scholarly journals Assessment of Rangelands Around Molepolole Village of Botswana to Ascertain Its Potential to Support Free Range Beef Cattle Despite Its Long Term Use as a Grazing Area

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. p229
Author(s):  
Shimane Washington. Makhabu ◽  
Seabe Ntoroko ◽  
Mpho Rinah Setlalekgomo ◽  
Boikhutso Sebidio
Keyword(s):  
Woody Species ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Bush Encroachment ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Line Transects ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
Cattle Rearing ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
The Village

In Botswana, cattle rearing can either be in farms or in communal grazing areas. In communal grazing areas, carrying capacities are never adhered to, hence degradation sometimes occurs. This negatively impact on the livestock industry since cattle are mainly free ranging. This therefore calls for periodic checks of grass species to determine whether grazing areas still have potentials to sustain livestock production. A study was done to take stock of grass species and bush encroachment status around the biggest village of Botswana, known as Molepolole. The survey looked at species composition, distribution and production. The survey was done by using line transects, quadrats and plots in the northern and western direction of the village. In each quadrat, grass species were identified, counted by species, height measured and biomass determined by clipping. In plots, woody plants were counted for all species. The survey revealed that despite heavy grazing and periodic droughts the grazing area still has some grass species of good grazing value and the area is being threatened to being encroached by woody species. Thus there is still a potential for use of the area for grazing but at lower stocking rate. However, it was noted that the area needs some restoration by controlling bush encroachment and reintroduction of good grass species.

scholarly journals Woody vegetation change over more than 30 years in the interior duneveld of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park

Bothalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (Volume 50 No. 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. van der Merwe ◽  
N. van Rooyen ◽  
H. Bezuidenhout ◽  
J. du P. Bothma ◽  
M.W. van Rooyen
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Bush Encroachment ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Grewia Flava ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Levels ◽  
Long Term Studies

Background and objectives: Long-term studies of woody plants in South Africa are scarce. This study, initiated in the late 1970s, therefore aids understanding of vegetation dynamics in the southern Kalahari by investigating woody vegetation change at and away from a watering point. Methods: At three sites, all woody individuals were counted by species in plots 0.5 or 1 ha in size. Seedlings were noted separately from the >0.2 m group of individuals. Results: Vachellia erioloba and shrub density decreased over time whereas dwarf shrub species’ numbers fluctuated markedly. Additionally, no increase in density of known bush encroaching species (e.g. Grewia flava, Rhigozum trichotomum and Senegalia mellifera) was found in this large conservation area. Discussion and conclusion: The changes in density of the woody species seem to point to the importance of particular rainfall patterns or sequences of events over different years that are responsible for these changes in the southern Kalahari, and the evident lack of bush encroachment in this conservation area supports the notion that bush encroachment in arid savannas is driven primarily by land-use practices and not by elevated carbon dioxide levels that are sometimes provided as cause for encroachment.

scholarly journals Reindeer fidelity to high quality winter pastures outcompete power line barrier effects

Rangifer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Eigil Reimers ◽  
Sindre Eftestøl ◽  
Diress Tsegaye ◽  
Knut Granum
Keyword(s):  
Power Line ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Barrier Effects ◽  
The North ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Line Transects ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
Reindeer Population

We investigated barrier effects of a 66 kV power line established in 1966 before and after the line was upgraded to 132 kV in 2004 over a period of 44 years (1974-2017) in the North Ottadalen wild reindeer area (3245 km2) of  which 1038 km2 are in use as winter pastures. The power line transects a peninsula (135 km2) with high quality winter pastures in the southeast periphery. The reindeer population originated from a nucleus herd of 402 animals of domestic origin released in the area in 1964-1965 and 100 resident wild animals. Yearly winter survey started in 1974 and reindeer were first surveyed south of the 66 kV power line in 1982. Comparing the number of animals recorded in the peninsula vs. the number of individuals expected relative to available grazing area during the three periods (1974-2004, 1982-2004 and 2005-2017), the number of animals recorded in the peninsula was 3.6–4.9 times higher than expected. Since the upgrade of the power line, a substantial part of the reindeer population grazed in the peninsula every year. We therefore conclude that there was no long-term barrier effect from the original power line and no barrier effects at all from the upgrade. However, during the first 5 surveys of this study, there were no animals in the peninsula. Therefore, even if there are several possible reasons for this, we cannot exclude the possibility of short-term barrier effects resulting from the construction of the original power line. Our results support recent studies that report no effects from existing power lines and contrast some previous findings that have reported strong long-term barrier and avoidance effects of such infrastructure for Rangifer migration and grazing behaviour.

