Thesis (MSc (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 2005, six white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) were reintroduced into Pafuri, in
the far northern section of Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa, as part of a
large mammal reintroduction project. All six individuals were fitted with horn radio
transmitters. Rhinos have been absent from Pafuri for over a century, and this project
aimed to establish a breeding nucleus in the area. The aim of this study was to
monitor post-release movement and habitat use of these animals within the 203 km2
study area and assess the short term success of the re-introduction project as well as
the suitability of the five landscape types in Pafuri as a habitat for white rhinoceros.
Habitat suitability and selection was assessed at two ecological hierarchical scales: 1)
landscape system, analysed further down to the spatial scale of range and territory
establishment, and 2) feeding station for diet selection. Rhinos were tracked for 12
months and a database of 719 sighting records was compiled. These data were used to
determine the utilisation of and preference between the Pafuri landscape types, using
preference indices that compare utilisation versus availability. An a-LoCoH
nonparametric kernel method was used to calculate home ranges and utilisation
distributions of each rhino. Feeding surveys were attempted by backtracking along
fresh rhino feeding paths and recording the grass species present and eaten in 0.7 m x
0.7 m quadrats. Faecal samples were collected and analysed using microhistological
techniques and dietary composition was assessed for each rhino.
Landscape preference analyses showed that the rhinos favoured Colophospermum
mopane Shrubveld on calcrete in the dry season, and the Punda Maria Sandveld in the
wet season. The territory establishment of the dominant bull was substantially larger
(44.8 km²) than those of adult male rhinos in the rest of KNP. Ranging areas of the
mature females (17 – 25.4 km²), were consistent with sizes of previous studies. The
two sub-adults ranged far more extensively, establishing an 84.1 km² annual range
during the study period. The annual diet consisted of mostly perennial grass species,
with moderate grazing value species dominating for most of the year. Dietary
analyses showed that Schmidtia pappophoroides, Eragrostis superba, Enneapogon cenchroides,
Cenchrus ciliaris and Stipagrostis uniplumis were the primary grass species consumed.
vii
This study demonstrated that the Pafuri rhinos are behaving similarly to rhinos
established in other areas, with movements around the landscapes being primarily
influenced by rainfall and permanent water sources, and the high quality grazing that
is more abundant in the wet season. Their range and territory sizes were inevitably
large, for a low density area, but not uncommonly so. The most significant outcome
of this study was the preference shown for the Colophospermum mopane Shrubveld on
calcrete landscape that is classed as unique within South Africa, and was also ranked
as ‘avoided’ by the earlier KNP studies into landscape preferences of rhinos. The
grass cover in Pafuri, although sparse and very dry, contained a diversity of low to
high grazing value grasses that the rhinos appeared to exploit to the best of their
ability. The abundance of moderate grazing value species in their diets, and the low
number of low grazing value species suggests that they are maximising the
opportunities to graze on nutritious grasses when they are available. Our findings
suggest that the Pafuri area is suitable for the establishment of a small breeding
nucleus of white rhinos. The abundance of permanent water, in the form of springs,
is a great advantage however, the potential for bush encroachment into grasslands in
areas of such low rainfall needs to be considered if the population continues to grow
at the current rate. The birth of two new calves in 2008 confirms that these rhinos
have settled and adapted to their new habitat, and is a very promising sign for the
future of this increasing subpopulation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2005 is ses wit renosters (Ceratotherium simum) hervestig in Pafuri in die noordelike
gedeelte van die Kruger Nasionale Park (KNP), Suid-Afrika, as deel van ‘n groot
soogdier hervestigings projek. Al ses individue is gemerk met horing radioseintoestelle.
Renosters kom vir al meer as ‘n honderd jaar nie meer in Pafuri voor nie
en hierdie projek was daarop gemik om ‘n teel-nukleus in hierdie gesied te vestig. Die
doel van hierdie studie was om die verspreiding van die renosters na loslating en
habitat-gebruik binne die 203 km2 studie-omgewing te monitor, om die korttermyn
sukses van die hervestigings program te evalueer en ook te kyk na die gepastheid van
die vyf landskap-tipes in Pafuri as ‘n geskikte habitat vir die wit renosters.
