We present a new framework for assessing ecosystem services that is inclusive of a broad range of stakeholders‘ values
and results in actual quantification of social and ecological processes.
Utilizing current maps of ecosystem service distribution in Bushbuckridge, we evaluate how a democratized process of
assessing ecosystem services will produce a more nuanced representation of diverse values in society and capture
heterogeneity in ecosystem structure and function. Finally, we demonstrate how this framework could be operationalized
in communities on the border of Kruger National Park and potentially lead to a more sustainable and resilient future for the
region.
Page | 120
An estimate of ecosystem service value of grassland in KwaZulu-Natal
McKean S.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
[email protected] The grassland biome is one of the least protected biomes in South Africa, with less than 2% falling within formally
protected areas. Biodiversity in the grassland biome of KZN is characterised by several biodiversity hotpots e.g.
Drakensberg, Pondoland and Maputaland and a relatively high level of endemism. The grassland biome currently
performs important functions, amongst which are contributing to livestock farming outputs and regulating water supply in
catchments.
KwaZulu-Natal has approximately 50% of its area comprising grassland. About 94% of grassland is not formally protected
while only 6% is conserved in formally protected areas. There are currently (2012) an estimated 3 934 800ha of grassland
in KZN of which 3 657 508ha are outside protected areas. There are 277 292ha inside PAs. There were approximately
5 006 033ha of natural grassland in KZN in 2008 of which 4 728 741ha were outside PAs. This represents a 23%
decrease since 2008 or 6% decrease annually.
The area of natural grassland is decreasing due to land transformation for agriculture, timber plantations, infrastructure
and housing development. It is possible to estimate the value of KZN grasslands to society in terms of the services they
provide to people. Here, the value of grasslands in terms of the services they supply to society is estimated from existing
international literature and from more locally focussed estimates. Combining estimates of value for grassland habitat with
the area size of this vegetation type in KZN indicates that grasslands could realistically generate environmental values in
the order of between R20 000 and R50 000 per hectare per year. Importantly this is an illustrative value, but shows the
orders of magnitude of its contribution to society through cost savings and other benefits.
Page | 121
The IMAGINE Program – Interdisciplinary research with communities to address water related challenges in the Kruger National Park social-ecological system
Cluett C.1, Nichols E.
2, Litzenberger T.
3, Shifleet S.
2, April J.
4, Ebersohn L.
5, Twine W.
6, Beck S.
2, Bunn D.
6 & McHale
M.R.2
1The Organization for Tropical Studies
2North Carolina State University
3North Carolina State University
4Nippissing University
5University of Pretoria
6University of the Witwatersrand
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected],[email protected],[email protected],
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected]
Communities in rural and urbanizing areas adjacent to the Kruger National Park face major challenges regarding the
availability, reliability and quality of their water resources. Management decisions by local communities and governing
agencies to address water related challenges have direct impacts on the ecological structure and function of KNPs
savanna ecosystem. For instance, communities feeling severe stress associated with a lack of consistent and high quality
drinking water provided by ground water resources are proposing alternative strategies for managing surface water to
meet their needs.
In the case of HaMakuya, Limpopo Province, tribal authorities have been attempting to negotiate the installation of a dam
on the Mutale River for several years. Lack of attention to impoverished communities‘ experiences and concerns are
driving proposals for extreme long-term management solutions, while at the same time leaving local residents without any
information on the current state of their water resources. Our goal was to conduct an integrated social and ecological
analysis of water resources across 21 villages in HaMakuya, to provide data that could support short- and long-term
decision making for residents, tribal authorities, and governing agencies in the area.
We conducted surveys to assess people‘s perceptions of water quality and compared perceptions data to quantifiable
water quality variables in each village.Our results showed that there was a wide range of perceived and actual water
quality issues among HaMakuya‘s villages and community outreach is needed to assist people in making everyday
choices regarding the availability and use of their water resources.
Page | 122
Another look at the savannah conundrum: evidence of niche segregation and competition avoidance with grasses in establishing trees
Lewis J.
1, 2 & February E.C.
