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Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Thesis (MScConsEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613843912392704 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Rowland, Roxanne |
| author2 | Von-Durckheim, Katharina |
| author_browse | Rowland, Roxanne Von-Durckheim, Katharina |
| author_facet | Von-Durckheim, Katharina Rowland, Roxanne |
| author_sort | Rowland, Roxanne |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MScConsEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134380 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:35.472Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134380 Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area Rowland, Roxanne Von-Durckheim, Katharina Midgley, Guy F. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology & Entomology. African elephant -- Conservation -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Climatic changes Transfrontier conservation areas -- Africa, Southern Elephants -- Effect of human beings on African elephant -- Behavior -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park African elephant -- Environmental aspects -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park UCTD Thesis (MScConsEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Rowland, R. 2025. Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/415835a2-7131-4ca6-8a00-8bbcdc05bb2e ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Accelerating climatic and anthropogenic pressures are leading to habitat loss and fragmentation of habitats worldwide which is especially concerning for wide-ranging species such as elephants. Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), such as the Great Limpopo TFCA (GLTFCA), could become increasingly important in light of these conditions as a means of improving connectivity for elephants. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of data across the region and numerous knowledge gaps surrounding the movement ecology of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana, hereafter ‘elephant/s’) as well as connectivity that need to be addressed to ensure their conservation in the GLTFCA. The GLTFCA Elephant Management Framework highlighted the need to understand the dynamics of elephants, such as their distribution and movement, in addition to identifying areas that could act as critical corridors. This study aimed to provide valuable information on the temporal and sexual variation in space use and habitat selection of elephants across the GLTFCA as well as areas of connectivity and the placement of corridors and pinch-points under both current and projected conditions. The space use and habitat selection of elephants was assessed using integrated step-selection function (iSSF), GPS telemetry data from 10 individuals and remote sensing data. There were home range and core area expansions in the wet season due to increased availability of resources. Males had more emphasised movement patterns with larger home ranges and core areas as well as greater distances and speeds travelled in comparison to females. The night-day speed ratios of males indicated that they have higher nocturnal movements outside Protected Areas and are more risk tolerant than females. There was also extensive easterly movement outside of the GLTFCA by elephant bulls with core areas outside of the GLTFCA in the direction of the Changane and Chigcombe Rivers. NDVI, precipitation and proximity to rivers were found to be the most significant factors in habitat selection of both males and females and these factors were increasingly important in the dry season due to a reduction in forage quality and water availability. Using circuit theory and Linkage Mapper software, areas of high functional connectivity and important corridors and pinch-points were identified. Seasonal variation in connectivity occurred with higher current levels following the trajectories of river across the landscape during the dry season. There was also higher connectivity in the GLTFCA under the shared socio-economic pathway SSP5-8.5 scenario relative to SSP1-2.6. Corridors between Banhine National Park (BNP) and Limpopo National (LNP) as well as between Zinave National Park (ZNP) and BNP were found to be the most important corridors under both current and projected conditions emphasising the need to secure linkages between these national parks (NPs). The positions of dispersal pinch-points also varied depending on the season and climate scenario analysed. This study provides novel insights into the movement behaviour of elephants in the GTFCA and highlights the need to account for varying temporal scales when determining elephant functional connectivity under future climate change. The results of this study provide an important first step in improving our understanding of the habitat and resource requirements of elephants in the GLTFCA and contribute to the objectives of the GLTFCA Elephant Management Framework in supporting the continued persistence of elephants across this important transfrontier landscape. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-11-18T09:20:01Z 2025-11-18T09:20:01Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134380 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xii, 81 pages : illustrations, maps application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | African elephant -- Conservation -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Climatic changes Transfrontier conservation areas -- Africa, Southern Elephants -- Effect of human beings on African elephant -- Behavior -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park African elephant -- Environmental aspects -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park UCTD Rowland, Roxanne Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area |
| title | Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area |
| title_full | Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area |
| title_short | Assessment of functional connectivity for African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area |
| title_sort | assessment of functional connectivity for african savanna elephants loxodonta africana in the great limpopo transfrontier conservation area |
| topic | African elephant -- Conservation -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Climatic changes Transfrontier conservation areas -- Africa, Southern Elephants -- Effect of human beings on African elephant -- Behavior -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park African elephant -- Environmental aspects -- Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134380 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rowlandroxanne assessmentoffunctionalconnectivityforafricansavannaelephantsloxodontaafricanainthegreatlimpopotransfrontierconservationarea |