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Resource use of Cape mountain zebra was studied in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve (BNR) over concerns of the poor performance in population growth. We assessed the seasonal diet, habitat suitability and forage quality of the Bergplaas area in BNR for mountain zebra. Grasses contributed 95.2% to the annual diet of mountain zebra, Tristachya leucothrix contributing the most (39.4%), followed by Themeda triandra (27.6%). Seasonally, T. triandra contributed most to the diet in winter, while T. leucothrix became more important in the summer and also was the only species preferred in all seasons. Mountain zebra concentrated their feeding in Kouga Grassy Fynbos and from our assessment this was the only habitat suitable for mountain zebra. Our analysis of mountain zebra dung indicated that the seasonal nitrogen and phosphorus content was below the threshold values prescribed for grazers, and our study suggests that mountain zebra at Bergplaas are severely resource limited. We emphasize the importance of fire and access to nutrient-rich lowlands in influencing the nutritional ecology of mountain zebra and provide conservation management recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the De Hoop Nature Reserve in Western Cape Province, South Africa as an important mainland habitat for the African Black Oystercatchers. A study of the diet and habitat used by the Haematopus moquini birds at the nature reserve is presented which shows the diversity and abundance of potential food items for the birds. The large brown mussel Perna perna and the white mussel Donax serra as the birds' main preys is discussed wherein increases in their modal sizes were noted. Other food sources include Cape false limpets Siphonaria spp., African periwinkle Nodilittorina africana and smooth turban shell Turbo cidaris.

The small Cape mountain zebra population in Kammanassie Nature Reserve (KNR) is one of three relict Cape mountain zebra populations. Although the genetic diversity of this population is low, it is genetically distinct from the other two populations, the Gamka Mountain Nature Reserve and Mountain Zebra National Park populations, and thus vital for the conservation of this subspecies. The management of the Cape mountain zebra metapopulation requires the mixing of at least some animals from the three relict populations, but this process has been hampered by the relatively slow growth of the KNR population. We investigated the influence of habitat, fire and rainfall on mountain zebra population growth in KNR and used a diffusion model to perform a population viability analysis on the population. Mountain Fynbos covers more than 80% of the reserve but of this, only the Arid Restioid Fynbos and Waboomveld habitats were preferred by mountain zebra. The suitability of these habitats for mountain zebra is, however, highly variable and dependent on fire. The analysis also indicated that the population growth of mountain zebra is related to the incidence of fire and rainfall,but that the stochastic nature of these factors in space and time, limits the growth of the population. Although the population has a low probability of reaching quasi-extinction in the next 50 years (G = 0.123 x 10-4), we argue that the growth of this population will continue to be slow under the present 'hands off' management policy. A number of options to facilitate the growth of this population are considered; changing fire management in the habitat preferred by mountain zebra; acquiring adjacent land; and the translocation of mountain zebra onto adjacent land. Of these options, the latter two need to be implemented as part of a strategy to promote the management of the Cape mountain zebra metapopulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small Cape mountain zebra population in Gamka Mountain Nature Reserve represents a third of the entire gene pool of this endangered species and is thus vital for it’s conservation. Presently, management of this population is largely hands off, with the belief that it will grow to levels which will allow it to form a source for the mixing of mountain zebra stocks in the future. The growth of this population however, has been slow and we investigated the influence of habitat and fire on this growth. Firstly, we used a diffusion model to perform a population viability analysis. This analysis indicated that the population had a low probability of attaining quasi-extinction in the next 50 years (G=0.0032). However, our findings indicated that less than 30% of the reserve was suitable for mountain zebra and that the preferred habitat would have to be burnt at unnaturally short intervals to sustain the present growth. We therefore argue that the risk of quasi-extinction to this population is greater than predicted and suggest that management options need to be implemented to reduce this risk. These options include; translocation to another protected area; acquisition of adjacent land; burning preferred habitat at unnaturally short intervals; forming a conservancy with adjacent landowners; leasing cultivated land for pasture. We suggest that only the latter two options are likely to stimulate mountain zebra population growth in the short term and that these should receive immediate attention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]