VARIATION IN USE OF GREEN FLUSHES FOLLOWING BURNS AMONG AFRICAN UNGULATE SPECIES - THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY-SIZE

In order to determine if use of green flushes following fire varied am ong ungulate species, six common species of the Serengeti Ecosystem we re censused on burned and in adjacent unburned sites. Thomson's gazell e (Gazella thomsonii Gunther), impala (Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstei n)), Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti Brooke) and wildebeest (Connochae tes taurinus Thomas) were more abundant in green flush sites compared to unburned controls. No significant difference was found in topi (Dam aliscus korrigum (Matschie)) and zebra (Equus burchelli Gray) between burned and unburned sites. Preference (differential use) for burned si tes was negatively related to average ungulate body size across specie s. It is hypothesized that larger species (e.g, topi and zebra) try to maximize their energy and nutrient intake by feeding on both burned s ites where there is a low quantity of high-quality forage, and unburne d sites where forage quantity is high but forage quality is low. Small er species (e.g. gazelles and impala) feed exclusively in burned sites (where there is higher quality forage) to fulfil the high metabolic r equirements associated with small body-sized animals.