1, 3
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
Several recent studies have demonstrated an increase in woody cover in response to anthropogenic climate change
(Wigley et al., 2010; Bond & Midgley, 2000; Kgope et al., 2010). This has implications for conservation areas which are
now under threat of bush encroachment. Of particular importance is the establishment phase of trees, as this is when
trees are most susceptible to competition from grasses.
This study investigated the natural levels of tree establishment amongst differing amounts of grass as we sought to
identify the limitation, both aboveground for light and belowground for resources, imposed by grasses on tree
establishment. We found that establishing seedlings were in fact more resilient to grass competition than had previously
been appreciated, as we found established seedlings (at a density of 9 seedlings per 100m2) with a grass canopy cover of
65%. We also found no correlation between our measure of grass competition and seedling performance.
Finally, we found that even very young tree seedlings consistently root deeper than co-occurring grasses, despite
establishing on different geologies, soils and across a rainfall gradient (p < 0.0001) - demonstrating that this resilience to
grass competition is due to a specialised rooting strategy present in seedlings that allows them avoid belowground
competition with grasses. Knowledge of such a rooting strategy has important implications for the management of bush
encroachment in conservation areas as such a rooting strategy is only effective where soils are deep and well drained and
when grass sward composition is mostly shallow-rooted annual pioneer grass species.
Page | 123
Agents of plant litter decomposition in African savannas: effects of rainfall and bush encroachment
Leitner M.1, Robertson M.P.
2, Davies A.B.
3, Parr C.L.
4 & Eggleton P.
5
1Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
2Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002,
South Africa 3Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
4School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, U.K
5Life Sciences Department, LS Terrestrial Invertebrate Division, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7
5BD, U.K
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The decomposition of plant material is a crucial ecosystem process essential for nutrient cycling. However, studies on the
interactions between water availability and decomposition along environmental gradients are scarce with patterns not well
understood, especially in African savannas. Furthermore, details of how processes influenced by global change, such as
bush encroachment, will affect decomposition are largely unaddressed.
We conducted a year-long experiment to assess the relative contribution of three major agents of decomposition (soil
biota, photodegradation and microbes) using litterbags containing either Acacia tortilis (wood) or Themeda triandra
(grass). Our study spanned three savanna sites (Molopo Nature Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve and Marakele
National Park) across a rainfall gradient ranging from 350 - 720 mm/year. We further assessed decomposition within bush
encroached and control (non-encroached) sites.
Wood litterbags lost approximately 20% of their original mass over the year, however, no differences between sites or
treatments were observed. Grass litterbags lost significantly more mass in the intermediate and dry savanna sites, where
photodegradation tended to be the dominant agent of decomposition, closely followed by invertebrates. Grass mass loss
in bush encroached areas was significantly lower than control (non-encroached) areas, suggesting that bush
encroachment slows decomposition. Results regarding termite activity and changes in litter nutrients will also be
discussed. This study provides valuable information regarding decomposition in African savannas and how global change
might alter such processes, with relevance for protected area management and conservation.
Page | 124
Potential of topsoil and hay transfer to restore the Brazilian savanna grassland
Pilon N.A.L.1 & Durigan G.
2
1Institute of Biology, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil
2Forestry Institute of São Paulo State, Brazil
[email protected], [email protected]
Science and practice of restoration is almost inexistent for savanna ecosystems, and the ground layer has been the most
neglected. Aiming to restore savanna grasslands in Brazil, we evaluated topsoil and hay transfer, which have been
successful techniques in temperate grasslands. The study comprised two experiments. In the first, we collected material
in the late dry season and compared: 1) topsoil, 2) hay, 3) topsoil + hay, 4) control plots (bare soil) and 5) reference plots.
Germination was inhibited when using hay, being lower than in the control plots. Topsoil was promising, with richness and
density of native plants similar to the reference ecosystem after five months. However, 83% of the emerged species were
ruderals and we hypothesized that the dry season may not have been appropriate to obtain seedlings of Cerrado endemic
species.
In addition, the African grass Urochloa decumbens covered 100% of the plots in less than four months, in all treatments.
