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Wildlife & Ecological Investments Field Research Programme 2014

Overview for Balule Game Reserve

Contributors - Tomos Avent, Caz Schiess, Henrietta Chilton & Elme Breytenbach

In 2012 Wildlife & Ecological Investments started a research and training programme in Struwig Eco

Reserve. Since then, over 800 students from more than 20 countries have joined our College,

Undergraduate and Masters training programmes in Savannah Ecology, Southern African

Conservation, and Bush-craft Training.

Our team on the ground have also helped restore and maintain the road network throughout OREC,

especially through rock packing and soil filling rill erosion, vegetation clearing, and continued work on

mitre drains and bolsters.

The purpose of this report is to introduce the ongoing research work on Struwig and present an

overview of the data collected so far in 2014. Due to the limited area of operation and traversing on

OREC, our research programme has thus far been limited to small-scale bird, invertebrate, habitat,

herbivore and predator monitoring projects. In the future we would like to expand our research focus

to help address larger questions pertinent to the conservation management of Balule Game Reserve.

The following report will be broken down into research themes, first outlining our survey approaches,

then summarizing our data and, if appropriate at this point, some research findings. At the end of

some sections I suggest some of the further work that would be possible if we are able to expand the

programme into a larger area. It is not the purpose of this overview to go into detailed methods and

justifications of our survey work, but copies of these can be obtained on request – please email

tom.avent@wei.org.za.

Report Themes

1. Habitat Assessment ………………………………………………………………………………………….……….. Page 2

2. Bird Surveying.………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….. Page 8

3. Predator Monitoring …………………………………………………………………………………………………. Page 12

4. Elephant Monitoring …………………………………………………………………………………………………. Page 22

5. Game Monitoring …………………………………………………………………………………………….……….. Page 23

6. Invertebrate Sampling ….…………………………………………………………………………………………… Page 25

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1. Habitat Assessment

Habitat Analyses have been conducted at 15 sites each winter since 2012 (sites mapped in Figure 1).

Figure 1. Habitat Assessment and Bird Point Count Survey Sites

At each habitat assessment site our teams record all woody vegetation over 1 metre tall, detailing

species name, height class, basal stem diameter, average stem diameter (for multi-stemmed bushes),

the width of the widest point of the canopy, and the extent of elephant and fire impact. A qualitative

and quantitative evaluation of elephant impact (and fire although the fire data is not featured in this

report) is graded according to the Walker scale as detailed below:

TYPE: CODE:

Pulled or kicked out A

Pushed over and dead or apparently dead B

Main trunk broken, is or appears to be dead C

Main trunk broken but re-sprouting or likely to re-sprout D

Pushed over but still alive E

Main trunk tusk-slashed F

Main trunk debarked (% of the circumference) *G

Roots exposed and eaten (% of the circumference) *H

Primary branches broken *J

Secondary and/or smaller branches broken *K

None: Z

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*Impact types G, H, J, K must be quantified according to the percentage classes given below. The percentage classes refer to the percentage of the total canopy volume (J & K) and are estimated. In the case of exposed roots and debarking of the main trunk (types G & H), the percentage of the root base or trunk's perimeter (i.e. a circle) affected must be estimated and coded accordingly.

1-10%

11-25%

26-50%

51-75%

76-90%

91-100%

Over the period 2012-2014, our research teams have identified 61 tree species in and around our

Habitat Assessment sites on OREC (Figure 2). The habitat assessments involved the surveying of

1864 trees over the three year period.

Abutilon angulatum Commiphora mollis Gymnosporia senegalensis

Acacia burkei Commiphora pyracanthoides Hippocratea longipetiolata

Acacia erubescens Crossopteryx febrifuga Karomia speciosa

Acacia exuvialis Croton megalobotrys Lannea schweinfurthii

Acacia gerrardii Dalbergia melanoxylon Lantana camara

Acacia grandicornuta Dichrostachys cinerea Mundulea sericea

Acacia karroo Diospyros mespiliformes Manilkara mochisia

Acacia nigescens Ehretia amoena Ozoroa paniculosa

Acacia Senegal Euclea divinorum Pappea capensis

Albizia harveyi Euclea natalensis Peltophorum africanum

Boscia albitrunca Euclea undulate Philenoptera violacea

Cassia abbreviate Grewia bicolor Schotia brachypetala

Cissus cornifolia Grewia caffra Sclerocarya birrea

Coddia rudis Grewia flava Spirostachys africana

Colophospermum mopane Grewia flavascens Terminalia prunioides

Combretum apiculatum Grewia hexamita Tricalysia junodii

Combretum collinum Grewia inaequilatera Tricalysia lanceolata

Combretum hereroense Grewia monticola Ximenia americana

Combretum imberbe Grewia villosa Ximenia caffra

Combretum mossambicense Grewia subspathulata (hybrid of G.monticola & G.bicolor))

Ziziphus mucronata

Commiphora Africana

Figure 2. A species list of trees identified on OREC over the period 2012-2014

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This initial analysis covers the following questions:

i) Are certain tree species more impacted by elephant?

ii) Are elephants having a greater impact on certain height categories of trees?

iii) Are there differences in the relative level of elephant impact between sites?