Habitatgepastheid en seleksie is geëvalueer volgens twee ekologiese hiërargiese skale:
1) landskapsisteem, wat in meer resolusie tot die ruimtelike skaal van reikwydte en
omgewingsvestiging geanaliseer is, en 2) voedings-stasie vir dieet-seleksie. Renosters
is vir 12 maande gevolg en ‘n databasis wat 719 waarneming-rekords bevat, is
opgestel. Laasgenoemde data is gebruik om die gebruik en voorkeur vir die Pafuri
landskap tipes te bepaal met behulp van voorkeur-indikators wat die gebruik met
beskikbaarheid vergelyk het. ‘n a-LoCoH nie-parametriese kern metode is gebruik
om die reikwydte en gebruiksverspreidings van elke renoster te bereken.
Voedingsopnames is gedoen deurdat vars renoster voedings-paadjies terugwaarts
gevolg is en die grasspesies teenwoordig en waarop gevoed is, in 0.7 m x 0.7 m
kwadrante te bepaal. Mismonsters is versamel en geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak
van mikro-histologiese tegnieke en voedingswaarde-samestellings is vasgestel vir elke
renoster .
Landskapsvoorkeur analises dui daarop dat die renosters in die droë seisoen
Colophospermum mopane struikveld wat op kalkreet groei verkies en die Punda Maria
Sandveld in die reën seisoen. Die terrein vestiging van die dominanate bul was
aansienlik groter (44.8 km²) in vergelyking met die volwasse bul renosters in die res
van die KNP. Reikwydte van die volwasse koeie (17 – 25.4 km²) was
ooreenstemmend met dié van vorige studies. Die reikwydte van die twee subvolwassenes
het baie meer gevarieer, deurdat ‘n 84.1 km² jaarlikse reikwydte gedek
was binne die studie periode. Die jaarlikse dieet het meestal bestaan uit meerjarige
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grasspesies, met spesies met matige weidingswaarde wat oorheers vir meeste van die
jaar. Voedingswaarde analises dui daarop dat Schmidtia pappophoroides, Eragrostis
superba, Enneapogon cenchroides, Cenchrus ciliaris en Stipagrostis uniplumis die primêre gras
spesies was waarop gewei word.
Die studie het bewys dat die Pafuri renosters soortgelyke gedragspatrone vertoon het
as renosters in ander gevestigde gebiede, deurdat bewegings binne die landskap
hoofsaaklik beïnvloed word deur reënval en permanente waterbronne, asook die hoë
gehalte weidingsbronne beskikbaar gedurende die reën seisoen. Hulle reikwydte- en
terrein-groottes was uiteraardelik groot vir ‘n lae-digtheid areas, maar dit is nie
buitengewoon nie. Die mees betekenisvolle gevolgtrekking van die studie was die
voorkeur vir die Colophospermum mopane struikveld op kalkreet landskappe wat beskou
word as uniek aan Suid-Afrika, en wat ook beskou was as ‘vermy’ deur vroër KNP
studies tov. landskap voorkeure spesifiek vir renosters. Die grasbedekking in Pafuri,
alhoewel yl en baie droog, het tog oor ‘n verskeidenheid grasse beskik wat van lae tot
hoë weidings waarde het, en wat die renosters tot die beste van hulle vermoë benut
het. Die oorvloedige teenwoordigheid van beide spesies met matige weidingswaarde
in hulle dieët en die lae hoeveelheid van spesies met lae weidingswaarde, impliseer
dat hulle die geleentheid om op voedingsryke grasse te voed ten volle benut wanneer
dit beskikbaar is. Ons resultate dui daarop dat die Pafuri omgewing geskik is vir die
vestiging van ‘n klein teel-nukleus van wit renosters. Die oorvloedige
teenwoordigheid van permanente waterbronne in die vorm van fonteine is ‘n groot
voordeel, maar die kans vir bosindringing in hierdie grasveld-gebiede met lae reënval
moet oorweeg word sou die populasie aanhou toeneem teen die huidige tempo. Die
geboorte van twee nuwe kalfies in 2008 staaf die moontlikheid dat die renosters
gevestig en aangepas het in hulle nuwe habitat, wat ‘n baie belowende teken is vir die
toekoms van die groeiende subpopulasie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4037 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Pedersen, Gayle |
| Contributors | Leslie, Alison, Owen-Smith, Norman, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 107 p. : ill., maps |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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