Habitat selection by the Southern (Mashona) Hyliota Hyliota australis in southern Africa: a stand resolution, hierarchical approach

Abstract

Habitat selection by Hyliota australis in southern Africa is assessed using newly collated habitat and hyliota distribution data. This is done hierarchically, assessing its occurrence in different types of moist-dystrophic savanna, different types of stands of miombo, as well as in different types of landscape mosaics in which miombo occurs. The considerable variation in miombo ecosystem composition, physiognomy and functioning influence its occurrence at all scales. While available data over such a vast area have proved useful—for example, in identifying the importance of ecosystems dominated by Brachystegia spiciformis-there is a dire shortage of data describing the diversity of miombo ecosystems, which hinders a fuller understanding. There is a need for: (1) a hierarchical classification and (2) relatively fine-resolution mapping of the ecosystems of south-central Africa - together ‘an ecosystem inventory’. This is now urgent given the escalating losses of woody cover. All species that rely on undisturbed, ‘old-growth’ canopy miombo are at risk in southern Africa because of high rates of habitat loss on the Mashonaland Plateau, <1% of which occurs in the conservation estate.