Wg. Dorgeloh, HABITAT SELECTION OF A ROAN ANTELOPE (HIPPOTRAGUS-EQUINUS) POPULATIONIN MIXED BUSHVELD, NYLSVLEI NATURE-RESERVE, South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 28(2), 1998, pp. 47-57
The distribution of social groups of a roan antelope population was mo
nitored once a month over a period of two years. Differences in habita
t selection between seasons and between social groups were tested with
the Chi-square test and correspondence analysis. The Aristida biparti
ta - Setaria sphacelata Grassland Variation, Tristachya rehmannii - Di
gitaria monodactyla Variation (adjacent to the Burkea Savanna), the ea
stern pocket of the Rhus leptodictya - Combretum apiculatum Variation
and to some extent the Eragrostis nindensis - Digitaria monodactyla Va
riation were selected by the breeding herd during winter. In summer th
e most selected areas for the breeding herd were the lower floodplain
and the Eragrostis pallens - Burkea africana Savanna (eastern section)
. Bachelor males were spatially segregated from the breeding herds, wh
ere they selected the Cymbopogon plurinodis - Combretum apiculatum Var
iation and the floodplain during winter, In summer males selected the
floodplain. Newly burnt areas were attractive for roan antelope. Howev
er similar spatial segregations between social groups as found in non-
burnt areas could still be observed in newly burnt areas.