Given these results, we installed a second experiment, comparing only topsoil collected late in the rainy season with
reference and control plots. After five months, density and richness obtained from the top soil were higher than in the
previous experiment, and only 16% of the species were ruderals, resulting in a community much closer to the reference
ecosystem. We considered topsoil transfer as a promising technique to restore the Cerrado grasslands. However,
collecting the material late in the rainy season and controlling the invasive species are critical for the technique to be
successful.
Page | 125
POSTER
Classification and mapping of the vegetation of the Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
Cunliffe R.1 ,Attorre F.
1, Martini F.
1, Farcomeni A.
2, Guillet A.
3
1Environmental Biology Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
2Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
3Central Technical Unit, DGCS, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome, Italy
[email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected],[email protected], [email protected]
An automatic classification of the vegetation types of the Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe, along with a map
of their potential distribution is presented. GNP is located along the border of Mozambique covering an area of about
5.200 km2 and is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Area. Ground survey included 330 plots conducted using a
plotless approach with a sample area between 0.5-2 ha. Plots have been classified into groups based on their species
composition according to a dissimilarity matrix built on the Kulczynski distance. Optimal number of groups has been
identified based on the ‗gap‘ statistic.
Based on this method fourteen groups belonging to three macro-groups (Mopane and Miombo and Alluvial woodlands)
have been identified and characterized according to diagnostic species and environmental features. Diagnostic species
have been identified calculating a fidelity coefficient and the Fisher‘s exact test. Random forest technique has been used
to model the relationship between classified plots and climatic and topographical variables with a spatial resolution of 100
m. After validation a potential distribution map of the 14 vegetation types has been produced as a planning and
management tool. The procedure applied in this study can be extended to the wider transfontier area in order to produce
standardized classification and mapping of the vegetation.
Page | 126
POSTER
Towards a National Framework for Monitoring Savanna and Other Forests – the National Forest Resources Assessment (NFRA)
Bester J.J., Vorster T. & van der Merwe I.J.
Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries
[email protected] , [email protected], [email protected]
The National Forests Act (Act 84 of 1998) mandates the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to monitor all
forests, including savanna woodland. Further monitoring and reporting mandates emanates from international
conventions, such as the UNCBD and UNFCCC. A monitoring framework is under development that would improve the
level of information available to policy makers, planners, and researchers. Currently this framework is referred to as the
National Forest Resources Assessment (NFRA). It is anticipated that the NFRA will highlight substantial information gaps
that may need to be covered by focussed research to enable full utility of the NFRA.
The objective with the NFRA is to provide a modular framework for the consistent and purposeful generation of monitoring
data about the extent, status, condition and value of all forest resources. Critical elements of this framework include the
classification of forest types and the forms of land use that may be applicable where forest land is converted to other land
types. This poster briefly outlines the envisaged structure of the NFRA and processes of data generation; it further
elaborates on the classification of forest types and of land use. Variables that will need to be recorded for the NFRA are
briefly outlined.
Page | 127
Surname Name Title Organisation e-mail
Abstract Page Number
Ament Judith Miss University of Cape Town [email protected] 114
Andersen Alan Prof CSIRO [email protected] 11,37
Asner Greg Dr Carnegie Institution [email protected] 12,54,69,109
