No abstract

Similar to declines in antelope species across African conservation areas, sable (Hippotragus niger) at Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, South Africa, has exhibited a negative trend in abundance since 2000. To investigate the cause of decline, we assessed three hypotheses: seasonal forage abundance, habitat conditions and interspecific competition. We considered the evidence for each hypothesis by analysing reserve survey data, rainfall records and historical burn data with hierarchical models that incorporated potential density-dependent effects and environmental covariates. After accounting for the effects of sable abundance, we found that sable population growth was most strongly related to the interspecific competition covariates and to waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) count in particular. Also, the strength of the relationship was shaped by the trend in sable numbers and whether the population was before or after peak abundance: the strongest indication of interspecific competition occurred after sable had reached peak abundance. The interaction between abundance of sable and that of potentially competing species emphasizes the importance of accounting for densitydependent processes, and in particular longer-term phases in abundance, when judging the roles of other factors that affect species abundance.