Marembo, Kudzanai Rosebud (2015-04)
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.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Afrika-wildehond (Lycaon pictus) is een van die mees bedreigde groot karnivore. Gonarezhou Nationale Park (GNP) en Savè Vallei Conservancy (SVC) wat deel van die min oorblywende lewensvatbare bevolkings hou rapporteer dat wilde hond bevolkings voortgaan om te daal as gevolg van die verlies en fragmentering van habitat. Dit lei tot 'n lae pup oorlewingsyfer te danke aan predasie asook dalende vlakke van nuwe troppe. Omdat as die wilde honde het huiwerig geword om die veiligheid van hul oorspronklike troppe te verlaat in die soektog na paarmaats in gefragmenteerde habitatte waar hoër risiko van gevaar bestaan. Gevolglik verminder die bevolkingsgroei vir Lycaon pictus. Daarom onderneem die studie addisionele geskikte habitat vir wilde hond buite die GNP en SVC te vind en die stigting van 'n gang Om die twee gebiede te verbind met behulp van die ekologiese nis teorie te identifiseer. Wildehond satelliet kraag data van die African Wildlife Conservation Fund (AWCF) is gebruik met ruimtelike en klimaat data vir die GNP en SVC van PeaceParks en WorldClim. Hierdie data is gebruik om eerstens, kuile te identifiseer met behulp van ArcGIS 10.1. Tweedens, kartering van geografiese en temporale verspreiding met behulp van Time Local Convex Hull (T-LoCoH). Derdens, die ondersoek van biotiese en abioties dryfkragte van verskillende troppe pakke en geslagte bewegings en verspreidingspatrone met ArcGIS 10.1 te evalueer en laastens, kartering van waarskynlikheidsverdelings (korridor en hervestigingsgebiede) van die Maksimum Entropie (MaxEnt). Kuile is in gebiede weg van roofdiere en menslike nedersettings. Wildehond geografiese verspreiding is kleiner in die koue en droë seisoene en verskil volgens geslag, terwyl temporale verspreidings afhang van die gebruik van hulpbronne. Die mees invloedryke biotiese en abioties veranderlikes binne reserwes was die afstand vanaf menslike nedersettings en hoogte, terwyl paaie en temperatuur die laagste invloed gehad. Buite die reserwes was, die mees invloedryke veranderlike afstand vanaf reservaat. Malilangwe is 'n potensiële korridor tussen die GNP en SVC, terwyl Masvingo, Beitbridge en Mwenezi distrikte geskikte habitat bied vir hervestiging.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96893
Masters Degrees (Geography and Environmental Studies)180