PATTERNS OF ELEPHANT DAMAGE TO VEGETATION IN NORTHERN BOTSWANA

Elephant damage to woody plant species in northern Botswana was distinguished from damage caused by fire, and other unknown factors. Elephant-induced damage to trees and shrubs that dominated the vegetation biomass in 33 sites suggested that elephants had a more or less random impact on the vegetation throughout their distribution range although the total biomass removal was low. Three principal patterns of vegetation utilization became apparent: (1) there was a hight variation in the proportion of woody plants damaged by elephants, particularly in the vicinity of permanent water sources; (2) the proportion of important food plants damaged by elephants increased significantly with the proximity of plants to temporary water sources; (3) there was a clear distinction between the effects of elephants and fire on different plants species. Ordination analyses suggested that the vegetation in northern Botswana could be classified into three zones containing (1) high fire impact and low elephant damage; (2) high elephant impact and low, fire damage; and (3) minor damage by elephants and/or fire.