Evaluating ecological monitoring systems on Mabula Game Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa

摘要: Evaluating ecological monitoring systems on Mabula Game Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa By Samuel Smallwood Centre for Wildlife Management Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University Pretoria Supervisor: Prof. M. W. van Rooyen Co-supervisor: Prof J. du P. Bothma MAGISTER SCIENTIAE (WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT) Ecological is an integral part the active adaptive management wildlife reserves. The present study was conducted as initial trial a holistic programme Reserve using three existing survey methods. information gained after each period relevant decisions are: • Large herbivore monitoring: This system gave specific which vegetation community types large herbivores are utilising selecting. used in conjunction with two count data to determine stocking rate reserve. If required, populations can be increase or decreased, found necessary browsers Reserve. Herbaceous provides economic grazing capacity individual communities terms Grazing Units. estimation actual Units occurring community. total should less than (70% capacity). Woody browsing Browser community, combination all results from methods provided rates different herbivores, will ensure optimal production without diminishing condition Long-term enable establishment database assess dynamics components covered over time. Changes habitat selection observed patterns determined relation environmental variables such rainfall. long-term vegetations layers provide changes plant species composition structure communities. then compared other influence gain help determining cause any changes.