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The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1979.
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University of Pretoria
2013
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| _version_ | 1867613520488562688 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Bothma, Jacobus du P. |
| author_browse | Bothma, Jacobus du P. |
| author_facet | Bothma, Jacobus du P. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 1979 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1979. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/25880 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:27.405Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publishDateRange | 2013 |
| publishDateSort | 2013 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/25880 The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana Bothma, Jacobus du P. Theron, G.K. upetd@up.ac.za Biggs, Russell C. Ecology Okavango Delta, Botswana Seismic activity UCTD Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1979. The study area lies in the central Okavango Delta, Botswana, and was proclaimed a game reserve extension on 2nd July 1976. Peoples of Khoisanoid origin first colonized the area. Bantu speaking baYei followed in about 1750 and baTawana in about 1795. The area is still completely undeveloped and pristine. The solid geology is largely overlain by Kalahari sands, but is seismically very active. Resultant faulting has given rise to the Delta. Further seismic activity, vegetation blockage formation, termitaria establishment and low density of large aquatic moving animals give rise to continual change in water distribution and output at the Delta’s base. These natural factors continually cause dynamic change of flooding regimes. The climate is of summer rainfall and local Delta rainfall is considered a major factor in determining extent and duration of flooding. Five vegetation types divided into 20 plant communities occur. Five communities are dependent on a high water table and 10 on surface flooding for maintenance of specific mammalian habitat types. Floodplain vegetation types are considered most sensitive and ‘normal’ flooding is required to maintain the wetland flora and fauna. Sixty-three mammalian species are recorded from the study area. Twenty-two species are almost wholly dependent on flooding. Lechwe and sitatunga are completely dependent on aquatic and floodplain vegetation types and adequate flooding to conserve their habitat. Water flow in most major channels from ancient to present times has changed radically in distribution. Schemes to extract a more reliable flow out of the Delta for industry and human/stock consumption are laid out and evaluated, and a water demand made for conserved areas. Tourism should be in the form of foot and mekoro or botat safaris. Control of undesirable aquatic vegetation must be monitored. Burning as a management tool is required to enhance flow and control vegetation in some areas. It is premature and unsound to eliminate tsetse fly at this stage. Limited cropping will have to be initiated shortly. Larger tracts of Delta area are required under the direct supervision of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to maintain the pristine conditions and ensure the conservation of fauna and flora, thereby maintaining the only reason for international tourism to the area. Centre for Wildlife Management unrestricted 2013-09-07T01:08:11Z 2012-01-30 2013-09-07T01:08:11Z 1979-12-05 1979 2012-01-29 Dissertation Biggs, RC 1979, The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25880 > E12/4/61/ag http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25880 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01292012-085939/ © 1979 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Ecology Okavango Delta, Botswana Seismic activity UCTD The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title | The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_full | The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_fullStr | The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_short | The ecology of Chief’s Island and the adjacent floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_sort | ecology of chief s island and the adjacent floodplains of the okavango delta botswana |
| topic | Ecology Okavango Delta, Botswana Seismic activity UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25880 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01292012-085939/ |