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Habitat Utilisation of Flap-Necked Chameleons (Chamaeleo Dilepis) on the Telperion Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

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Habitat Utilisation of Flap-Necked Chameleons (Chamaeleo Dilepis) on the Telperion Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa HABITAT UTILISATION OF FLAP-NECKED CHAMELEONS (CHAMAELEO DILEPIS) ON THE TELPERION NATURE RESERVE, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA by TREVOR LOURENS O’DONOGHUE submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the subject NATURE CONSERVATION at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: DR. K. SLATER CO-SUPERVISOR: PROF. L.R. BROWN JANUARY 2019 DECLARATION Name: Trevor Lourens O’Donoghue Student number: 46071296 Degree: MSc Nature Conservation Habitat utilisation of Flap-Necked Chameleons (Chamaeleo dilepis) on the Telperion Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga province, South Africa I declare that the above dissertation is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. ________________________ 18 January 2019 SIGNATURE DATE i DEDICATION ―And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.‖ Romans 8:28. I dedicate this work to my Creator who gave me life and the talent to add and to contribute to the conservation ecology of the earth given to human beings to take care of and protect. ii ABSTRACT This study investigated habitat utilisation, seasonal distribution, dispersal and activity patterns and sexual dimorphism of the Flap-Necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) on Telperion nature reserve. Telperion was delineated into four physiographic- physiognomic units based on vegetation and topography and sampled by following the Braun–Blanquet (Zurich–Montpellier) method. A modified TWINSPAN classification was performed to derive a first approximation of the major plant habitats whereby seven broad plant habitat units were identified potentially available to chameleons. Plant species richness and species diversity, plant densities and canopy cover were recorded and analysed in each of the seven habitat units. Habitat units were surveyed for chameleons at night and included a wet and a dry season. For each chameleon observed the sex, age class and various morphological measurements were recorded. Morphology analysis of the data suggested female- biased sexual dimorphism in C. dilepis that may increase fecundity in C. dilepis. The General Additive Model was used in R and determined a statistical significance between recorded temperature, photoperiod, rainfalland the presence or absence of C. dilepis suggests that chameleons at Telperion have seasonal habits influenced by climatic variables and plant species richness and plant structure. Females preferred to oviposit in grassland associated woodlands with sandy soils and high shrub canopy cover. Hatchlings would emerge from the nests and use the grassland associated habitats more than any other age class. Sub-adult and adult chameleons preferred more dense woodland with lower canopy cover and higher rockiness. This study contributes to chameleon ecology on grasslands and was the first study to be done on the ecology of C. dilepis in the grasslands of Telperion. The results will contribute to the conservation of open habitat species such as Chamaeleo dilepis especially in the grassland habitats of Mpumalanga. Keywords: Ecology, ecosystem, species diversity, species richness grassland, canopy cover, TWINSPAN, sexual dimorphism, fecundity, oviposit, soft-shelled egg, conservation. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit (ABEERU) and the University of South Africa for the opportunity I was given to conduct this research and the use of the research facilities on Telperion Nature Reserve. Telperion is a special place and I have enjoyed every moment of my research on this unique piece of conserved property so a big thank you to the Oppenheimer family, the Conservation manager of research and conservation at E Oppenheimer & Son, Dr Duncan Mac Fayden and Telperion Reserve manager Mrs Elasbé Bosch for considering my research at Telperion. All surveys for chameleons were done during the night along with difficult terrain made walking transects difficult at most times. Carrying of research equipment, assisting with measurements and data collection carried on into the early mornings on most days. Not all of the data collection would have been possible if not for the many friends and colleagues who assisted me with the data collection. To Morné, Susannah, Alistair, Ishmael, Regan, Cassius and Rudi, I cannot express my gratitude enough for your help. If it was not for your assistance and company during the surveys this study would not have been possible and would have not met the deadlines. To my supervisor Dr Slater and co-supervisor Professor Brown, thanks for always being available when I required assistance during my research, replying to my e- mails and for your assistance with the statistical analysis. Without your comments and advice during the writing of my chapters, I would certainly have written forever as my overthinking sometimes overshadowed my dissertation. Thanks for lifting my spirits in times when I felt the pressure. To my parents Brian and Ingrid O’Donoghue who stood by my side all the way and who supported my career choice in conservation I cannot thank you enough. Thank you to Michelle Merrick for your motivation and constant encouragement with your famous words ―Jy sal klaarmaak‖. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................... i DEDICATION .............................................................................................................. ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... x ANNEXURE ............................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ..................................................................... 1 1.2 STUDY SPECIES ........................................................................................... 15 1.3 STUDY OBJECTIVES .................................................................................... 19 1.4 DISSERTATION OUTLINE ............................................................................. 20 1.5 REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2 - STUDY AREA AND METHODS ........................................................ 31 2.1 STUDY AREA ................................................................................................. 31 2.1.1 History of the study area .......................................................................... 31 2.1.2 Landscape and topography ...................................................................... 32 2.1.3 Geology and Soils .................................................................................... 33 2.1.4 Vegetation ................................................................................................ 34 2.1.4.1 Rand Highveld Grassland ..................................................................... 35 2.1.4.2 Loskop Mountain Bushveld ................................................................... 36 2.1.5 Climate and rainfall .................................................................................. 36 2.1.6 Drainage................................................................................................... 36 2.1.7 Alien Plants .............................................................................................. 37 v 2.1.8 General animal species ............................................................................ 38 2.2 METHODS ...................................................................................................... 38 2.2.1 Vegetation ecology ................................................................................... 38 2.2.1.1 Vegetation data collection ..................................................................... 38 2.2.2.2 Vegetation data analysis ....................................................................... 41 2.2.2 Chameleon ecology ................................................................................. 42 2.2.2.1 Chameleon data collection .................................................................... 42 2.2.2.2 Chameleon data analysis ...................................................................... 46 2.3 REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER 3 – HABITAT CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION .......................... 53 3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 53 3.2 RESULTS ....................................................................................................... 55 3.2.1 Vegetation classification ........................................................................... 55 3.2.2 Habitat unit descriptions ..........................................................................
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