To calculate the proportion of trees impacted relative to their abundance, ‘impact scores’ were

generated. Firstly, a tree was classified as ‘impacted’ if it had been recorded in any of the impact

categories (excluding the ‘Z’ no impact category). If the only impact to the tree was in categories G,

H, J or K, the tree was only classed as ‘impacted’ if one or more of the associated percentages was

over 50%. More rigorous impact scores have been calculated using the Walker Scale for other WEI

projects but we were aiming to create a quick and easily repeatable method to assess the data for

OREC.

To create an impact score for each tree species we first calculated the percentage of trees impacted

within each species and then calculated:

- the percentage of total trees impacted for each species ( % Impacted = (no. of trees of the

species impacted / total no. of trees impacted ) x 100)

- the percentage of total trees for each species (% availability = (no. of trees of species / total

no. of trees) x 100)

- an impact score for each species (Impact Score = % impacted / % availability)

This method of creating impact scores was then repeated for enquiries ii) and iii), using the relevant

categories – i.e. height categories (ii) and survey site locations (iii) rather than species.

The differences between impact scores for each category were evaluated for independence using

Chi-squared tests. An impact score of above 1.0 will demonstrate ‘selection’ for that species, where

as an impact score of below 1.0 will demonstrate a lack of selection. We therefore assume that

species showing some level of impact but not ‘selected for’, are chosen by elephants due to their

high availability rather than a preference by the elephants.

Again, this analysis is designed as a quick and easy method to identify patterns and indications of

associations. Further analysis and behavioural observation would be required to confirm the

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selectivity behaviour of elephants in the OREC area. The analysis in this report only includes the 2013

data, a summary of which is illustrated in Table 1.

Number of Sites Surveyed 17 (two additional sites were selected)

Number of Trees Surveyed 771

Number of Trees Impacted 97

% of Trees Impacted 12.58

Number of Tree Species 38

Number of Tree Species Impacted 17

% of Tree Species Impacted 44.74

Table 1. A table summarising the research effort and results from the Habitat Assessments in 2013. The no. of species listed here is lower than those stated in Fig 2. as Fig 2. includes different sites assessed in 2012.

i) Tree species impact selectivity by elephant The 2013 data indicated that 13 of the 17 species impacted by elephants were selected for by the

elephants (impact score >1.0) (Figure 3). There was a statistically significant difference between

species, with Sclerocarya birrea and Peltiphorum African displaying the highest impact scores of

7.95.

Figure 3. The analytical variables describing species impacted by elephants in 2013. The % availability illustrates the relative abundance of each species in the survey sites. The % impact illustrates the percentage of

total impacted tree of each species. Impact scores <1.0 indicate impact is due to abundance of the species rather than selection by elephants.

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Tree species selection by Elephants in 2013

% Impact

% Availability

Impact Score

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ii) Elephant impact in different tree height classes

The highest impact scores were seen by trees in the largest height category (10m-20m) with over 30

% of trees in that category displaying impact (Figure 4). Although there is only a low percentage of

total trees impacted in this group (Figure 5), this is more likely to be a reflection of the low number of

individuals in this height category. Further analysis of tree species most impacted within this group

alone would be useful to highlight the more vulnerable mature trees of the larger species. 25% of trees

between 4m-6m were impacted by elephant (Figure 5), the group also displaying a high impact score.

Around 18% of all impacted trees fall in this category (Figure 4). The height category with the greatest

percentage of total trees impacted was between 2m-4m (Figure 5), and the impact score of over 1.5

highlights the need to investigate species specific trends in this group, especially to find out if these

are trees at maturity in this height category, or less-mature trees. This would potentially provide

insights into elephant impact on recruitment and establishment rates of larger species in the region.

Figure 4. Tree impact scores and % of trees impacted within each height category

Figure 5. Tree impact scores and % of total trees impacted

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iii) Elephant impact levels at WEI Survey sites

There was a notable difference in the levels of impact at different sites (Figure 6) suggesting a need

for an investigation into other factors affecting impact on habitat. The difference may be purely to

do with tree composition, but other spatial and environmental factors are certainly worth

investigating. The main purpose of this graph was so that we could assign sites a coarse ‘High’,

‘Medium’, or ‘Low’ category for our bird guild analysis in Section Two of this report.

