Potential effects of prescribed savannah burning on the diet selection of forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) in Lopé National Park, Gabon. (22nd August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van der, Yntze; Lustenhouwer, Ivo; Jeffery, Kathryn J.; van, Pim
• Is Part Of: African journal of ecology. Volume 51:Number 1(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2012-08-22
• Subjects: Zoology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Wildlife management -- Africa -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Africa, East -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Africa, East -- Periodicals; Wildlife management -- Africa, East -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/aje.12010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-6707

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="aje12010-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Seasonality and management are factors that may affect the diet selection of the forest buffalo (<italic>Syncerus caffer nanus</italic>). Fire is considered a major driving force in savannah systems and prescribed burning is a commonly applied conservation tool in protected areas such as Lopé National Park, Gabon. Prescribed annual fires contribute to the maintenance of open areas and provide high‐quality forage for forest buffalo, a major herbivore in the park. We used microhistological faecal analysis to determine the diet selection of forest buffalo and measured the extent of variation between a dry season, preburn and a wet season, postburn sampling period. The buffalo diet comprised mainly of monocotyledons, primarily grasses (<italic>Poaceae</italic>) and sedges (<italic>Cyperaceae</italic>). Intake of open‐area‐associated plant species was higher in the wet season, postburn treatment sampling period (97%) than the dry season, preburn sampling period (87%), which corresponded conversely to a reduction in forest‐associated <italic>Marantaceae</italic> plants (10% versus 1%). High proportions of grasses and sedges in the diet signify the importance of open areas for forest buffalo. Controlled burning as tool for maintenance of open areas may play a key role in the meta‐population management of the forest buffalo.</p> </abstract>