Assis Geissianny B. Miss Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens Reseach Institute [email protected] 41
Attorre Fabio Mr Sapienza University of Rome [email protected] 125
Augustine David Dr US Department of Agriculture [email protected]
Baade Jussi Dr Department of Geography, FSU Jena, Germany [email protected] 70,71,72,108,110
Balzter Heiko Prof University of Leicester [email protected] 106,107
Beckett Heath Mr University of Cape Town [email protected] 13
Beets Warren Mr Guardian Wildlife Services [email protected]
Beechler Brianna Mrs Oregon State University [email protected] 60
Bester Johan Mr Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [email protected] 126
Bissett Charlene Dr SANParks [email protected]
Bond William Prof University of Cape Town [email protected] 8,9,13,21,30,38
Bosch Almero Mr Timbavati Private Nature Reserve [email protected]
Botha Andre Mr The Endangered Wildlife Trust [email protected] 88,91
Botha Judith Mrs SANParks [email protected] 34,35,36
Boyers Melinda Mrs University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 4
Brando Paulo Mr Carnegie Institute for Science/IPAM [email protected] 14
Bunn David Prof The University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 93,119, 121
Burkepile Deron Prof Florida International University [email protected] 20
Campos Ricardo Dr Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil [email protected] 17
Cardoso Anabella Ms University of Oxford [email protected] 19
Caron Alexandre Dr CIRAD - RP-PCP [email protected] 95
Chamaille-Jammes Simon Dr CNRS [email protected] 56,75
Charles-Dominique Tristan Dr University of Cape Town [email protected]
Chelliah Karpagam Ms Centre for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore [email protected] 5,16
Cluett Colleen Ms The Organization for Tropical Studies [email protected] 119, 121
Coetsee Corli Dr SANParks [email protected] 24,38,46
Combrink Anica Miss North-West University [email protected] 36
Cook Robin Mr University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 11,96
Cornelis Daniel Dr CIRAD - RP-PCP [email protected] 95
Dabengwa Abraham Mr University of Cape Town [email protected] 21
Daemane Mahlomola Mr SANParks [email protected]
Davies Andrew Dr Carnegie Institute for Science/IPAM [email protected] 45,48,54,123
Page | 128
Surname Name Title Organisation e-mail
Abstract Page Number
De Bie Steven Prof Wageningen University [email protected]
De Bruyn Nico Dr University of Pretoria [email protected] 63,64,117
De Swardt Donovan Mr Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University [email protected] 46
Di Mini Enrico Dr University of Helsinki [email protected] 99,116
Durigan Giselda Prof Forestry Institute of Sao Paulo [email protected] 27,41,124
Falge Eva Dr Thunen Insitute of Climate-Smart Agriculture [email protected] 111
February Ed Prof University of Cape Town [email protected] 49,52,122
Ferguson Craig Mr Ukhozi Nature Reserve [email protected]
Ferreira Sam Dr SANParks [email protected] 53,62,100
Fisher Jolene Dr University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 109
Foxcroft Llewellyn Dr SANParks [email protected] 42
Freitag-Ronaldson Stef Dr SANParks [email protected] 77
Gaylard Angela Mrs SANParks [email protected]
Gillson Lindsey Ass.Prof University of Cape Town [email protected] 21,28,113
Glotzbach Christoph Prof Insitute of Geology, Leibniz University Hannover [email protected] 70,71,72
Govender Danny Dr SANParks [email protected] 77,78,80,81,82,87
Govender Navashni Mrs SANParks [email protected] 12,16,20,25
Gray Emma Miss Macquarie University [email protected]
Greaver Cathy Miss SANParks [email protected]
Guillet Alfredo Dr Italian Ministry of Foreing Affairs, environment [email protected] 125
Hannweg Karin Ms Agricultural Research Council [email protected] 101
Hassim Ayesha Miss University of Pretoria [email protected] 61,88
Hausmann Anna Miss University of Kwazulu-Natal [email protected] 116
Hedin Lars Prof Princeton University [email protected] 29
Hempson Gareth Mr Organization for Tropical Studies [email protected] 30
Henley Michelle Dr Save the Elephants - South Africa [email protected] 31,96
Herbst Marna Dr SANParks [email protected] 115
Hetem Robyn Dr University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 3,4
Hofmeyr Michele Mrs SANParks [email protected] 101
Hofmeyr Marcus Dr SANParks [email protected] 95
