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Water flow dynamics in the Okavango River Basin and Delta - a prerequisite for the ecosystems of the Delta

Andersson, L.; Gumbricht, T.; Hughes, D.; Kniveton, D.; Ringrose, S.; Savenije, H.; Todd, M.; Wilk, J.; Wolski, P. (Elsvier, www.elsevier.com, September 8, 2003)

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Abstract:

As part of the EU-funded project ‘Water and Ecosystem Resources in Regional Development––Balancing Societal Needs and Wants and Natural Resources Systems Sustainability in International River Basin Systems’ (WERRD) (www.okavangochallenge.com), work is carried out aiming to improve and develop scientific methods that will facilitate the understanding of fluctuations of hydrological and ecosystem variables and likely human-induced trends concerning key characteristics of the Okavango River Basin in Southern Africa.

URI:

http://hdl.handle.net/10311/980

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Andersson_PhysChemEarth_2003_Pw.pdf (1.840Mb)

Will reconnecting ecosystems allow long-distance mammal migrations to resume? A case study of a zebra Equus burchelli migration in Botswana

Bartlam-Brooks, H.; Bonyongo, M.; Harris, S. (Fauna & Flora International, April 7, 2010)

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Abstract:

Terrestrial wildlife migrations, once common, are now rare because of ecosystem fragmentation and uncontrolled hunting. Botswana historically contained migratory populations of many species but habitat fragmentation, especially by fences, has decreased the number and size of many of these populations. During a study investigating herbivore movement patterns in north-west Botswana we recorded a long-distance zebra Equus burchelli antiquorum migration between the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi grasslands, a round-trip distance of 588 km; 55% of 11 animals collared in the south-eastern peripheral delta made this journey. This was unexpected as, between 1968 and 2004, the migration could not have followed its present course because of the bisection of the route by a veterinary cordon fence. As little evidence exists to suggest that large-scale movements by medium-sized herbivores can be restored, it is of significant interest that this migration was established to the present highly directed route within 4 years of the fence being removed. The success of wildlife corridors, currently being advocated as the best way to re-establish ecosystem connectivity, relies on animals utilizing novel areas by moving between the connected areas. Our findings suggest that medium-sized herbivores may be able to re-establish migrations relatively quickly once physical barriers have been removed and that the success of future system linkages could be increased by utilizing past migratory routes.

URI:

http://hdl.handle.net/10311/804

Files in this item: 1

Will reconnecti ... migration in Botswana.pdf (855.5Kb)

Woody vegetation resource changes around selected settlement along aridity gradient in the Kalahari, Botswana

Sekhwela, M.B.M. (Elsevier Science Ltd, http://www.elsevier.com/locate/cag, July 22, 2002)

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Abstract:

This paper investigated changes in economically important woody vegetation resources around seven settlements located along an aridity gradient in the Kalahari. Available data at different rainfall levels were analysed for different vegetation aspects. Total woody plant density and number of species at each site increased with increasing rainfall level, while individual species density differed at each site irrespective of rainfall, due to other factors, for example, land use as indicated by high stump densities around old and high population settlements. Drought resulted in high mortality of certain species, increasing availability of fuelwood resource in the form of dead wood. However, prolonged drought from climatic changes could result in browse shortage, a vital resource in the Kalahari. There was generally low wood resource availability throughout the studied gradient, without any distinct relation to rainfall, reflecting the influence of other factors such as soils, land use and natural variability.

URI:

http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1024

Files in this item: 1

Sekhwela M.B.M_2002.pdf (552.9Kb)

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