scholarly journals Transforming a Liability into an Asset: A System Dynamics Model for Free-Ranging Dog Population Management

Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Urmila Basu Mallick ◽  
Marja H. Bakermans ◽  
Khalid Saeed
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
System Dynamics Model ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Management Context ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Social Rewards

Using Indian free-ranging dogs (FRD) as a case study, we propose a novel intervention of social integration alongside previously proposed methods for dealing with FRD populations. Our study subsumes population dynamics, funding avenues, and innovative strategies to maintain FRD welfare and provide societal benefits. We develop a comprehensive system dynamics model, featuring identifiable parameters customizable for any management context and imperative for successfully planning a widescale FRD population intervention. We examine policy resistance and simulate conventional interventions alongside the proposed social integration effort to compare monetary and social rewards, as well as costs and unintended consequences. For challenging socioeconomic ecological contexts, policy resistance is best overcome by shifting priority strategically between social integration and conventional techniques. The results suggest that social integration can financially support a long-term FRD intervention, while transforming a “pest” population into a resource for animal-assisted health interventions, law enforcement, and conservation efforts.

scholarly journals The effect of long-term ovariectomy on midbrain stress systems in free ranging macaques

2012 ◽  
Vol 1488 ◽  
pp. 24-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia L. Bethea ◽  
Arubala P. Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Free Ranging

Population abundance of the common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius in the Haut Niger National Park, Republic of Guinea / Abondance de la population d'hippopotame commun Hippopotamus amphibius dans le Parc National du Haut Niger, République de Guinée

Mammalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Brugière ◽  
Bakary Magassouba ◽  
Amidou Sylla ◽  
Halimou Diallo ◽  
Mamadou Sow
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Republic Of Guinea ◽  
Hippopotamus Amphibius ◽  
The Status ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Republic

AbstractThe Republic of Guinea is thought to contain the largest population of common hippopotamus in West Africa. However, no systematic field survey has been carried out recently and the information available is limited to informal observations. To clarify the status of the common hippopotamus in Guinea, we carried out a biannual population survey along the section of the Niger River (the largest river in Guinea) within the Haut Niger National Park. We counted 93 hippopotamuses in 28 groups in the dry season and 77 hippopotamuses in 23 groups in the wet season. Mean group size and number of neonates did not change between the seasons. Hippopotomuses were more numerous along the river sections bordering uncultivated floodplains. This underlines the significance of this habitat (which is used as a grazing area) for conservation of this species. Haut Niger National Park is the most important protected area in Guinea for conservation of the common hippopotamus. Hippopotamus-human and -cattle conflicts in terms of floodplain use in the park's buffer zone should be closely monitored. Floodplain conversion to rice fields represents one of the most important threats to the long-term conservation of hippopotamus populations in Guinea.

Grazing intensity rather than host plant’s palatability shape the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a steppe grassland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maede Faghihinia ◽  
Yi Zou ◽  
Yongfei Bai ◽  
Martin Dudáš ◽  
Rob Marrs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Rhizosphere Soil ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Α Diversity ◽  
Steppe Grassland

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the predominant type of mycorrhizal fungi in roots and rhizosphere soil of grass species worldwide. Grasslands are currently experiencing increasing grazing pressure, but it is not yet clear how grazing intensity and host plant grazing preference by large herbivores interact with soil- and root-associated AMF communities. Here, we tested whether the diversity and community composition of AMF in the roots and rhizosphere soil of two dominant perennial grasses grazed differently by livestock change in response to grazing intensity. We conducted a study in a long-term field experiment in which seven levels of field-manipulated grazing intensities were maintained for 13 years in a typical steppe grassland in northern China. We extracted DNA from the roots and rhizosphere soil of two dominant grasses, Leymus chinense (Trin.) Tzvel. and Stipa grandis P. Smirn, with contrasting grazing preference by sheep. AMF DNA from root and soil samples were then subjected to molecular analysis. Our results showed that AMF α-diversity (richness) at the virtual taxa (VT) level varied as a function of grazing intensity. Different VTs showed completely different responses along the gradient, one increasing, one decreasing and others showing no response. Glomeraceae was the most abundant AMF family along the grazing gradient, which fits well with the theory of disturbance tolerance of this group. In addition, sheep grazing preference for host plants did not explain a considerable variation in AMF α-diversity. However, the two grass species exhibited different community composition in their roots and rhizosphere soils. Roots exhibited a lower α-diversity and higher β-diversity within the AMF community than soils. Overall, our results suggest that long-term grazing intensity might have changed the abundance of functionally-diverse AMF taxa in favor of those with disturbance-tolerant traits. We suggest our results would be useful in informing the choice of mycorrhizal fungi indicator variables when assessing the impacts of grassland management choices on grassland ecosystem functioning.

