Winter forage as a limiting factor for guineafowl in plantation forestry lands.
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Date
2003
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Abstract
This research investigates the potential impacts that a change in land-use to
plantation forestry from an area of extensive I intensive agriculture has on
helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris populations. A comprehensive literature
review revealed that the likely limiting factors for guineafowl in plantation forestry
areas include the age of plantation, proportion of home range planted to timber
and the availability of winter forage species. Initially the process of planting
creates a disturbance that encourages favourable weed and grass species for
guineafowl that provide winter forage and suitable groundcover. Up to five years
since planting, habitat conditions are favourable and guineafowl populations
increase. After five years, the shading effects from the Pinus spp. results in a
decrease in species richness of the understorey vegetation as well as a decrease
in the abundance of crucial winter species such as Cyperus esculentus. As a
result populations of guineafowl start to decline. Guineafowl populations that
have plantations older than ten years within their home range need to have diets
supplemented by grain maize, or a suitable grain substitute, unless there is
adequate unplanted area to meet their nutritional needs.
The rationale for this study originates through a mixed response in growth rates
of guineafowl flocks observed in the study area. The study-site for this research
is North East Cape Forests, near the town of Ugie. Land-use in this area was an
extensive beef and sheep grazing farmland. Up until recently, much of the area
has been transformed into plantation forestry, planted to predominantly Pinus
species. The effect of a change in land-use to plantation forestry on guineafowl
populations is largely unknown and this research therefore presents the first
attempt to gain an understanding of how plantation forestry can impact on
guineafowl populations.
This research forms the final component to the degree of Master of Environment
and Development: Protected Area Management. It is a mini-dissertation with an
expected duration of six months. The research has been written up as two
separate components. Component A includes a study of the literature and
methods used in the dissertation. Component B presents the findings of the
research with conclusions and recommendations. Component B has been written
and formatted for submission according to the standards required by the South
African Journal of Wildlife Research.
Description
Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.
Keywords
Guineafowl., Wildlife conservation., Theses--Environmental science.