Howes Caroline [email protected] 15,89
Humphrey Glynis Miss Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Science [email protected] 28
Huttich Christian Dr Friedrich-Schiller-University [email protected]> 110,111, 121
Ibrahim Sa'ad Mr University of Leicester [email protected] 106,107
Jackson Craig Mr Norwegian University of Science & Technology [email protected]
Khosa Steven Mr SANParks [email protected]
Kiker Greg Prof University of Florida [email protected] 10,112
Page | 129
Surname Name Title Organisation e-mail
Abstract Page Number
King Lucy Dr Save the Elephants - South Africa [email protected] 97
Kruger Fred Dr Organization for Tropical Studies [email protected]
Lagendijk Georgette Dr UnIversity of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected] 48
Lease Rachel Miss K-State [email protected]
Leitner Monica Miss University of Pretoria [email protected] 123
Lenfers Ulfia Mrs Hamburg University of Applied Sciences [email protected] 112
Lerm Rion Mr SEAON [email protected] 83
Levick Shaun Dr Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry [email protected] 11
Lewis Joel Mr University of Cape Town [email protected] 122
Lind Bri Ms South Dakota State University [email protected] 47
Lubbe Berendien Prof University of Pretoria [email protected] 117
Luck Wolfgang Mr Forest Sense [email protected] 111
Luthuli Khumbuzile Miss eThekwini Municipality, Parks Leisure & Cemeteries [email protected]
Mabika Kenneth Mr eThekwini Municipality, Parks Leisure & Cemeteries [email protected] 118
Mabuza Samantha Miss SANParks [email protected] 2, 26
Marchal Antoine Mr University of Pretoria [email protected] 63
Martin Jodie Dr University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 55
Martini Francesco Mr Sapienza University of Rome [email protected] 125
Mattheus Jaco Mr Global Supplies [email protected]
Mauda Evans Mr University of Venda [email protected] 98
McHale Melissa Dr North Carolina State University [email protected] 119, 121
McKean Steve Mr Ezemvelo KZNWildlife [email protected] 120
Merrilees Nicola Ms Guardian Wildlife Services [email protected]
Meyer Irma Mrs University of Pretoria [email protected]
Miller Jordan Miss Rhodes University [email protected] 70,71,72
Mkhwanazi Sibusiso Mr eThekwini Municipality, Parks Leisure & Cemeteries [email protected]
Mograbi Penny Miss University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 69,109
Mohlala Thabo Mr SEAON [email protected] 77,78,85
Morris Taryn Dr University of Northern Arizona [email protected] 74
Msiteli-Shumba Stembile Mrs University of Zimbabwe [email protected]
Mpanza Nokukhanya Miss SANParks [email protected] 84
Mugwabana Fhatuwani Mr SANParks [email protected]
Munyai Caswell Mr University of Venda [email protected] 6,98
Munyai Lufuno Mr SANParks [email protected]
Murn Campbell Dr Hawk Conservancy Trust [email protected] 88,90
Ndzimbovu Nosipho Miss eThekwini Municipality, Parks Leisure & Cemeteries [email protected]
Page | 130
Surname Name Title Organisation e-mail
Abstract Page Number
Nippert Jesse Prof K-State [email protected] 7,73
Ntshane Claire Miss SANParks [email protected]
Nzima Noel Mr SANParks [email protected]
Odipo Victor Mr Friedrich-Schiller-University [email protected] 103,110
O'Keefe Kim Miss K-State [email protected] 7
O'Regan Hannah Dr University of Nittingham Hannah.O'[email protected] 102
Owen-Smith Norman Prof University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 4,55,65
Page Bruce Mr University of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected] 32
Palmer Tally Prof Rhodes University [email protected] 79
Palmer Tony Dr Agricultural Research Council [email protected] 104
Parr Kate Dr University of Liverpool [email protected] 45,52,123
Parrini Francesca Dr University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 4,57,96
Peel Mike Dr Agricultural Research Councilm- RFI [email protected]
Petersen Robin Mr SANParks [email protected] 77,78,87
Pilon Natashi A. Lima Miss University of Campinas, Sao Paulo [email protected] 124
Pitman Ross Mr University of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected]
Postma Martin Mr University of Pretoria [email protected] 64
Potgieter Daniel Mr Department of Water and Sanitation [email protected] 86
Pretorius Yolanda Ms University of Pretoria [email protected] 39
Purdon Andrew Mr University of Pretoria [email protected]
Prins Herbert Prof Wageningen University [email protected] 16
