Abstract:
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.
