The distribution and habitat preferences of wild ungulates and cattle in Lochinvar National Park, Zambia and the use of resources by people living adjacent to the park
type: CreativeWork
description: (1) The distribution and habitat preferences of wild ungulates and cattle were determined from observations and counts in Lochinvar National Park and the Game Management Area (GMA) on the west em part of the park on the Kafue river floodplain of Zambia over five months. Oribi, zebra and lechwe were the most widely distributed wild ungulates using habitat patches inside and outside the park. Although the distribution of buffalo was restricted within the park, the species was found in all the habitat types unlike lechwe and zebra that preferred only the floodplain and termitaria areas. Wildebeest preferred the termitaria and floodplain areas inside the park. The highest lechwe density was in Chunga floodplain with a density of 504.2/km2 followed by Mulindi GMA with 451.9/km2. The lowest lechwe density was in Mulindl termitaria with 0.4/km2. Zebra density was highest in Nampongwe floodplain with 118/km2 while the highest wildebeest density was on Gwisho dambo with 27/km2. Nampongwe floodplain had the highest oribi density with 2.8/km2. There were significant differences in the density of lechwe inside and outside the park in Mulindi. Zebra and oribi densities inside and outside the park in Mulindi were low and no differences could be noted. (2) The biomass production in the different habitats was determined by harvesting the above ground biomass in selected areas in each habitat. The termitaria were the most productive of the three habitat types with an estimated production of 4320kg/ha followed by the woodland with 3200kg/ha and the least production was in the floodplain with 2850kg/ha. Of this total, grasses made up 87.4%, 83. 7% and 72.5% of the production in the floodplain, termitaria and woodland respectively. There were no significant differences in biomass production between different habitat types, however, there were significant differences in biomass production within the same habitat. (3) The species composition of the dominant plants was different in all ha…
abstract: (1) The distribution and habitat preferences of wild ungulates and cattle were determined from observations and counts in Lochinvar National Park and the Game Management Area (GMA) on the west em part of the park on the Kafue river floodplain of Zambia over five months. Oribi, zebra and lechwe were the most widely distributed wild ungulates using habitat patches inside and outside the park. Although the distribution of buffalo was restricted within the park, the species was found in all the habitat types unlike lechwe and zebra that preferred only the floodplain and termitaria areas. Wildebeest preferred the termitaria and floodplain areas inside the park. The highest lechwe density was in Chunga floodplain with a density of 504.2/km2 followed by Mulindi GMA with 451.9/km2. The lowest lechwe density was in Mulindl termitaria with 0.4/km2. Zebra density was highest in Nampongwe floodplain with 118/km2 while the highest wildebeest density was on Gwisho dambo with 27/km2. Nampongwe floodplain had the highest oribi density with 2.8/km2. There were significant differences in the density of lechwe inside and outside the park in Mulindi. Zebra and oribi densities inside and outside the park in Mulindi were low and no differences could be noted. (2) The biomass production in the different habitats was determined by harvesting the above ground biomass in selected areas in each habitat. The termitaria were the most productive of the three habitat types with an estimated production of 4320kg/ha followed by the woodland with 3200kg/ha and the least production was in the floodplain with 2850kg/ha. Of this total, grasses made up 87.4%, 83. 7% and 72.5% of the production in the floodplain, termitaria and woodland respectively. There were no significant differences in biomass production between different habitat types, however, there were significant differences in biomass production within the same habitat. (3) The species composition of the dominant plants was different in all ha…
author: Lumbwe, Fainess Chaona
keywords: Conservation Biology
date published: 2000
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:22:57Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38401