Thesis (M.Sc. (Zoology)) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / The aim of this study was to determine the breeding habitat of Blue Crane (Anthropoides
paradiseus) by investigating the home range, habitat selection and habitat suitability.
Geographic Information System (GIS) was used as the main tool for analysis.
Home range sizes of Blue Cranes were studied during the breeding season using direct
observation method. A 50% and 95% Adaptive Kernel was used to estimate home range sizes. The
home range sizes were 9.0 ha and 43.5 ha for 50% and 95% Adaptive Kernel, respectively. All the
nests were located within 50% Adaptive Kernel, often referred to as core area. The nests were
located in agricultural land (mainly pasture) and close to water sources.
Habitat selection was studied at nest sites (n = 74) and random sites (n = 200) following site
attribute design. The Blue Crane showed a preference to breed in agricultural lands, close
proximity to water sources, higher elevation areas, within north eastern sandy highveld
vegetation, and north facing slope. The Blue Crane also avoided anthropogenic factors such as
built-up land, roads and railway line.
ModelBuilder extension of ArcGIS software was used to construct a breeding habitat suitability
model for Blue Cranes. Nine habitat variables (water source, slope, aspect, elevation, land use,
vegetation, built-up land, roads and railway line) were used in the model. The model was
constructed using reclassify and weighted overlay command. Highly suitable sites accounted for
601, 448 ha, while moderately suitable sites accounted for 823, 593 ha, and least suitable sites
accounted for 3, 000, 153 ha.
This study demonstrated the effective use of GIS technology in analysing the breeding ecology of
Blue Crane. The GIS technology provided capabilities for capturing and analysing varied and
large data. It was also evident that availability of accurate and complete species data remains
vital to enable the full utilization of the GIS technology.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/807 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Mmonoa, Ernest Mmaphuti |
| Contributors | Potgieter, M. J., Venter, J. A. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | x, 91 leaves : ill., maps. |
| Relation | Adobe acrobat reader, version 8 |
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