Sources of heterogeneity in grasslands: Responses of wildlife to people on savanna landscape

Objective This project aims to understand how settlement by traditional pastoralists shapes the spatial distribution of wild ungulates in grasslands. Specifically, 1) How does settlement by pastoralists modify the responses of wild herbivores to heterogeneity in grassland landscapes? 2) Why do these influences occur? Do interspecific interactions, notably competition, facilitation, or predation, explain the effect of people on wildlife? The results will enhance understanding of biotic sources of heterogeneity in grasslands, will elucidate how interspecific interactions shape that heterogeneity, and will support development of wise policy on the role of indigenous people in the conservation of wildlife inside and outside of conservation reserves.