Theme 4-2: Wildlife, Tourism and Multi-Facets of Rangelands/Grasslands--Poster Sessions
Description
The high-altitude grasslands covering the eastern escarpment of South Africa is one of the country’s most valuable habitats for biodiversity, livestock and water production. The habitat hosts several threatened bird species including endangered species such as the Rudd's Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) and Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), and vulnerable species such as the Blue Crane (Grus paradisea), Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus), and Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris). Avian research and monitoring have been ongoing within the recently declared Ingula Nature Reserve for more than 15 years as part of the activities of the Ingula Partnership - a partnership between BirdLife South Africa, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd and the Middelpunt Wetland Trust - with the objective of effectively conserving birds and their habitat surrounding the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme development. Avian monitoring on Ingula refocused in 2014 to confirm the presence of threatened species on site, followed by the determination of the breeding status of these species. An initiative was then launched to assess the breeding frequency and success of each identified species. Breeding monitoring for 13 out of the 24 occurring threatened species commenced in 2014 and was conducted for five consecutive seasons. Breeding success per season was measured in relation to the grassland management regime of that season (including both fire and grazing), as well as weather data, adjusting for dry and wet seasons. Results confirm that various grassland management regimes directly influenced the initiation of breeding activities and density of several of the species studied, while others’ breeding success and frequency were more dependent on macro-weather patterns (including climate change) and fire frequency and timing. These results have direct implications for the management of highland grasslands and associated species in the given region.
Citation
Colyn, R. B.; Pienaar, C.; Smit-Robinson, H.; and Chetty, K., "Causal Factors of Breeding Success and Frequency in Threatened Grassland Birds on the Ingula Nature Reserve, South Africa" (2022). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/24/4-2/8
Included in
Causal Factors of Breeding Success and Frequency in Threatened Grassland Birds on the Ingula Nature Reserve, South Africa
The high-altitude grasslands covering the eastern escarpment of South Africa is one of the country’s most valuable habitats for biodiversity, livestock and water production. The habitat hosts several threatened bird species including endangered species such as the Rudd's Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) and Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), and vulnerable species such as the Blue Crane (Grus paradisea), Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus), and Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris). Avian research and monitoring have been ongoing within the recently declared Ingula Nature Reserve for more than 15 years as part of the activities of the Ingula Partnership - a partnership between BirdLife South Africa, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd and the Middelpunt Wetland Trust - with the objective of effectively conserving birds and their habitat surrounding the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme development. Avian monitoring on Ingula refocused in 2014 to confirm the presence of threatened species on site, followed by the determination of the breeding status of these species. An initiative was then launched to assess the breeding frequency and success of each identified species. Breeding monitoring for 13 out of the 24 occurring threatened species commenced in 2014 and was conducted for five consecutive seasons. Breeding success per season was measured in relation to the grassland management regime of that season (including both fire and grazing), as well as weather data, adjusting for dry and wet seasons. Results confirm that various grassland management regimes directly influenced the initiation of breeding activities and density of several of the species studied, while others’ breeding success and frequency were more dependent on macro-weather patterns (including climate change) and fire frequency and timing. These results have direct implications for the management of highland grasslands and associated species in the given region.
