Vegetation classification as the basis for baboon management in the Bourke's Luck Section of the Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga.
Loading...
Authors
Brown, L.R.
Marais, H.
Henzi, S.P.
Barrett, L.
Issue Date
2005
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Braun-Blanquet procedures , Conservation area , Plant communities , TWINSPAN , TURBOVEG , MEGATAB , Chacma baboons
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve (BCNR) was identified as an important conservation
area due to of its extraordinary diversity of plant species. Plant communities represent
ecosystems and form the basis of any management plan for natural areas. If these
ecosystems and their different potentials are unknown, they cannot be managed successfully.
Baboons exploit diverse habitats including human environments where they
often cause damage to crops and forest plantations. Baboons are regarded as particularly
problematic residents of protected areas as conventional fences do not readily enclose
them, their eclectic diets allow them to benefit from a range of agricultural endeavours,
and they are behaviourally opportunistic. Thus as a first step to implementing a conservation
policy to manage chacma baboons in the BCNR, it was necessary to have some
understanding of their exploitation of natural habitats adjacent to areas where they do
cause problems. Although a broad vegetation map of the BCNR exists, no detailed vegetation
studies have been conducted on the largest part of the reserve. It was therefore
decided to undertake a detailed vegetation study of the home range of a single baboon
troop within the Bourke’s Luck section of the BCNR. From a TWINSPAN classification,
refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, 13 plant communities, which can be grouped
into seven major groups, were identified. A classification and description of these communities,
as well as a vegetation map are presented. Data collected as part of this study
also revealed that the baboons show preference to certain communities whilst avoiding
others. These have important consequences in terms of the management strategies followed
on the reserve.
Description
Applied Behavioural Ecology & Ecosystem Research Unit
University of South Africa
Behavioural Ecology Research Group
Citation
Brown, L R, Marais, H, Henzi, S P & Barrett, L 200,'Vegetation classification as the basis for baboon management in the Bourke's Luck Section of the Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga,' vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 71-92. [http://www.koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe]
Publisher
Koedoe
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0075-6458