Figure 6. A graph to show the percentage of trees impacted at each survey site in 2013

Grass Biomass

To estimate winter grass biomass, the mean of the disk pasture meter readings from all sites was

calculated. To estimate grass biomass, we applied this value to the Kruger DPM calibration set out in

Zambatis et al 2006 which, for readings such as ours under 26cm is as follows:

kg ha−1 = [31.7176 (0.32181/x) x0.2834]2

Our sites are not laid out perfectly to estimate grass biomass as we cover much larger areas than

standard Veld Condition Assessments and do naturally survey some areas of bare ground in the region.

If calculated including all bare ground (to present an estimate for the entire area) we have calculated

a grass biomass of 947 kg ha-1 but if we exclude all readings of zero (bare ground) then we reach a

figure of 1439 kg ha-1. This may provide a better estimate of grass biomass in the more vegetated

areas around OREC.

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2 2b 3 12 13 10 15 16 7 9 4 11 6 14 17 5 8

Perecentage of trees impacted at the survey sites in 2013

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2. Bird Surveying There is an ever growing need to monitor changes in biodiversity. Gathering biodiversity data over a

number of years allows patterns in communities to be identified and correlated to changes in habitat,

climate and management. However, it is probably impossible to identify the total diversity of all taxa

(everything from slime moulds to bacteria to vertebrates) in an area of one hectare, let alone an entire

reserve the size of Balule. Therefore, it is often necessary to use certain indicator groups for

monitoring. Our study focuses on surveying birds to assess biodiversity as they are widely accepted to

be one of the best indicator groups of ecosystem health. This is because they;

are reasonably diverse (not overly so such as many invertebrate groups, or have restricted

diversity such as small mammals);

can be identified in the field (as opposed to many other taxa that require removal of samples);

have existing well tested survey methods for estimating bird densities in a range of habitats;

have known habitat requirements for many species.

Populations of individual bird species however will naturally vary from year to year and such variation

may mask underlying trends. To prevent annual fluctuations in bird abundances disrupting overall

picture of ecosystem health, bird species have been grouped into feeding guilds (e.g. insectivores,

granivores etc.), the diversity of which have been shown to give a clearer picture of ecological

responses over time. Grouping species into guilds also mitigates the effects of accidental

misidentification of related species, as they are likely to belong to similar guilds. To study bird diversity

we conducted 10 minute bird point counts every month at 15 sites (same sites as Habitat Assessment

sites (see Figure 1)) inside the reserve. We increase the frequency of these surveys every winter, when

we have larger research teams available. During this time, we will replicate each survey site assessed

three times within a period of six weeks. Birds present at a survey site during the winter months are

likely to be there pre-dominantly for feeding so will minimise the influence of other guild factors (e.g.

nesting).

So far in 2014 our teams have recorded 185 different species during bird point counts in OREC, with

over 5000 individual records entered into our database this year so far. A complete species list with

common names in alphabetical order is shown in Figure 7 below. It must be remembered that this

certainly does not claim to be a comprehensive species list of the area, as some species are more likely

to be recorded than others when using the point count method. This does however give an indication

of avifaunal utilization of certain areas on the reserve which can be used for further analysis.

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Acacia Pied Barbet Crowned Lapwing Pied Kingfisher

African Firefinch Dark-capped Bulbul Purple Roller

African Fish-Eagle Diderick Cuckoo Rattling Cisticola

African Goshawk Double-banded Sandgrouse Red billed Buffalo-Weaver

African Green-pigeon Dusky Indigobird Red-backed Shrike

African Grey Hornbill Egyptian Goose Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver

African Harrier-Hawk Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Red-billed Firefinch

African Hoopoe Eurasian Hobby Red-billed Hornbill

African Palm-Swift European Bee-eater Red-billed Oxpecker

African Paradise-Flycatcher European Roller Red-billed Quelea

African Pied Wagtail Fiscal Flycatcher Red-crested Korhaan

African Pipit Fork-tailed Drongo Red-eyed Dove

African Reed-Warbler Giant Kingfisher Red-faced Cisticola

African Spoonbill Glossy Ibis Red-faced Mousebird

Amethyst Sunbird Golden-breasted Bunting Reed Cormorant

Amur Falcon Golden-tailed Woodpecker Retz's Hemet-shrike

Arrow-marked Babbler Greater Blue-eared Starling Rufous-naped Lark

Ashy Flycatcher Greater Honeyguide Sabota Lark

Barn Swallow Greater Striped Swallow Sombre Greenbul

Bateleur Green Wood-Hoopoe Southern Black Flycatcher

Bearded Scrub-Robin Green-backed Camaroptera Southern Black Tit

Bearded Woodpecker Green-capped Eremomela Southern Boubou

Bennett's Woodpecker Green-winged Pytilia Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Black Crake Grey Go-Away-Bird Southern Ground-Hornbill

