Responses of grey rhebuck and bontebok to controlled fires in coastal renosterveld

The influence of veld burning on vegetation structure and on the distribution of grey rhebuck and bontebok was investigated by measuring vegetation characteristics and counting grey rhebuck and bontebok in study plots that had been burnt at different times. Both grey rhebuck and bontebok favoured areas with a veld age (time after the last burn) of four years and less. Younger vegetation types had a higher density of shrubs and forbs lower than 250 mm (the main food plants of grey rhebuck). Bontebok probably selected younger veld because of the greater availability and accessibility of nutritious grass material. The importance of a suitable burning programme to provide enough preferred habitat for both species is stressed.