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Cape mountain zebra in the B aviaanskloof Nature Reserve, S outh A frica: resource use reveals limitations to zebra performance in a dystrophic mountainous ecosystem
Author(s) -
Weel Silvia,
Watson Laurence H.,
Weel Joana,
Venter Jan A.,
Reeves Brian
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/aje.12215
Subject(s) - ecology , geography , habitat , cape , population , forestry , biology , archaeology , demography , sociology
Resource use of Cape mountain zebra was studied in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve ( BNR ) over concerns of the poor performance in population growth. We assessed the seasonal diet, habitat suitability and forage quality of the Bergplaas area in BNR for mountain zebra. Grasses contributed 95.2% to the annual diet of mountain zebra, Tristachya leucothrix contributing the most (39.4%), followed by Themeda triandra (27.6%). Seasonally, T. triandra contributed most to the diet in winter, while T . leucothrix became more important in the summer and also was the only species preferred in all seasons. Mountain zebra concentrated their feeding in Kouga Grassy Fynbos and from our assessment this was the only habitat suitable for mountain zebra. Our analysis of mountain zebra dung indicated that the seasonal nitrogen and phosphorus content was below the threshold values prescribed for grazers, and our study suggests that mountain zebra at Bergplaas are severely resource limited. We emphasize the importance of fire and access to nutrient‐rich lowlands in influencing the nutritional ecology of mountain zebra and provide conservation management recommendations.