Black Cuckoo Grey Heron Southern Masked-Weaver

Black Cuckooshrike Grey Heron Southern White-crowned Shrike

Black Stork Grey Hornbill Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Black-backed Puffback Grey Penduline Tit Speckled Mousebird

Black-chested Snake-Eagle Grey Tit-Flycatcher Spotted Flycatcher

Black-collared Barbet Grey-headed Bush-Shrike Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Black-crowned Tchagra Grey-headed Sparrow Streaky-headed Seedeater

Black-headed Oriole Hadeda Ibis Swainson's Spurfowl

Black-shouldered Kite Hamerkop Swee Waxbill

Blacksmith Lapwing Helmeted Guineafowl Tawny Eagle

Black-winged Stilt Hooded Vulture Tawny-flanked Prinia

Blue Waxbill House Sparrow Terrestrial Brownbul

Booted Eagle Indigobird Three-banded Plover

Bronze Mannikin Jacobin Cuckoo Trumpeter Hornbill

Brown hooded Kingfisher Jameson's Firefinch Verreaux's Eagle Owl

Brown Snake-Eagle Klaas's Cuckoo Village Indigobird

Brown-crowned Tchagra Kurrichane Thrush Violet-backed Starling

Brown-hooded Kingfisher Laughing Dove Wahlberg's Eagle

Brown-throated Martin Lesser Striped Swallow Water Thick-knee

Brubru Lilac-breasted Roller White-backed Vulture

Burchell's Coucal Little Bee-eater White-bellied Sunbird

Burchell's Starling Little Rush-Warbler White-breasted Cormorant

Burnt-Necked Eremomela Little Swift White-browed Robin Chat

Cape Glossy Starling Long-billed Crombec White-browed Scrub-Robin

Cape Turtle-Dove Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah White-crested Helmet-Shrike

Cape White-eye Magpie Shrike White-crowned Lapwing

Cardinal Woodpecker Marabou Stork White-crowned Shrike

Cattle Egret Marico Sunbird Southern White-faced Scops Owl

Chinspot Batis Monotonous Lark Woodland Kingfisher

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Natal Spurfowl Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Cloud Cisticola Neddicky Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Collared Sunbird Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Common Scimitarbill Pale Flycatcher Yellow-breasted Apalis

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Common Swift Pearl-spotted Owlet Yellow-fronted Canary

Crested Barbet Pel's Fishing-Owl Yellow-throated Petronia

Crested Francolin Peregrine Falcon Zitting Cisticola

Croaking Cisticola Pied Crow

Figure 7. All birds recorded by sight or sound in 10 minute bird point counts in 2014 (Figure continued from previous page)

To get an understanding of the knock-on effect that elephant impact to habitat has on bird guild

diversity, the survey sites were split up into ‘High’, ‘Medium’, and ‘Low’ impact groups. Each bird

species was then assigned to a feeding guild, and the proportion of individuals within each guild was

compared between sites with different levels of elephant impact (see Figure 8).

There was statistically significant difference in bird guild composition in sites with different levels of

elephant impact. This was largely due to the significant decrease in frugivorous (fruit eating)

individuals and a significant increase in insectivores with higher impact levels. A decrease in in

frugivores may be explained by the selective preference of elephants for impacting larger trees in the

area (see section 1, Figure 4), as many fruit producing trees must reach maturity before they fruit. The

increase in insectivorous birds could be explained by an increase in damaged or dead vegetation

creating food sources and habitat for increased insect populations. It would be interesting to further

break-down the insectivore guild into two separate guilds, one for flying insects and another for

ground insects. The most interesting outputs from this study will come when we are able to assess

annual trends in levels of elephant impact and investigate and associated changes in bird guild

diversity.

The bird point count data provides a lot of opportunity for future analysis as we continue surveying

over a number of years, but we currently garner very little information from so few sites in such a

small area. We would like to significantly increase the number of survey sites throughout Balule so

that we can start to develop species distribution maps for the wider area and map species diversity

across the Reserve using predictive species distribution modelling. Figure 9 is a predictive species

diversity model that WEI created for Welgevonden Game Reserve using bird point data from just six

weeks of surveying at 40 sites over the 37,500 ha game reserve. These kinds of outputs would be

relatively easy to achieve if we are able to survey a greater number of sites across a wider area.

