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REM611S-RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT-1ST OPP- JUNE 2024 |
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n Am I BI A u n IVE Rs ITY
OF SCIEnCE Ano TECHnOLOGY
FACULTYOF HEALTH,NATURAL RESOURCESAND APPLIEDSCIENCES
SCHOOLOF AGRICULTUREAND NATURAL RESOURCESCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESCIENCES
QUALIFICATION: BACHELOROF NATURAL RESOURCESMANAGEMENT
QUALIFICATION CODE: 07BNRS
COURSECODE: REM611S
LEVEL: 6
COURSENAME: RANGELAND ECOLOGYAND
MANAGEMENT
DATE:JUNE 2024
DURATION: 3 HOURS
MARKS: 150
FIRSTOPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER
EXAMINER(S} Ms. E. N. Nghalipo
MODERATOR: Prof. Ben Strohbach
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Answer ALL the questions.
2. Write clearly and neatly.
3. Number the answers clearly.
PERMISSIBLEMATERIALS
1. Examination question paper
2. Answering book
3. Calculator
THIS QUESTION PAPERCONSISTSOF 3 PAGES(Excluding this front page)
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QUESTION 1
Describe the following terms and phrases fully, as applied to Rangeland Ecology and
Management.
1.1 Rangelands
(2)
1.2 Carrying capacity
(2)
1.3 Stocking rate
(2)
1.4 Bush encroachment
(2)
1.5 Rotational Grazing
(2)
1.6 Pioneer species
(2)
1.7 Primary succession
(2)
1.8 Climax community
(2)
1.9 Fire regime
(2)
1.10 Adaptive management
(2)
[20]
QUESTION 2
2.1. Ms. Twapandula Martin recently acquired a farm between Otavi and Otjiwarongo (15)
and wants to transform the farm into a wildlife sanctuary. As a Natural Resources
Management student, you know that sustainable rangeland management is
centered around four general principles of which two are: (1) Know your grasses
and know which grasses livestock/wildlife prefer to eat and (2) Grasses need an
adequate recovery period.
In your own words explain to Ms. Martin what the above principles mean, how
they can be implemented and their importance in achieving sustainable rangeland
management.
[15]
QUESTION 3
3.1. You have been selected to represent Namibia at a Rangeland symposium in (20)
Nevada, USA. Rangeland ecologists around the world are keen to know some of the
threats affecting Namibian rangelands and how they can be managed/mitigated.
[20]
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QUESTION 4
4.1 You are the newly appointed Warden for NamibRand Nature Reserve; you are to rent (10)
a 3000-ha portion of the reserve for the following year and want to know how many
springboks can sustainably be stocked on this portion. A grass biomass assessment
indicated that the farm has on average 600 kg dry grass material per ha. An average
springbok in this reserve eats 2 kg of dry grass per day.
Assuming a utilization factor of 0.35, how many hectares are required per springbok (4)
on this farm?
4.2 How many springboks can be stocked sustainably on this reserve?
(2)
4.3 A new private game reserve has been established in Omaheke region, as a recent
(4)
NRM graduate, you have been asked to assist in setting up the stocking rate for the
game reserve.
What factors do you need to consider when setting up a stocking rate?
[10]
QUESTION 5
5.1 Discuss the ecological importance of prescribed fire in rangelands.
(10)
[10]
QUESTION 6
6.1 Grazing value is an important aspect of forage resources. Name and clearly describe (12)
the six aspects of the grazing value
6.2 What can be concluded regarding the grazing status of a rangeland if you find a lot (2)
of?
(a) Increaser I grasses
(b) Increaser II grasses
6.3 Name 6 grass species that make up the "Namibian six-pack" grasses.
(6)
[20]
QUESTION 7
7.1 Adaptive management is critical to the success of natural resources management,
(10)
discuss the relevance of Adaptive management in conservation.
[10]
QUESTION 8
8.1 Explain the factors that determine animals' habitat preference.
{20)
[20]
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QUESTION 9
9.1 Game count activities are an important part of wildlife management in national
{10)
parks, conservancies, and game reserves, and they must be conducted annually.
Discuss why the information from the game count is important in wildlife
management.
9.2 Mention five ground game count methods.
{5)
[15]
QUESTION 10
10.1 National Parks are vital tools for conserving Namibia's biodiversity. It's therefore
{10)
important that parks have management plans that guide their operations. Explain
the objectives of park management plans in Namibia.
[10]
Total marks: 150
The END
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