Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia

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dc.contributor.advisorMullers, Ralfen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorAmar, Arjunen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMusker, Sethen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-22T12:00:28Z
dc.date.available2014-09-22T12:00:28Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractA quantitative analysis of suitable habitat for the Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), a large waterbird confined to African swamps, was conducted by using a combination of aerial photographs and a previously determined habitat suitability model from the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia. The Shoebill is considered Vulnerable on the IUCN red list, but there are no pre-existing quantitative data on the composition of suitable habitat for this species. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that non-wetland habitats as well as non-vegetated wetland habitats have low suitability compared to vegetated wetland habitats. Notably, reeds correlated significantly and positively with suitability (rs = 0.338, p < 0.001). We found little support for the hypothesis that floating vegetation is highly suitable for Shoebills, but the analysis for this habitat may have suffered as a result of confounding factors. The relationship between flooded grassland and suitability was highly variable and was not significant (rs = 0.009, p = 0.807). In contrast, dry grassland correlated positively with suitability (rs =0.289, p < 0.001), but its suitability scores were generally much lower than for flooded grassland. Quantitative data on Shoebill habitat suitability will be useful for future Shoebill population surveys, and will improve our ability to make informed decisions regarding its conservation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMusker, S. (2013). <i>Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7647en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMusker, Seth. <i>"Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7647en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMusker, S. 2013. Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Musker, Seth AB - A quantitative analysis of suitable habitat for the Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), a large waterbird confined to African swamps, was conducted by using a combination of aerial photographs and a previously determined habitat suitability model from the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia. The Shoebill is considered Vulnerable on the IUCN red list, but there are no pre-existing quantitative data on the composition of suitable habitat for this species. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that non-wetland habitats as well as non-vegetated wetland habitats have low suitability compared to vegetated wetland habitats. Notably, reeds correlated significantly and positively with suitability (rs = 0.338, p &lt; 0.001). We found little support for the hypothesis that floating vegetation is highly suitable for Shoebills, but the analysis for this habitat may have suffered as a result of confounding factors. The relationship between flooded grassland and suitability was highly variable and was not significant (rs = 0.009, p = 0.807). In contrast, dry grassland correlated positively with suitability (rs =0.289, p &lt; 0.001), but its suitability scores were generally much lower than for flooded grassland. Quantitative data on Shoebill habitat suitability will be useful for future Shoebill population surveys, and will improve our ability to make informed decisions regarding its conservation. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia TI - Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7647 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/7647
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMusker S. Quantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7647en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titleQuantifying Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) habitat suitability in the Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambiaen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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