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Figure 8. Bird guild composition in low, medium, and high impact sites in OREC

Figure 9. WEI predictive species richness map of Welgevonden Game Reserve from a six week survey.

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3. Predator monitoring

Survey teams conduct opportunistic predator searches most mornings throughout the year. All fresh

tracks and signs, along with actual sightings, are recorded onto a customised cybertracker database.

This is an attempt to gain a better understanding of predator movements through the area and

territories held.

Leopard

Eight individuals have been identified within the OREC and surrounding borders. Three males, three

females, and two of unknown sex. Photographic indentikits have been created for each of these

individuals (see Figure 11) and we have named the individuals as follows:

Matimba: Adult male new to the area since mid-June 2014. His tracks are distinctive; the

centre lobe of his left back foot protrudes out backwards behind the side lobes.

Mala: Adult Female first spotted on Mala road when she had an interaction with a hyena

whilst protecting a kill. She is a very large female with a characteristic ‘J’ above her eye, making her

easily identifiable. She has been seen with Matimba on the river banks behind camp and may produce

cubs in early November 2014.

Sabi: Very relaxed individual. Generally regarded to be the dominant male in the area but may

have this dominance threatened by Matimba. Sabi has often been seen in the western section of

OREC.

Rue: Adult Female, name short for Rusermi as she was first spotted just off main road and

was later she was seen in Oewer Camp killing a warthog 20 meters from the swimming pool and staff.

She has only been seen on two occasions, we cannot confirm if she is resident or nomadic.

Ntombi: Adult female, named for her pretty and feminine features. She is has been spotted

around Dundee Dam area but is also extremely shy, so sightings of her are fleeting. It has been a while

since she was last spotted and the team is not sure if she is still in the area.

Dinidza: Adult male, named after the area. Was originally found lying with an impala kill under

a jackalberry, on the railway line. He has only been seen once. There are reports coming in from the

reserve manager on Dinidza that a new large male has been spotted regularly at his camp, as well as

a collared female around Dinidza camp through to Mafunyane Camp.

Nyala: Adult of unknown sex, was seen once up in the branches of a nyala tree, but made a

quick escape. Nyala is a large individual but has the face of a female. Staff at Struwig have seen this

same striking green eyed individual a number of times in that immediate area but could never sex it.

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Dundee: Adult of unknown sex, seen many times around Dundee dam in 2012 and 13, but not

seen in 2014. Has a characteristic eye patch over its right eye.

From general observations our teams have noted that Matimba, Mala & Sabi seem to be the more

dominant Individuals so far. Matimba is a new to the area with tracks and sightings suggesting he is

traversing the whole OREC region. Matimba has been seen with a female and we expect some cubs in

early Nov 2014. Judging from the frequency of sightings, it had been assumed that Sabi is dominant,

but it will be interesting to see how the introduction of Matimba to the area will affect the population

dynamics in this regard.

A map of monthly recordings is shown in Figure 10. Each recorded point shown on the map represents

an individual day when either a sighting or a fresh track has been recorded onto our Cybertracker

Database.

Figure 10. Monthly recordings map of leopard in WEI’s area of operation on OREC. Each point represents a day

when a sighting or fresh track has been recorded.

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Figure 11. Photographic ID Database of individuals recorded by WEI in OREC (This Figure covers Pages 14, 15 & 16)

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Lion

The only data recorded on the lion populations is from the predator searches and incidental sightings.

However, our team has also built up a good understanding of the lion populations in the region (Figure

12) and the following is an anecdotal report form WEI Field Technician, Caz Schiess:

“Up until May 2013 it was thought from the lion movements that Klasserie lions dominated the east

of the reserve. Very seldom were any lions from the west (Balule) seen and when seen, they were very

skittish. The Pride from the West is large with a coalition comprising three males and between eight

and ten other individuals, with cubs ranging from six to ten months. These cubs were very light in colour

compared to the Klasserie lions in the east, which is made up of a coalition of three males, two females,

and a group of six cubs ranging between approximately 10-24 months old. Two of the older cubs were

confirmed male.

In the early months of 2013, we started noticing tracks from the Western Pride males were growing

more in frequency. Tragically in May this year we discovered the dying body of one of the lioness from

the Eastern Pride. Her injuries suggest that she was attacked by another lion, as she was bitten on her

neck severing her jugular, with further injuries to her hind leg and side. The rest of the pride were

present and calling for her. It is important to also mention that there were no hyenas in the area. Since

this incident this pride has not been seen and the Western Pride dominates the region.

