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A camera trap appraisal of mammal species richness and spatio-temporal characteristics in a private nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Author(s)
Henshall, Michael Samuel
Date Issued
2024
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Globally biodiversity declined by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2022. Given
the irreplaceable ecosystem services supplied by biodiversity to human populations,
it is imperative that the remaining biodiversity on Earth is protected. Protected areas
(PAs) have been found to be the most effective method to conserve biodiversity,
with larger PAs being more impactful than smaller PAs. As the human population on
Earth continues to grow, space for the proclamation of new PAs is limited, and
private as well as governmental resources to adequately manage already existing
PAs is insufficient. In order to best conserve remaining biodiversity it would be most
effective to focus conservation efforts on Earths 35 biodiversity hotspots. Three of
these hotspots occur in South Africa and vary in their threats and conservation status.
Of these three hotspots, the Maputaland Pondoland-Albany hotspot (MPAh) has the
greatest number of people living in it, with large portions of the area having been
transformed and habitat degraded. Roughly only 25% of this hotspot still remaining
in a wild, unaltered state. To ensure adequate conservation practices and
management plans for PAs it is helpful to have a good understanding as to what
biodiversity still remains on the PA and how the present biodiversity responds to the
many anthropogenic and environmental pressures that pose a risk to the longevity
and health of the PA.
One PA, within the MPAh, that is potentially to be included in a larger PA is the 11
000 ha Mawana Game Reserve (MGR). This private reserve, found in South Africa's
KZN province, is made up of 85% savannah biome and around 15% grassland, one of
South Africa’s most threatened biomes. Since the 1980s, after many small
subsistence farms were consolidated into one larger farm, MGR has seen multiple
species of medium and large herbivorous mammal (> 0.5 kg) reintroductions take
place, including a herd of elephants (Loxodonta africana) reintroduced in 2003. To
assess the current state of the medium to large mammal population on MGR a
survey was conducted that used camera traps, a technology that has proven to be
very useful in the assessment of mammal populations. A four-month camera trap study was conducted on MGR over the wet season from
November 2021 until March 2022. A total of 51 survey locations, spaced evenly
across the landscape, using a 1.3 x 1.3 km grid, were sampled for 40 days each, with
19 and 18 camera traps moved from north to south across three separate survey
blocks. A total of 29 species of medium to large mammals were observed during the
survey period, while Bayesian and non-parametric estimates suggested that between
3 and 6 more species are present but went undetected. It is suggested, therefore,
that a maximum of 35 medium to large mammal species occur on MGR, a number
supported by the fact that 6 species detected on MGR before and since this research
were not detected during the camera trap survey. The 29 species detected
represents 56% of the 51 species thought to be historically present on MGR. A
Bayesian analysis was performed using a hierarchical detection-based multi-species
occupancy model to assess the space use of mammal species and species richness.
Ten potential predictors (covariates), - seven environmental (altitude, fire, grass
biomass, heterogeneity, slope, vegetation type, visibility) - three anthropogenic
(proximity to human settlement, roads and reserve boundary), were analysed to see
which covariates significantly predicted mammal space use and species richness. All
environmental covariates other than slope and fire were found to impact species
richness. Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) and impala (Aepyceros melampus)
were impacted by altitude, giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) were impacted by fires, vervet
monkeys (Chlorocebus pygertythrus) and bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) were
impacted by grass biomass. Giraffe, impala, plains zebra (Equus quagga burchellii)
and black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) were impacted by heterogeneity,
plains zebra and blesbok were both influenced by visibility. Plains zebra, blesbok,
black-backed jackal, giraffe, baboons (Papio ursinus) and vervet monkeys all showed
preferences for specific vegetation types across MGR.
Impala, nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) and vervet monkeys were impacted by proximity
to human settlements, warthogs and baboons were affected by proximity to roads and nyala and blesbok were affected by proximity to reserve boundaries. After
spatial analyses were conducted, the medium to large mammals of MGR were
assessed for temporal behavioural responses to: each other, human settlements and
perceived anthropogenic and predatory risks. Both warthogs and common duiker
were found to be active at significantly different times of the day to each other as
well as impala and nyala for duikers and impala, nyala, wildebeest (Connochaetes
taurinus) and zebra for warthogs.
Common duiker were found to change their behavioural patterns as they got closer
to human settlements, while no species were detected changing their behavioural
patterns in response to varying visibility facilitated by open or closed (dense)
vegetation.
