Study Site

My study site encompasses the entire south-central portion of the Nama Karoo Biome, the eastern half of the Succulent Karoo Biome, and the northern fringes of the Fynbos Biome. The two Karoo biomes share some plant and animal species but are generally regarded by botanists as clearly distinct. These two regions have an incredibly high level of endemism and biodiversity which means the biome is a conservation priority. 

Rainfall in the Karoo has some regional pattern and predictability (e.g. predominantly summer or winter rainfall, increasing from west to east), although it occurs erratically at any given location. Karoo Martial Eagles were shown to build nests   in areas of low rainfall and primary productivity which suggests selection of these arid regions.

Most of the Karoo region is used for ranching, mainly of small domesticlivestock (sheep and goats), but also of indigenous stock such as Ostrich and small to medium-sized antelope species such as Springbok and Gemsbok. Ranching can work together with conservation, but recommended stocking rates are frequently exceeded and much of the region is chronically overgrazed.

My study site is largely constrained by the Eskom power transmission grid. Above is a map of the South African Eskom power transmission grid. The red areas were surveyed in 2006 by Andrew Jenkins, Koos De Goede and the Electric Eagle Project team. The Electric Martial Eagle Project plans to survey these areas as well as the green areas in search of new Martial Eagle nests.