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Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2008
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| _version_ | 1867613920380846080 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Shacks, Vincent |
| author2 | Van der Merwe, J. H. |
| author_browse | Shacks, Vincent Van der Merwe, J. H. |
| author_facet | Van der Merwe, J. H. Shacks, Vincent |
| author_sort | Shacks, Vincent |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1510 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:48.768Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateRange | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1510 Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana Shacks, Vincent Van der Merwe, J. H. Leslie, Alison J. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies. Habitat vulnerability Dissertations -- Geography and environmental studies Theses -- Geography and environmental studies Nile crocodile -- Habitat -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Nests -- Botswana - Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Effect of human beings on -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Effect of habitat modification on -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. The Okavango river along the panhandle of the Delta, in Botswana, is home to many wildlife species as well as to many large village communities. Local communities rely on the riverine system and its resources for subsistence and commerce. Activities associated with the utilization of these resources are governed by the fluctuating water levels of the river, which inhibit access during high water levels and allow access during low water levels. The high intensity of activities, such as reed harvesting, fishing and increased tourism, during low water periods coincides with the breeding season of many wildlife species in the system, including the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Over 90% of crocodile breeding areas in the Delta are found only in the panhandle region. The association between the intensity of human activities in the floodplains and crocodile nesting activity means that much of the habitat required for nesting is vulnerable to human disturbance and this could have severe negative impacts on the future of the Okavango crocodile population. The study evaluated habitat vulnerability by mapping and spatially comparing habitat suitability, based on optimum environmental requirements for crocodile nesting, and human disturbance factors. A detailed crocodile nesting survey was carried out to locate and test all nesting sites according to criteria selected by species experts. The results from the survey were used to locate suitable nesting habitat in the study area by analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Disturbance factors were visually identified and their locations in the study area spatially mapped. Their spatial influences on crocodile nesting were used as factors in a Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) that evaluated the combined effect of the disturbances on the area defined as suitable crocodile habitat. The results indicate the extent of habitat vulnerable to human disturbances. The results from the study show that 59% of once suitable crocodile habitat is currently disturbed by human activities. Most of the remaining 41% of undisturbed habitat is located along the Moremi/Phillipa side channel, which represents a core area for protection measures to be instated. The study recommends the declaration of a crocodile nesting sanctuary in this side channel to ensure the breeding success of this keystone species. Masters 2008-11-05T10:06:45Z 2010-06-01T08:26:25Z 2008-11-05T10:06:45Z 2010-06-01T08:26:25Z 2006-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1510 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Habitat vulnerability Dissertations -- Geography and environmental studies Theses -- Geography and environmental studies Nile crocodile -- Habitat -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Nests -- Botswana - Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Effect of human beings on -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Effect of habitat modification on -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Shacks, Vincent Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title | Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_full | Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_fullStr | Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_short | Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana |
| title_sort | habitat vulnerability for the nile crocodile crocodylus niloticus in the okavango delta botswana |
| topic | Habitat vulnerability Dissertations -- Geography and environmental studies Theses -- Geography and environmental studies Nile crocodile -- Habitat -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Nests -- Botswana - Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Effect of human beings on -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta Nile crocodile -- Effect of habitat modification on -- Botswana -- Okavango River Delta |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1510 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shacksvincent habitatvulnerabilityforthenilecrocodilecrocodylusniloticusintheokavangodeltabotswana |