Habitat use by impala (Aepyceros melampus) breeding herds in an elephant-impacted woodland along the Chobe Riverfront, Botswana

Abstract

Elephants have been structuring woodlands along the Chobe Riverfront, changing them to shrublands. Along with the loss of woodland cover, impala populations seem to be increasing along the Chobe Riverfront. We tested the prediction that elephant-induced loss in woodland cover has increased preferred habitats for impalas along the Chobe Riverfront. We found that home range sizes of impala breeding herds did not differ among seasons at all spatial scales. Impala breeding herds were more selective at broader spatial scales than finer spatial scales in all seasons. Impala breeding herds selected shrublands more than the other habitats throughout the year. The Baikiaea woodland and the riparian woodland were the most avoided habitats, with mixed combretum shrublands and relationships between habitat selectivity and group size, inter-herd encounter and habitat fidelity. The results of our study suggest that impala breeding herds used elephant-transformed habitats throughout the year. Season did not influence habitat selectivity, suggesting that the preferred habitat had higher required resources relative to the other habitats throughout the year.