Feed and habitat preferences among some large herbivores on African veld

Abstract

Impala and springbok are attracted to disturbed areas, while kudu are adaptable to degraded vegetation. Springbok, impala, nyala, warthogs, blue and white‐tailed gnu prefer short grass, whereas buffalo, zebra and waterbuck prefer taller grass. Blesbok, white‐tailed gnu and sheep are markedly area selective. Blue gnu, zebra, blesbok, sheep, impala, buffalo and white rhinoceri show a decided preference for burnt areas.

During winter and dry periods springbok, sheep and white‐tailed gnu include more karoo shrub relative to grass in their diets, and impala more savanna trees and shrubs. The diet often consists of 25 to 80 plant species, but only 10 to 20 are preferred and principal forage species.

The literature indicates a large degree of overlap in the browse and graze species selected by different domestic and wild herbivores, as well as in habitat preference and feeding height. Browsers select between plant species as markedly as grazers do. Carrying capacity should be determined for different seasons. It is essential to reduce the stocking rate of grazers to account for the amount of common graze eaten by mixed feeders and browsers: similarly, that of browsers to cater for the amount of common browse eaten by the other two feeding groups.

Uittreksel

Rooibokke en springbokke word aangetrek deur versteurde areas, terwyl koedoes kan aanpas by degradeerde plan‐tegroei. Springbokke, rooibokke, njala, vlakvarke, blou‐ en swartwildebeeste verkies kortgras, terwyl buffels, sebras en waterbokke langgras verkies. Blesbokke, swartwildebeeste en skape is baie oppervlakte‐selektief. Blouwildebeeste, sebras, blesbokke, skape, rooibokke, buffels en witrenosters toon ‘n duidelike voorkeur vir gebrande areas.

Gedurende winter en droëperiodes sluit springbokke, skape en swartwildebeeste meer karoostruike relatief tot gras in hulle diëte in en rooibokke meer savanne bome en struike. Die dieet bestaan dikwels uit 25 tot 80 plantspesies, maar alleen 10 tot 20 is voorkeur of hoof voerspesies.

Die literatuur dui op ‘n ruim graad van oorvleueling in die struik‐ en grasspesies deur verskillende soorte makvee en wild geselekteer, sowel as in habitatvoorkeur en vreethoogte. Struikvreters selekteer net soveel tussen plantspesies as beweiers. Drakrag moet vir verskillende seisoene bepaal word. Dit is noodsaaklik om die lading van beweiers te verminder om rekening te hou met die hoeveelheid gemeenskaplike gras deur gemengde en struikvreters gevreet: eweneens, daardie van struikvreters om voorsiening te maak vir die hoeveelheid gemeenskaplike struikweiding deur die ander twee weigroepe gevreet.