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The natural regulation of buffalo populations in East Africa: Introduction and resource requirements *
Author(s) -
SINCLAIR A. R. E.
Publication year - 1974
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/j.1365-2028.1974.tb01030.x
Subject(s) - habitat , dry season , geography , resource (disambiguation) , grassland , vegetation (pathology) , population , ecology , biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , agroforestry , agronomy , medicine , computer network , demography , pathology , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
Summary Although it would appear that regulation in animal populations is highly probable, the evidence for it in nature is meagre. The various hypotheses on regulation are outlined in order to point out the critical evidence needed to test them. A population of the East African buffalo has been studied since 1965 with a view to obtaining this information. The ecological requirements including habitat selection and food selection are described. Using Association analysis the ‘best available’ habitat for buffalo was found to be a combination of riverine grassland and forest. This was most pronounced in the dry season when other habitats became less suitable due to the grass drying out and becoming unsuitable food. The movements between vegetation types were correlated with changes in rainfall and with the area of burnt ground after grass fires. Hence the movements could be attributed to changes in the food supply. Within the ‘best available’ habitats the buffalo ate grass exclusively but not all grass was food. The most preferred component was the combined grass leaf and leaf base, this being the most nutritious part of the plant. This component was predominant in the diet during the rains but declined to a minimum by the end of the dry season despite the animals' ability to select for it.