This repeatable study has assisted MGR by establishing baseline data that may be
used to assess the area-specific conservation and management practices and actions
that may occur on the reserve in the future. This study has allowed MGR and similar
small PAs in southern Africa to gain more knowledge on the anthropogenic and
environmental pressures that pose a risk to the medium and large mammals present.
the irreplaceable ecosystem services supplied by biodiversity to human populations,
it is imperative that the remaining biodiversity on Earth is protected. Protected areas
(PAs) have been found to be the most effective method to conserve biodiversity,
with larger PAs being more impactful than smaller PAs. As the human population on
Earth continues to grow, space for the proclamation of new PAs is limited, and
private as well as governmental resources to adequately manage already existing
PAs is insufficient. In order to best conserve remaining biodiversity it would be most
effective to focus conservation efforts on Earths 35 biodiversity hotspots. Three of
these hotspots occur in South Africa and vary in their threats and conservation status.
Of these three hotspots, the Maputaland Pondoland-Albany hotspot (MPAh) has the
greatest number of people living in it, with large portions of the area having been
transformed and habitat degraded. Roughly only 25% of this hotspot still remaining
in a wild, unaltered state. To ensure adequate conservation practices and
management plans for PAs it is helpful to have a good understanding as to what
biodiversity still remains on the PA and how the present biodiversity responds to the
many anthropogenic and environmental pressures that pose a risk to the longevity
and health of the PA.
One PA, within the MPAh, that is potentially to be included in a larger PA is the 11
000 ha Mawana Game Reserve (MGR). This private reserve, found in South Africa's
KZN province, is made up of 85% savannah biome and around 15% grassland, one of
South Africa’s most threatened biomes. Since the 1980s, after many small
subsistence farms were consolidated into one larger farm, MGR has seen multiple
species of medium and large herbivorous mammal (> 0.5 kg) reintroductions take
place, including a herd of elephants (Loxodonta africana) reintroduced in 2003. To
assess the current state of the medium to large mammal population on MGR a
survey was conducted that used camera traps, a technology that has proven to be
very useful in the assessment of mammal populations. A four-month camera trap study was conducted on MGR over the wet season from
November 2021 until March 2022. A total of 51 survey locations, spaced evenly
across the landscape, using a 1.3 x 1.3 km grid, were sampled for 40 days each, with
19 and 18 camera traps moved from north to south across three separate survey
blocks. A total of 29 species of medium to large mammals were observed during the
survey period, while Bayesian and non-parametric estimates suggested that between
3 and 6 more species are present but went undetected. It is suggested, therefore,
that a maximum of 35 medium to large mammal species occur on MGR, a number
supported by the fact that 6 species detected on MGR before and since this research
were not detected during the camera trap survey. The 29 species detected
represents 56% of the 51 species thought to be historically present on MGR. A
Bayesian analysis was performed using a hierarchical detection-based multi-species
occupancy model to assess the space use of mammal species and species richness.
Ten potential predictors (covariates), - seven environmental (altitude, fire, grass
biomass, heterogeneity, slope, vegetation type, visibility) - three anthropogenic
(proximity to human settlement, roads and reserve boundary), were analysed to see
which covariates significantly predicted mammal space use and species richness. All
environmental covariates other than slope and fire were found to impact species
richness. Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) and impala (Aepyceros melampus)
were impacted by altitude, giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) were impacted by fires, vervet
monkeys (Chlorocebus pygertythrus) and bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) were
impacted by grass biomass. Giraffe, impala, plains zebra (Equus quagga burchellii)
and black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) were impacted by heterogeneity,
plains zebra and blesbok were both influenced by visibility. Plains zebra, blesbok,
black-backed jackal, giraffe, baboons (Papio ursinus) and vervet monkeys all showed
preferences for specific vegetation types across MGR.
Impala, nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) and vervet monkeys were impacted by proximity
to human settlements, warthogs and baboons were affected by proximity to roads and nyala and blesbok were affected by proximity to reserve boundaries. After
spatial analyses were conducted, the medium to large mammals of MGR were
assessed for temporal behavioural responses to: each other, human settlements and
perceived anthropogenic and predatory risks. Both warthogs and common duiker
were found to be active at significantly different times of the day to each other as
well as impala and nyala for duikers and impala, nyala, wildebeest (Connochaetes
taurinus) and zebra for warthogs.
Common duiker were found to change their behavioural patterns as they got closer
to human settlements, while no species were detected changing their behavioural
patterns in response to varying visibility facilitated by open or closed (dense)
vegetation.
This repeatable study has assisted MGR by establishing baseline data that may be
used to assess the area-specific conservation and management practices and actions
that may occur on the reserve in the future. This study has allowed MGR and similar
small PAs in southern Africa to gain more knowledge on the anthropogenic and
environmental pressures that pose a risk to the medium and large mammals present.
Additional information
Thesis (Master of Conservation Science: Nature Conservation)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2024
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