Climate- and human-induced woody vegetation changes in Botswana and their implications for human adaptation.

For purposes of suggesting adaptive and policy options regarding the sustained use of forestry resources in Botswana, an analysis of the whole countrywide satellite data (showing the mean present distribution of vegetation in terms of species abundance and over all density) and the projection of vegetation cover changes using a simulation approach under different climatic scenarios were undertaken. The analysis revealed that changes in vegetation cover types due to human and natural causes have taken place since the first vegetation map was produced in 1971. In the southwest, the changes appear to be more towards an increasing prevalence of thorn trees; in the eastern part of the country where widespread bush encroachment is taking place, the higher population density suggests more human induced (agrarian-degradation) effects, while in the sparsely settled central Kalahari region, changes from tree savanna to shrubs may be indicative of the possible influence of climate with the associated effects of fires and local adaptations. Projection of future vegetation changes to about 2050 indicates degeneration of the major vegetation types due to the expected drying. Based on the projected changes in vegetation, current adaptive and policy arrangements are not adequate and as such a shift from the traditional adaptive approaches to community-based types is suggested. Defining forestry management units and adopting different management plans for the main vegetation stands that are found in Botswana are the major policy options.

Estimation of the weight and body condition of ostriches (Struthio camelus) from body measurements.

The body dimensions and weights of over 100 ostriches were analysed to investigate which body measurements provided the best estimators of bodyweight. The data were divided between growing and adult birds (below and above two years old) for regression analyses. The residual standard deviation of weight was 0.117 for growing birds, using tibiotarsal length and abdominal girth as predictors. The analogous figure for adults was 0.078 using back length and abdominal girth. An assessment of body condition was made by calculating the average weight-for-size of a bird from skeletal measurements which are unaffected by gross changes in weight, and then comparing it with its estimated or actual weight. These estimates of the weight of a typical ostrich should be useful in veterinary practice, particularly when the weight of a bird is required for the administration of medication.

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection of grass seedlings in a degraded semi-arid savanna in Botswana.

Infection of eight indigenous grasses with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi was studied in a savanna in South-eastern Botswana. Infection of seedlings with VAM fungi was rapid just after germination at the onset of the rainfall season. Particularly high infection levels were found in the primary roots of seedlings but levels temporarily dropped with the development of the secondary roots. In 30 % of all cases germinating spores were found to be the source of infection, suggesting an important role for them in semi-arid grasslands. The inoculum potential of soils from eroded and non-eroded sites in the study area was compared. Subsoil was found to have a lower inoculum potential than topsoil. Topsoil from an eroded site without vegetation showed a lowered inoculum potential compared to sites with vegetation present. Topsoil from unvegetated sites where soil material was deposited however, did not always show a lower inoculum potential. This indicates that the transport and redistribution of water and soil material does not automatically result in lower infection levels.