Dinâmica espacial da interacção entre manadas de elefantes na Reserva Florestal de Moribane – Província de Manica

Abstract

The African elephant is a species of high ecological value, it is key, charismatic, generalist and umbrella. The impact on their habitat increases if the areas used by different herds are overlap or the herd uses the same area in consecutive years. It is intended to study the displacements, separation distances, overlap and size of the elephants for the evaluation of the interaction between herds of elephants. For the evaluation of these variables were assembled with GPS collars on 2 elephants (representing 2 herds), one male and female to record herds location coordinates. The method of Fixed kernel was used to estimate the areas of total use (95% kernel) and heavy use (50% kernel) for each station and substation. Areas of common use among herds were determined and then the overlap proportions were calculated. The separation distances were calculated using pairs of coordinates from both herds recorded at the same time of day. Daily displacements were calculated using pairs of coordinates from the same herd with a 24-hour time separation. Herds increase their areas of use of dry to rainy season. The overlap of space usage indicates that herds use the same total area. But, the area of ​​intense use is different in times with scarcity of resources (and that is not mating). The separation distances are greater in the dry season than in the rainy season. Daily displacements are greatest at the end of the dry season due to scarcity of resources and do not differ significantly between genders. The results indicate that herds, use the same area and tend to avoid each other in the period of scarcity of resources and that is not mating. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)