Reinwarth Bastian Mr Friedrich-Schiller-University [email protected] 70,71,72
Richardson Philip Dr Human Wildlife Solutions [email protected] 94
Riddel Eddie Dr SANParks [email protected] 34,76,77,78
Robson Ashley Mr University of Pretoria [email protected]
Rode Ziggy Miss Human Wildlife Solutions [email protected] 94
Schmitt Melissa Ms University of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected] 43,44
Schmullius Christiane Prof Friedrich-Schiller-University [email protected] 103,108,110,111
Scholes Bob Prof University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 1,107,110
Scholtz Rheinhardt Mr SANParks [email protected] 90
Schrader Adrian Dr University of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected] 43,44,59
Scoggings Peter Prof Univeristy of Zululand [email protected] 33,34,
Shikwambana Purvance Miss SANParks [email protected] 81,82
Sibiya Thabang Miss SANParks [email protected] 42
Siebert Frances Mrs North-West University [email protected] 34,35,36,50,67
Simms Chenay Miss SANParks [email protected] 87
Page | 131
Surname Name Title Organisation e-mail
Abstract Page Number
Sithole Hendrik Mr SANParks [email protected] 77,78
Skarpe Christina Hedmark Univiersity College [email protected]
Slotow Rob Prof University of Kwazulu-Natal [email protected] 5,16,23,48,99,116
Smit Izak Dr SANParks [email protected] 12,107,108
Stears Keenan Mr University of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected] 59
Stevens Nicola Miss SEAON [email protected] 9
Strauss Maartin Mr Unisa/Wits University [email protected] 62
Strydom Tercia Miss SANParks [email protected] 2,76,77
Swart Jonathan Mr Welgevonden Game Reserve [email protected]
Swemmer Tony SEAON [email protected] 22,34,67,73,76,83
Swemmer Louise Mrs SANParks [email protected] 92,119
Tantsi Nolubabalo Miss SANParks [email protected] 100
Thaker Maria Dr Indian Insitute of Science [email protected] 5,16,23
Thiel-Clemen Thomas Prof Hamburg University of Applied Sciences [email protected] 111,112
Thompson Dave Dr SEAON [email protected] 20
Traill Lochran Dr University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 65
Trisos Matthew Mr University of Cape Town [email protected] 52
Twine Wayne Prof University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 66,68,111, 119, 121
Vaals Hugo Mr CNRS [email protected] 75
Van Aarde Rudi Prof University of Pretoria [email protected]
Van Altena JJ Mr Global Supplies [email protected]
Van Coller Helga Miss North-West University [email protected] 50
Van der Merwe Izak Mr Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [email protected] 126
Van der Westhuizen Rickert Mr Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife [email protected]
Van Heerden Henriette Dr University of Pretoria [email protected] 61,88,91
Van Niekerk Iaan Mr University of Pretoria [email protected] 88,91
Van Oort Jordi Mr Wageningen [email protected]
Van Staden Nanette Miss North-West University [email protected] 67
Vanak Abi Dr Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology in the Environment [email protected] 5,16,23
Vasconcelos Heraldo Dr Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil [email protected] 17,18
Veldhuis Michiel Mr Univeristy of Gronigen (Netherlands) [email protected] 51
Venter Freek Dr SANParks [email protected] 77
Venter Jacques Mr SANParks [email protected] 77,78,85
Venter Jan Dr Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency [email protected]
Wallach Arian Dr Charles Darwin University [email protected] 58
Wentzel Jeanette Miss University of Pretoria [email protected]
Page | 132
Surname Name Title Organisation e-mail
Abstract Page Number
Whitecross Melissa Ms University of the Witwatersrand [email protected] 15,105
Wigley Ben Mr Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University [email protected] 24,38
Woodborne Stephan Dr CSIR [email protected] 82
Yiu Sze-Wing Miss The University of Hong Kong [email protected] 57
Zambatis Guin Mrs SANParks [email protected]
Day Visitor
Slabbert Liandi Mrs SANParks [email protected]
Pienaar Danie Mr SANParks 81,82
Page | 133
Sponsors and Thanks for this year include:
SANParks
South African Environmental Observations Network
Mpumalanga Promotions
Global Supplies
.
#SSNM
![Page 1] [Page 2] [Page 3] Claves](https://img.pdfslide.net/doc/110x75/631e609556cbbb4750058548/page-1-page-2-page-3-claves.jpg)
