Download Managing the Cape mountain zebra (and other large herbivores) in

Managing the Cape mountain zebra (and other large herbivores) in the face of a
changing climate
Supervisory team
Dr. Susanne Shultz, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Shultz’s research
focuses on understanding how species respond to environmental change.
Professor David Polya, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Prof. Polya’s research
focuses on environmental geochemistry, particularly analytical chemistry of waters and soils
and modelling exposure and health impacts.
Dr Angela Harris, School of Environment, Education and Development. Dr. Harris’ research
involves using remote sensing to understand environmental change.
Dr. Susan Walker, Head of Applied Science, Chester Zoo. Susan Walker research expertise
involves non-invasive physiological monitoring. She also leads the zoo’s applied science team.
Primary contact: Dr Susanne Shultz ; [email protected]
CASE with Chester Zoo.
Introduction
Sub-Saharan Africa is a region particularly vulnerable to environmental change. Human activity
has a substantial impact on land use through agricultural conversion and water dynamics
through extraction, canalisation, and climate change. Climate change in sub-Saharan Africa is
expected to exacerbate these issues as rainfall across the region is expected to become more
unpredictable and drought more common (Dore 2005).
Large herbivores are likely to be disproportionately affected by changes in land use, resource
availability and water budgets. Globally, 60% of mega-herbivores currently face extinction and
58% are experiencing population declines (Ripple et al 2015). African savannahs are home to
the planet’s highest diversity of large herbivores. The primary threats they face are range
collapse and fragmentation, poaching and competition with livestock. However, there is
compelling evidence that the amount, quality and distribution of surface water are also of key
importance (Ogutu et al 2014). Documenting the impacts of environmental change on large
herbivore populations is essential for predicting future impacts of climate change, the optimal
management of species and populations and providing recommendations for resource and
protected area management.
Project Summary
This project will concentrate on the impact of environmental change in protected areas on
wildlife populations. First, the student will develop spatial and temporal models of surface
water, soil moisture and above ground biomass change using remote Landsat images over the
past thirty years. Second, the student will sample soil and water across protected areas to
evaluate spatial and temporal patterns of acidification, as well as trace element, organic matter
and microbiology composition. Third, the student will use a macrophysiology approach (i.e.
behaviour, social networks, physiology and demography) to assess large herbivore population
health. The main model system will be the Cape mountain zebra in South Africa, where we
have long-term data on population demography, growth and social structure. However, the
project will expand the single species focus to incorporate additional large herbivores.
Research questions
1. What are there long-term trends in land use, productivity, soil moisture and surface water
availability across sub-Saharan protected areas?
2. How do these changes impact on the long-term resilience of large herbivore populations?
The project will involve a combination of GIS spatial modelling, behavioural observations and
ecological sampling (biogeochemistry and plant community composition). Thus, the project will
have a strong field work component. The student will be involved with a larger team working on
conservation projects understanding variation in population performance in mega-herbivores
(zebra, black rhinos, elephants and bongos) across Southern and Eastern Africa.
Change in above ground biomass (NDVI) over time across southern Africa (from Harris et al
2014).
Aggregation of zebra around an artificial watering point in Mountain Zebra National Park.
References
Dore, M. H. (2005). Climate change and changes in global precipitation patterns: what do we
know?. Environment international, 31(8), 1167-1181.
Foster, C. N., Barton, P. S., & Lindenmayer, D. B. (2014). Effects of large native herbivores
on other animals. Journal of Applied Ecology, 51(4), 929-938.
Ogutu, J. O., Reid, R. S., Piepho, H. P., Hobbs, N. T., Rainy, M. E., Kruska, R. L., ... &
Nyabenge, M. (2014). Large herbivore responses to surface water and land use in an East
African savanna: implications for conservation and human-wildlife conflicts. Biodiversity and
conservation, 23(3), 573-596.
Ripple, W. J., Newsome, T. M., Wolf, C., Dirzo, R., Everatt, K. T., Galetti, M., ... &
Macdonald, D. W. (2015). Collapse of the world’s largest herbivores. Science Advances,
1(4), e1400103.
Strauch, A. M. (2013). Interactions between soil, rainfall, and wildlife drive surface water
quality across a savanna ecosystem. Ecohydrology, 6(1), 94-103.
Relevant publications from supervisory team
Elisa, M., Shultz, S, and White, K.. "Impact of surface water extraction on water quality and
ecological integrity in Arusha National Park, Tanzania." African Journal of Ecology 54.2
(2016): 174-182.
Lea, J., Kerley, Hrbar, H., G., Shultz, S (in review) Recognition and management of
ecological refugees: a case study of the Cape mountain zebra.
Salido, L., Purse, B. V., Marrs, R., Chamberlain, D. E., & Shultz, S. (2012). Flexibility in
phenology and habitat use act as buffers to long‐term population declines in UK passerines.
Ecography, 35(7), 604-613.
Harris, A., Carr, A. S., & Dash, J. (2014). Remote sensing of vegetation cover dynamics and
resilience across southern Africa. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and
Geoinformation, 28, 131-139.
Guedron S, Tisserand D, Garambois S, Spadini L, Molton F, Bounvilay B, Charlet L, Polya
D. (2014) Baseline investigation of (methyl)mercury in waters, soils, sediments and key
foodstuffs in the Lower Mekong Basin: The rapidly developing city of Vientiane (Lao PDR).
Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 143: 96-102. DOI:10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.03.020
Sovann C, Polya D. (2014) Improved groundwater geogenic arsenic hazard map for
Cambodia. Environmental Chemistry. 11(5): 595-607. DOI:10.1071/en14006