Does competition and facilitation within ungulate communities affect species at the population level?

Abstract

Basic feeding morphology dictate that grazing ungulates be divided into tall grass grazers and short grass grazers respectively (Murray & Brown, 1993). Short grass grazers such as blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) often numerically dominate other ungulate species in grassland ecosystems and combined with zebra are able to modify ecosystems at the expense of tall grass grazers such as red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus). Grazing lawns became established on old fields in Ezemvelo –Telperion Game Reserve, resulting in habitat utilization being heterogeneous on spatial as well as temporal scales. Two distinct hartebeest populations, separated by the Wilge River bisecting the reserve were differentially effected by the presence of wildebeest and zebra respectively.