Landscapes of the Kruger National Park

Gertenbach, W.P.D.

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v26i1.591

Cited by 279 publications

(276 citation statements)

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“…Within the KNP there are five vegetation types (Acocks 1988) and 35 landscape zones (Gertenbach 1983). The study sites at Skukuza and Nhlowa Road, climate, methods of tick collection and statistical methods employed have been described in detail by Horak et al (2011).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This collection method favours the recovery of larvae (Spickett et al 1991), although nymphs and adults were consistently recovered. The Nhlowa Road site was in Gertenbach's (1983) Landscape Zone 17 (MarulaKnob thorn savanna) and the Skukuza site was in Landscape Zone 4 (Thickets of the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers). Three drags, approximately 250 m in length, were made monthly in each of three visually selected habitats, namely grassland, woodland and gully.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The dynamics of questing ticks collected for 164 consecutive months off the vegetation of two landscape zones in the Kruger National Park (1988–2002). Part II. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis

Spickett

Gallivan²,

Horak

2011

Onderstepoort J Vet Res

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The study aimed to assess the long-term population dynamics of questing Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis in two landscape zones of the Kruger National Park (KNP). Ticks were collected by dragging the vegetation monthly in three habitats (grassland, woodland and gully) at two sites in the KNP (Nhlowa Road and Skukuza) from August 1988 to March 2002. Larvae were the most commonly collected stage of both species. More R. appendiculatus were collected at Nhlowa Road than at Skukuza, with larvae being most abundant from May to August, while nymphs were most abundant from August to December. Larvae were most commonly collected in the gullies from 1991 to 1994, but in the grassland and woodland habitats from 1998 onwards. Nymphs were most commonly collected in the grassland and woodland. More R. zambeziensis were collected at Skukuza than at Nhlowa Road, with larvae being most abundant from May to September, while nymphs were most abundant from August to November. Larvae and nymphs were most commonly collected in the woodland and gullies and least commonly in the grassland (p < 0.01). The lowest numbers of R. appendiculatus were collected in the mid-1990s after the 1991/1992 drought. Rhipicephalus zambeziensis numbers declined after 1991 and even further after 1998, dropping to their lowest levels during 2002. The changes in numbers of these two species reflected changes in rainfall and the populations of several of their large herbivore hosts, as well as differences in the relative humidity between the two sites over time.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dynamics of questing ticks collected for 164 consecutive months off the vegetation of two landscape zones in the Kruger National Park (1988–2002). Part II. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis

Spickett

Gallivan²,

Horak

2011

Onderstepoort J Vet Res

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“…Here, we sampled 17 small, 24 large, and 14 very large trees. The woody vegetation was dominated by A. nigrescens and Table 1 Biomass estimates (kg ha -1 ) as cumulated body mass of the most common large herbivores around the Roan enclosure area, i.e., in the Northern plains, and in the Satara area of Kruger National Park (Grant et al unpublished, census data 2006(Grant et al unpublished, census data -2007 C. apiculatum (Gertenbach 1983), and-in contrast to the area immediately adjacent to the Roan enclosure-also very large trees were present. We collected data for small, large, and very large trees along 20 m long transects.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree size and herbivory determine below-canopy grass quality and species composition in savannahs

2009

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Large single-standing trees are rapidly declining in savannahs, ecosystems supporting a high diversity of large herbivorous mammals. Savannah trees are important as they support both a unique flora and fauna. The herbaceous layer in particular responds to the structural and functional properties of a tree. As shrubland expands stem thickening occurs and large trees are replaced by smaller trees. Here we examine whether small trees are as effective in providing advantages for grasses growing beneath their crowns as large trees are. The role of herbivory in this positive tree-grass interaction is also investigated. We assessed soil and grass nutrient content, structural properties, and herbaceous species composition beneath trees of three size classes and under two grazing regimes in a South African savannah. We found that grass leaf content (N and P) beneath the crowns of particularly large (ca. 3.5 m) and very large trees (ca. 9 m) was as much as 40% greater than the same grass species not growing under a tree canopy, whereas nutrient contents of grasses did not differ beneath small trees (\2.3 m). Moderate herbivory enhanced these effects slightly. Grass species composition differed beneath and beyond the tree canopy but not between tree size classes. As large trees significantly improve the grass nutrient quality for grazers in contrast to smaller trees, the decline of the former should be halted. The presence of trees further increases grass species diversity and patchiness by favouring shade-tolerant species. Both grazing wildlife and livestock will benefit from the presence of large trees because of their structural and functional importance for savannahs.

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“…Many tree species reach the southern most extremity of their ranges here. The MCP part of the Pafuri Land System which consists of five landscapes (Gertenbach 1983 The trial sites were chosen by identifying the areas in which ORD occurred most (more than 90% of ORD incidents) and selecting a representative site in each of these (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Study Area and Trial Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the Impact of Off-Road Driving on Root-Area Distribution in Soils

Nortjé

Hoven

Laker

et al. 2016

African Journal of Wildlife Research

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Studies on the effects of off-road driving on soils were conducted in the Makuleke Contractual Park of the Kruger National Park. The studies were conducted on three different soils with different textures and soil compactibilities. Traffic pressure was applied with a game drive vehicle loaded with 10 sand bags, each weighing 70 kg, plus the driver. This gave a total vehicle mass of 3795 kg, simulating a vehicle fully laden with tourists. The results of the study reported here included comparing of the effects of four different tyre pressures on the root area distribution below each tyre pressure. At all sites, root density fractions under the tracks were reduced significantly at all tyre pressures, compared with the control values. Results indicated that root penetration percentage and root area distribution were reduced drastically as tyre pressure increased. Our work reaffirms previous research showing that higher tyre pressures cause higher sub-soil compaction than lower tyre pressures. Thus, driving with lower tyre pressures when driving off-road should be considered when developing management strategies for off-road driving in wildlife protected areas.

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Landscapes of the Kruger National Park

Cited by 279 publications

References 0 publications

The dynamics of questing ticks collected for 164 consecutive months off the vegetation of two landscape zones in the Kruger National Park (1988–2002). Part II. <i>Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</i> and <i>Rhipicephalus zambeziensis</i>

The dynamics of questing ticks collected for 164 consecutive months off the vegetation of two landscape zones in the Kruger National Park (1988–2002). Part II. <i>Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</i> and <i>Rhipicephalus zambeziensis</i>

Tree size and herbivory determine below-canopy grass quality and species composition in savannahs

Quantifying the Impact of Off-Road Driving on Root-Area Distribution in Soils

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