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Dispersal and seasonal distributions of black‐faced impala in the Etosha National Park, Namibia
Author(s) -
Matson Tammie K.,
Goldizen Anne W.,
Jarman Peter J.,
Pople Anthony R.
Publication year - 2006
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.1365-2028.2006.00640.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , national park , dry season , habitat , geography , ecology , threatened species , wet season , population , biology , demography , sociology
Factors affecting the seasonal distribution of the vulnerable black‐faced impala at Etosha National Park, Namibia and the spread of the impala in the park since their translocation there in the 1970s were studied in the hot dry season of 2000 and the wet season of 2001 in order to provide information for future translocations of this antelope. In the 30 years since their release in the park, black‐faced impala appear to have dispersed a maximum of 31.5 km from their initial release sites, effectively forming five subpopulations based on their five initial release sites. The mean minimum distance that impala had dispersed between water holes since their release was 7.11 ± 1.47 km. Black‐faced impala concentrated strongly around water holes; more than 50% were within 1 km of water holes in both seasons. Changes in population densities in different habitats may have resulted from seasonal movements of impala between adjacent habitats. The role of initial release sites in determining the distribution of threatened species such as the black‐faced impala is discussed in light of its importance for future translocations.