Student number: 200416156

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Kirk`s dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii), Grant`s gazelle (Ga:ella granti) and impala
(Aepvceros melampus) are three antelope species Iound in the Acacia-dominated
savannah oI central Kenya. These species occupy diIIerent niches because they have
diIIerent anti-predator strategies and diIIerent water and Iood requirements. They are
also active at diIIerent times oI the day and night. This study used a distance sampling
method to estimate antelope density along a 17 km transect at Mpala Research Centre
in Laikipia District, Kenya. Detection probabilities obtained using the program
Distance were used to calculate density estimates. A two-way analysis oI variance
was used to compare densities oI each species between morning and aIternoon and
between habitats (evergreen bush, deciduous bush, open dry and riverine). Grant`s
gazelles were Iound exclusively in the open dry habitat whereas impala were observed
in every habitat type. This is suggested to be due to the impala`s ability to adapt their
diet to the available vegetation. Analysis Iound that dik-dik density in the evergreen
bush was signiIicantly higher than in the deciduous bush, and there were also an
average oI 74 more dik-dik per square kilometre in the evening than in the morning.
Both Grant`s gazelles and impala did not have signiIicantly diIIerent densities in the
morning and evening. It is postulated that dik-dik density varied between habitat due
to predation risk and availability oI preIerred vegetation. The higher density observed
in the evening is possibly due to increased activity. These results provide Iurther
inIormation on the habitat preIerences oI AIrican antelopes and help us to better
understand the dynamics oI the savannah ecosystem.
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