Socio-engineering arrangement of the village — the basis of rural development

2021 ◽  
pp. 8-21
Author(s):  
Kh. B. Dusaev ◽  
A. Kh. Dusaeva
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Population ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Orenburg Region ◽  
Dynamic Development ◽  
The Village ◽  
Monetary Income

The article analyzes the number, employment and dynamics of monetary income of the population of the Orenburg region for a long-term period. The production of social and engineering arrangement of rural territories of the region for a number of years is analyzed in detail. Negative destructive changes and trends in employment and social development of rural areas are revealed. The directions of improvement and dynamic development of agricultural production, rural areas, and employment of the rural population are proposed.

scholarly journals Using spoor and prey counts to determine temporal and spatial variation in lion (Panthera leo) density

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bauer ◽  
M. Schiess-Meier ◽  
D.R. Mills ◽  
M. Gusset
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Panthera Leo ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Variation ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Population Crash ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

In many African countries, large carnivores such as lions (Panthera leo (L., 1758)) are under serious threat through conflict with people, declining prey abundance, and exposure to disease. Spoor and prey count surveys were used to determine temporal and spatial variation in lion density in Khutse Game Reserve (KGR), Botswana, and the adjacent communal grazing area. Estimated lion density in KGR for the period September 2008 – June 2010 was 41% lower than for the period June 2007 – August 2008 (1.02 vs. 1.72 lions/100 km2). Prior to this population crash in mid-2008, estimated lion density in the communal grazing area (1.21 lions/100 km2) was 30% lower than inside KGR. The relative abundance of the three most abundant, preferred prey species of lions occurring in KGR decreased from 2001 to 2008 by 50%–79%. Based on two prey biomass estimates, the lion population in KGR was below the potential carrying capacity of the habitat after the crash in mid-2008. These results suggest that there could be a human-caused population sink around KGR, which might be strong enough to threaten the long-term survival of lions in the area; particularly if this edge effect is intensified by prey depletion and disease outbreaks, which might have caused the sudden decline in the lion population.

scholarly journals FORECAST OF THE REFORMATION OF THE KRASNOYARSK RESERVOIR COASTAL ZONE IN THE KURTAK VILLAGE

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-278
Author(s):  
G.Yu. Yamskikh ◽  
A.V. Kozhukhovsky ◽  
K.V. Marusin ◽  
E.A. Fedorova
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Similar Type ◽  
Coastal Processes ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Verification Of Models ◽  
The Village ◽  
Term Monitoring

The article presents the analysis and prediction of coastal processes at the site of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir in the village of Kurtak where there are the most intensive processes of coastal reshaping. Over the past 50 years, the coast has receded here by an average of 350 m and continues to actively collapse at a speed of 3-5 m per year. Despite the fact that the intensity of coastal processes in this area has significantly decreased (mainly due to the general decrease in the level of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir), the rate of retreat of the shore is still high. However, it can be concluded that for the researched area the coastal reshaping does not pose a real threat to economic activity in the next 30 years. The article tested various methods of forecasting coastal processes, selected the most appropriate for the shores of a similar type. Verification of models was carried out on the basis of data of long-term monitoring of the site under consideration, which gave the chance to compare results of forecasts on different techniques to real retreat of the coast on this site.

scholarly journals Social Impact and Diffusion of Telecenter Use: A Study from the Sustainable Access in Rural India Project

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra Kumar ◽  
Michael L Best
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
South India ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Social Diffusion ◽  
The Village ◽  
And Diffusion

In a study of social diffusion of telecenter use in rural south India, we find that these centers are being used only by a relatively small proportion of the village households despite their having been in operation for well over a year. Based on a survey of the telecenter users, we find that these users are, in general, young, male, school or college students, relatively more educated, belong to relatively higher income households, and come from socially and economically advanced communities. Thus the telecenters may sustain existing socioeconomic inequalities within these communities. However, we find some significant exceptions. We find that location of telecenters close to the residential localities where socially and economically backward communities live and presence of local champions within those communities are associated with attracting more users from those communities. We also find that providing localized content and services and making these services more affordable are other important factors in increasing usage and diffusion. We posit that incorporating these factors in the planning, spatial location, and operation of the telecenters can significantly improve their social diffusion and improve their long-term financial and social sustainability.

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