Abstract:
The goal of this thesis was to determine the effects of environmental changes on
the assemblages of eight sympatric large grazer~ of Mole National Park (MNP).
Transects were surveyed in each of five main habitat types over a one-year period by
counting large grazers and measuring abiotic, anthropogenic and grass-related variables.
Climate and land cover data time series were analysed for change detection and ARIMA
models used to forecast changes up to 2020. Mixed effects and regression models of
grazing behaviours were used to identify the environmental factors by which animals
selected preferred feeding areas. The results indicated there has been a significant climate change over the period. The mean temperature increased by about 0.7 °c after
two decades and the mean rainfall decreased after each decade. Co-existing large
grazers avoided resource use overlaps and competition, but allowed high overlaps and
some degree of competition when resources were limited. Larger grazers were more
selective for forage than smaller ones and habitat use varied seasonally with different
patterns for each habitat type leading to inter-habitat shifts by large grazers. The mean
density of grazers ranged from 1.18 ± 0.36 (elephant) to 6.5 ± 0.601km2 (kob).
Populations showed increasing trends for all the large grazers with the potential for
further increases in future. With the weight ratio of 1.40, grazers at MNP were closely
packed but several species with similar body weight co-existed within the grazer
assemblage. Limiting factors, mainly water, fire and anthropogenic, imposed constraints
that resulted in either lack of a clear pattern of abundance, distribution and habitat
selectivity or unexplored forage in most seasons. Replication of this study about two to
four times is recommended to boost the outcome as information for management
planning and action.