Having said this, the lion dynamics are still changing, and we have recently spotted three young

individuals; two females and one male, along the Olifants River between the Bush Camp and Struwig

Main Camp. These individuals are approximately 22-26months of age and very light in colour - blonde

like the western pride. We have also sighted two young (22-26 month old) males on the

Krabia/Klasserie side. Whether or not these are the youngsters from the two established prides is

unknown.

There are also suspicions of a 3rd pride now frequenting the reserve, but further investigation is needed

is needed to establish if they are part of the larger 2 prides.”

A map of monthly lion sightings is shown in Figure 12.

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Figure 12. Monthly recordings map of lion in WEI’s area of operation on OREC. Each point represents a day

when a sighting or fresh track has been recorded.

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Spotted Hyena

Our teams suspect that there is a clan of eight individuals covering the entire OREC region, although

there is a high frequency of other individuals or clans coming through the area. In April 2014 three

cubs were spotted near a den site on Mitsi Road. A monthly recordings map is shown below (Figure

13).

Figure 13. Monthly recordings map of spotted hyena in WEI’s area of operation on OREC. Each point

represents a day when a sighting or fresh track has been recorded.

Wild dog

Tracks, signs and sightings are more frequent during the drier months. Our teams previously recorded

a pack of 14 dogs but over time the pack size coming through the area has reduced, first to 12, then

to 10, to 4 and now just 2. The team is developing a manual Indentikit database. The dominant pack

that move through OREC have been denning in Klaserie for the last few years (G Beverly 2014, pers

comm). Since Dec 2013 our teams have only observed the alpha female and three others moving

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through the OREC region. These dogs were also seen in the Klaserie and Timbavati at the end of 2013

(G Beverly 2014, pers comm), and at the Balule Gate at the beginning of 2014.

In May 2013 four other dogs were spotted on Krabia. One of these was collared, and confirmed as

members of the ‘Investec Pack, a group collared in 2012 near Skukuza but have since split up (pers

comm - Grant Beverly).

Our team have noted that the dogs seem to follow a relatively fixed route through the reserve and

are easily picked up on when in the area. The two 2014 sightings in OREC are shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14. A recordings map of black-backed jackal, African wild cat, Caracal and African wild dog in WEI’s area of operation on OREC in 2014. Each point represents a day when a sighting or fresh track has been recorded.

Cheetah

There has only been one cheetah sighting on the OREC region during WEI’s tenure in the area.

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Caracal

There have been very few sightings of caracal, with only two, possibly three, individuals recorded.

Serval

Our teams have not seen signs of serval to date in the OREC region.

African wild cat

Four different individuals have been seen on the OREC region.

And the most interesting predation event of the year so far….

Our team has twice observed a gutsy honey badger predating upon porcupine in the region in 2014.

This was featured on the Go Southern Africa Blog (go-southernafrica.com/) under the title of ‘Quills &

Claws’.

Photo Credit – Caz Schiess & Anna Nagel

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4. Elephant monitoring

All elephant sightings, tracks and signs are recorded by our survey teams throughout the year.

Although herd size seems relatively consistent between the wet and dry season, trends suggest that

elephant spend more time in the OREC region during the dry winter months (see Figures 15 and 16).

Figure 15. Graph to show the monthly changes in the number of elephant sightings (in blue) and total number

of individuals recorded (orange) during WEI Game Transects in 2014.

Fig 16. Seasonal representation of elephant sightings from WEI Game Transects in 2014.

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5. Game Monitoring

WEI conducts at least two replicates of two separate vehicle-based game transects each month.

Transect A is 12km long and Transect B is 19km long. These transects collect data on species, age

classes, sex classes, and interspecific associations.

We have used vehicle-based game transects to very successfully estimate population numbers in

larger closed systems in the past (see Figure 17 – from WEI’s Welgevonden Game Reserve research

programme). Unfortunately, our limited area of operation in OREC prevents enough data collection

to support this same modelling approach using DISTANCE© sampling software. It would also be useful

to access habitat/vegetation maps for Balule as DISTANCE© modelling gives the most accurate

estimates when you can create detection functions for each habitat type and then model the

populations based on the proportion of the total area covered by that habitat type. However, even

with fantastic habitat maps, we would still not be able to create realistic estimates in such a small

area.

Greater traversing would allow us to create population estimates for the wider Balule region, and

could save the reserve substantial sums of money through substituting aerial censuses with free WEI

Game Transects if our population estimates are shown to be accurate over time.

Figure 17. Graph from WEI’s work in Welgevonden showing the actual numbers of animals counted for each

species during aerial censuses in 2010 and 2011 (dark bars) and the population estimates of each species from

modelling vehicle-based game transect data from the months around the aerial censuses during the same

years (light bars).

