Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

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Browsing Department of Geography and Environmental Studies by Subject "African wild dog -- Zimbabwe -- Gonarezhou National Park"

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    Identifying african wild dog (Lycaon pictus) corridors outside Gonarezhou National Park and Save Valley Conservancy using maxent species distribution modeling
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04) Marembo, Kudzanai Rosebud; De Klerk, Helen Margaret; Groom, R. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of the most endangered large carnivores. Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) and Savè Valley Conservancy (SVC) that hold part of the few remaining viable populations report that wild dog populations continue to decline due to high rates of habitat loss and fragmentation. This leads to low pup survival rates due to predators and reduced formation of new packs as the wild dogs have become reluctant to leave the safety of their original packs in pursuit of mating partners in fragmented habitats where higher risks of danger exist. Consequently, this reduces population growth for Lycaon pictus. Therefore, the study sought to identify additional suitable habitat for wild dog outside GNP and SVC and a corridor connecting the two areas using the ecological niche theory. Wild dog satellite collar data from the African Wildlife Conservation Fund (AWCF) was used with spatial and climate data for GNP and SVC from PeaceParks and WorldClim. This data was used to firstly, identify dens using ArcGIS 10.1. Secondly, map geographic and temporal distributions using Time Local Convex Hull (T-LoCoH). Thirdly, to assess biotic and abiotic drivers of different packs and sexes movement and distribution patterns using ARCGIS 10.1 and lastly, map probability distributions (corridor and re-location sites) using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). Den locations are in areas away from predators and human settlements. Wild dog geographic distributions are smaller in the cold and dry seasons and differ according to sex whilst temporal distributions depend on their use of resources. The most influential biotic and abiotic variables within reserves were distance to human settlements and elevation whilst the least influential were roads and temperature. However, outside the reserves, the most influential variable was distance from reserve. Malilangwe is a potential corridor between GNP and SVC, whilst Masvingo, Beitbridge, and Mwenezi districts have suitable habitat for re-location sites.