• Login
    View Item 
    •   Repository Home
    • Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar proceeding and presentations
    • School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
    • Department of Natural Resources
    • View Item
    •   Repository Home
    • Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar proceeding and presentations
    • School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
    • Department of Natural Resources
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Effect of fire on habitat functional diversity and herbivore diversity in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Effect of fire on habitat functional diversity and herbivore diversity in Ol Pejeta Conservancy.pdf (717.4Kb)
    Date
    2012-08
    Author
    Kimuyu, Duncan, M.
    Mureu, Lucy, K.
    Awiti, Alex
    Wahungu, Geoffrey
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Background/Question/Methods The African savanna biome supports a higher diversity of herbivore species than is found in any other biome or continent. In order to maintain the habitats necessary to support a large diversity of wildlife species, much emphasis has traditionally been placed on the role of fire as a management tool. We hypothesize that herbivore abundance, diversity, and habitat utilization patterns in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Kenya are modulated through fire management and its effect on habitat functional diversity. Between 2005 and 2010, transect surveys were used to monitor patterns of wildlife abundance and species diversity across a functional diversity gradient; from pure grassland to pure bushland. Results/Conclusions Preliminary findings show that large herbivore (black rhino, elephant and giraffe) populations increase under bushland conditions. Conversely, small grazer abundance and diversity increased in open grassland but declined markedly in Euclea divinorun and Acacia drepanolobium dominated bushland. Intense fires shift vegetation from bushland to grassland state. Low fire frequency in turn allows resurgence of bushland and decline in both abundance and species diversity of small grazers. The effect of fire on the functional diversity of habitat within savanna ecosystems has a strong influence on herbivore diversity, distributed across body size classes and feeding guild (browsers/grazers). By explicitly characterizing the effects of habitat functional diversity on herbivore species abundance and diversity, our study underscores the need for promoting biodiversity as a goal of management and conservation of wildlife in the African savannas.
    URI
    http://karuspace.karu.ac.ke/handle/20.500.12092/1645
    Collections
    • Department of Natural Resources [1]

    Karatina University copyright © 2017-2019  | Powered by DSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | OAI-PMH Compliant
    Theme by Systems Librarian
      

     

    Browse

    All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Karatina University copyright © 2017-2019  | Powered by DSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | OAI-PMH Compliant
    Theme by Systems Librarian