The ecology of mountain reedbuck in southern and eastern Africa /
| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
Irby,
1976.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to ProQuest copy Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | The ecology of southern mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula fulvorufula) and Chanler's mountain reedbuck (r. F. chanleri) was described from observations in six populations of the southern subspecies and three populations of Chanler's mountain reedbuck during 1969 through 1972 and 1973. Observations were supplemented by collection of animals in the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve in South Africa and the Cole Ranch in Kenya. The mountain reedbuck was found to be a sedentary, hill-dwelling antelope with a year-long breeding capability that is easily modified by periods of nutritional stress to create seasonal peaks in breeding and births. Age of first estrus in females is potentially under 1 year but is apparently delayed in the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve due to nutritional stress during the dry season. The gestation period is approximately 8 months, and the interval between successive births can be as short as 9 months. Males are territorial and have few opportunities to breed before establishing territories. Habitat requirements for the species include broken terrain, vegetation with a ground stratum dominated by grass, and surface water during dry season. The low nutritional quality of the grasses on which mountain reedbuck feed during the dry season is a major limiting factor for the population in the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve. |
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| Item Description: | "Major subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences." Vita. |
| Physical Description: | xix, 248 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 212-223). |