Site selection
Six-paired sampling sites were selected for this study:
Gontshi (Gon),
Isivivane (Isi),
Magangeni (Mag),
Mansinya (Man),
Memorial gate (Mem), and
Zincakeni (Zin). Replicates within
each site were at least >300m apart while the actual sites
were at least 2 km apart. Each site had four paired plots (one in the
closed and open respectively), for a total of eight plots per site. The
closed habitat plots were in the middle of this habitat, while the open
replicates were 30 m away from the edge. In total there were 48 grids.
Canopy cover was used to categorize the habitat type. As described in
Parr et al. (2012), habitat-type with a ca. mean canopy cover of
≤ 3% were treated as open savanna, and habitat-type with a ca.mean canopy cover ≥ 55% were treated as closed habitat.