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The WEI game transects do however provide some interesting trends. An example of this is seen with

the changing proportion of age classes in Impala in Figure 18. Again, only a few species provide enough

data to support meaningful conclusions in this small area.

Figure 18. Monthly changes in age-class composition from WEI vehicle-based game transects on OREC

The survey team have been surprised at the number of Sharp’s grysbok sightings in the region.

Although not threatened, these species are infrequently seen and so our teams are very fortunate to

get such a great opportunity to get such great sightings. A map of recordings from our game transect

data is shown in Figure 19.

Fig 19. Recordings of Sharp’s Grysbok during WEI Game Transects on OREC in 2014

0

20

40

60

80

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Per

cen

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ImpalaAdult Sub-A Juve

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6. Invertebrate Sampling

Each winter we are joined by Elme Breytenbach, an entomologist formally of the Agricultural Research

Council, who teaches students invertebrate sampling techniques and collects some baseline data for

the region. Each week, for six weeks, we have a consistent survey effort at two sites in the Struwig

Camp; one in an open grassland area and the other in thicker ‘bush’ vegetation. At each of these sites,

for 24 hours the following are set out:

- Three pit-fall traps; one control, one meat bait, one fermenting fruit bait;

- 24 pan traps; 8 red bowls, 8 yellow bowls, 8 white bowls;

- One Malaisse trap;

- Two Butterfly traps.

The species diversity at each site for 2014 is shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20. Total insect morphospecies diversity from WEI sampling in Struwig Camp in winter 2014

The winter programme has also been supported by a three day survey in March each year for the last

three years. In total WEI have identified 63 different butterfly species, which are listed in Figure 21,

with a photograph of a selection of the samples shown in Figure 22.

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100

1 2 3 4 5 6

No

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Struwig Insect Diversity 2014

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(Grass)

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ID Common Name Scientific Name Family Sub-family ID Source & Page Comments

1 Common Orange Tip Colotis evenina evenina Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 328

2 Zebra White Pinacopteryx eriphia eriphia Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 318

3 Speckled Sulphur Tip Colotis agoye Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 332

4 Small Orange Tip Colotis evagore antigone Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 332

5 Guineafowl Hamanumida daedalus Nymphalidae Limenitinae Woodhall - 118

6 Common Diadem Hypolimnas misippus Nymphalidae Nymphalinae Woodhall - 128 Female mimics African Monarch

7 Club-tailed Emperor Charaxes zoolina zoolina Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 108

8 Pearl Emperor Charaxes varanes varanes Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 102

9 Green veined Emperor Charaxes candippe Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 102

10 African Monarch Danaus chryssipus aegypticus Nymphalidae Danainae Woodhall - 36

11 African Veined White Belenois gidica abyssinica Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 336

12 Evening Brown or Twilight Brown Melanitis leda helena Nymphalidae Satyrinae Woodhall - 40

13 Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta cebrene Nymphalidae Nymphalinae Woodhall - 136

14 Golden Piper Eurytela dryope angulata Nymphalidae Nymphalinae Woodhall - 128

15 Forest White Belenois zochalia zochalia Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 334

16 Brown-veined White Belenois aurota aurota Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 336 Binoculars

17 Broad-bordered Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta brigitta Pieridae Coliadinae Woodhall - 348 Yellow pan trap

18 Two-pip Policeman Coeliades pisistratus Hesperiidae Coeliadinae Woodhall - 360 Poorly-developed wings. Fruit trap

19 Angled Grass Yellow Eurema desjardinsii marshalli Pieridae Coliadinae Woodhall - 348 Red pan trap

20 Red Tip Colotis antivippe gavisa Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 328 Red pan trap

21 Orange-and-Lemon Butterfly Eronia leda Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 320

22 Wandering Donkey Acraea Acraea neobule neobule Nymphalidae Heliconiinae Woodhall - 82 On road

23 Small Elfin Sarangesa phidile Hesperiidae Pyrginae Woodhall - 366 Binoculars

24 African Common White Belenois creona severina Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 336 Garden

25 Babault's Blue Leptotes babaulti Lycaenidae Lycaeninae Woodhall - 262

26 ? Delagoa Sandman ? Spalia delagoae Hesperiidae Pyrginae Woodhall - 372 ID to be confirmed

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27 Bushveld Orange Tip Colotis pallene Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 330

28 Common Nephele (Moth) Nephele comma Sphingidae Picker - 350

29 Mafa Sandman Spalia mafa mafa Nymphalidae Satyrinae Woodhall - 376

30 Eyed Bush Brown or March Patroller Henotesia perspicua perspicua Nymphalidae Satyrinae Woodhall - 44 Butterfly trap

31 Spotted Joker Byblia ilithyia Nymphalidae Biblidinae Woodhall - 126

32 Blue Pansy Junonia aenone Nymphalidae Nymphalinae Woodhall - 136

33 Small Orange Acraea (Dancing Acraea) Hyalites eponina Acraea Picker - 372

34 Window Acraea Acraea oncraea Nymphalidae Heliconiinae Woodhall - 86 Pitfall trap

35 Bushveld Purple Tip or Common Purple Tip Colotis ione Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 326 Red pan trap

