Comparative use of burnt grassland by rare antelope species in a lowveld game ranch, South Africa
-
Published source details
Gureja N. & Owen-Smith N. (2002) Comparative use of burnt grassland by rare antelope species in a lowveld game ranch, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 32, 31-38.
Published source details Gureja N. & Owen-Smith N. (2002) Comparative use of burnt grassland by rare antelope species in a lowveld game ranch, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 32, 31-38.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Use prescribed burning Action Link |
 |
-
Use prescribed burning
A before-and-after study in 2000 of a shrubland ranch in South Africa (Gureja & Owen-Smith 2002) found that prescribed burning of an area increased its use by roan antelope Hippotragus equinus and tsessebe Damaliscus lunatus but not by Lichtenstein’s hartebeest Alcelaphus lichtensteini or sable antelope Hippotragus niger. Roan were seen more frequently on burned areas (113 sightings) than on unburned areas (81 sightings) relative to their availability (31% of the study area was burned). Tsessebe showed a similar pattern (burned: 77 sightings; unburned: 54 sightings) as did zebra Equus burchelli (burned: 96 sightins; unburned: 24) There was no consistent selection for burned areas by hartebeest (burned: 27; unburned: 24) or sable antelope (burned: 12; unburned: 27). See paper for further details of timings of use of burned areas. Rare herbivores were farmed on a 2,700-ha game ranch. A 280-ha area was burned in October 2001 and a 565-ha area was burned in November 2001. Animal positions were surveyed from roads in early morning and late afternoon from October to December 2000.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
)_2023.JPG)
