Effect of Ungulates on the Vegetation Structure and Composition Around Waterholes in the Western Part of Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Tashiya, Joseph Tashiya (2025) Effect of Ungulates on the Vegetation Structure and Composition Around Waterholes in the Western Part of Etosha National Park, Namibia. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This thesis investigated the effects of ungulates on vegetation structure and composition in the western part of Etosha National Park (ENP) to determine whether or not ungulates have significant effects on vegetation structure and composition at different distances on transects radiating away from waterholes. The thesis addressed three specific objectives, to determine the variation in plant species composition (abundance) with increasing distance from the waterhole in ENP, to assess species diversity (Shannon index and evenness) of plant communities along transects close and away from waterholes in the park and, to identify conservation implications of vegetation condition in close proximity and further away from waterholes along transects. ENP falls within a semi-arid area and is one of the largest conservation areas, with a surface area of 22 270 km² in Namibia. Due to water scarcity, artificial waterholes are the main sources of water for wildlife. Water availability has been largely viewed as a major factor driving ungulate’s effect on vegetation around waterholes. ENP inhabit about 14 ungulate species of significance for this study. A nested-intensity sampling design was adopted to collect data from fifty-four (54) quadrats (25m x 25m) on six transects (two at each waterhole) measuring 1 800m from Renostervlei, Dolomietpunt and Olifantsrus waterholes. Results showed that there was no significant difference in species structure (species diversity and evenness) and composition (abundance) with increasing distance away from the waterholes. In order to address the ungulate’s effects on vegetation around waterholes, adaptive management measures such controlled burning, closure of waterholes, creation of new waterholes within the park and destocking of ungulates is recommended to restore plant species. Keywords: Ungulates, herbivory effects, waterholes, vegetation assessment, Etosha National Park, species composition

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