36 Lemon Traveller Colotis subfasciatus subfasciatus Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 334

37 Suphur Orange Tip Colotis auxo Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 328 Red pan trap

38 Satyr Emperor Charaxes ethalion ethalion Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 112 Butterfly trap

39 Banded Hopper Platylesches picanini Hesperiidae Hesperiinae Woodhall - 404

40 Olive-haired Swift Borbo borbonica borbonica Hesperiidae Hesperiinae Woodhall - 410

41 White-cloaked Skipper Leucochitonea leubu Hesperiidae Pyrginae Woodhall - 370

42 Scarlet Tip Colotis danaea annae Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 326

43 Black-veined White Dixeia doxo parva Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 338

44 Dwarf blue Oraidium barberae Lycaenidae Lycaeninae Woodhall - 312

45 Clover Blue Zizina antanossa Lycaenidae Lycaeninae Woodhall - 312

46 Van Son's Emperor Charaxes vansoni Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 114 Butterfly trap

47 Banded Gold Tip Colotis eris eris Pieridae Perinae Woodhall - 332

48 Veined Orange or Veined Tip Colotis vesta argillaceus Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 324 Red pan trap

49 Common Sandman Spialia diomus ferax (cf) Hesperiidae Pyrginae Woodhall - 378

50 Wallengren's Ranger or Skipper Kedestes wallengrenii wallengrenii Hesperiidae Hesperiinae Woodhall - 392 Pitfall trap

51 Small Marbled Elf Eretis umbra umbra Hesperiidae Pyrginae Woodhall - 366 Red pan trap

52 White-barred Emperor Charaxes brutus natalensis Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 104 Butterfly trap

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Figure 21. Butterfly species lists. Elme Bretenbach (WEI). Reference books: – Woodhall, S., 2005. Field Guide to Butterflies of Southern Africa. Struik. – Picker et. al, Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Struik.

53 Foxy Emperor Charaxes jasius saturnus Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 104 Butterfly trap

54 Smokey Orange Tip Colotis euippe omphale Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 330 Butterfly trap

55 Lemon Traveller Colotis subfasciatus subfasciatus Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 334 White pan trap

56 Common Dotted Border Mylothris agathina agathina Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 344 Camp butterfly net

57 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe solifera Pieridae Coliadinae Woodhall - 348 Camp butterfly net

58 Queen Purple Tip Colotis regina Pieridae Pierinae Woodhall - 326 Camp butterfly net

59 African Migrant/ Common Vagrant Catopsilia florella Pieridae Coliadinae Woodhall - 346 Butterfly trap

60 Squinting Bush Brown Bicyclus anynana anynana Nymphalidae Satyrinae Woodhall - 42 Butterfly trap

61 Batling Glider Cymothoe alcimedes Nymphalidae Charaxinae Woodhall - 116 Camp butterfly net

62 Apricot Playboy Deodorix dinochares Lycaenidae Lycaeninae Woodhall - 180 Camp butterfly net

63 Darker Commodore Precis antilope Nymphalidae Nymphalinae Woodhall - 132 Camp butterfly net

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Figure 22. A sample of butterfly specimens recorded on Struwig Eco Reserve

The invertebrate sampling programme has yielded some interesting specimens on Struwig, but none more so

than a single individual from the primitive Archaeognatha order. Amazingly enough this specimen was spotted

by our entomologist, Elme Breytenbach, whilst she was a passenger on a student training drive. Elme’s eye

caught a very small movement of what she originally thought was a bristletail or silverfish. Thinking it didn’t

look quite right, she collected the 5-6mm creature next to the dry grass on the verge of the road.

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On closer inspection it was seen to belong to the most primitive order of Archaeognatha. They closely resemble

silverfish (Thysanura) but are distinguished by arched thorax and compound eyes that meet in the middle of

the head. The central abdominal appendage is also much longer than the lateral ones. When disturbed they

jump high in the air by snapping the abdomen forward, which was how Elme spotted the specimen. Most are

found in leaf litter or under bark and rocks in moist habitats.

What makes this group so special is that they are the least-most evolutionarily changed insects, dating back

around 419.2 million years ago. They are one of the most poorly studied orders of insects in the World.

The Archaeognatha specimen found on Struwig. Photo credit Mike Haas

A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE!