Habitat

It is hypothesized that elephants maximize their fitness by selecting habitats that optimizes their rate of intake of cell solubles (Chegg, 2008). In terms of non-dietary factors, habitat selection is also influenced by behavioral mechanisms such as finding access to drinking water and availability of shade while avoiding predation (Roever et al., 2013). A variety of characteristics may be associated with each of these demands, implying the habitat selection is dependent on the behavioral motivations and environmental context of the animal. 

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Roever et al. (2013) demonstrated that behavior specific habitat selection provides greater insight into species-habitat relationships as opposed to models that generalize location data among vague behavioral context. Behavioral state and habitat selection are typically estimated based on path characteristics involving step length and directional statistics from a randomly selected mixture of walks gathered from elephant telemetry (de Knegt et al., 2010). Elephant distribution is dependent on the amount of time spent between various habitats varied due to climatic conditions altering the availability of water, vegetation, and shade cover. Seasonal use of habitat is also an important mechanism for survival by reducing impact on dry season habitats and allowing for regeneration (Babaasa, 2000).

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Elephants' preference for certain habitats in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in relation to plant production was a leading cause of habitat selection according to Babaasa (2000). The bamboo forest is favored during the wet season due to the abundant water sources and nutritional value found in bamboo shoots whereas the Mubwindi Swamp is ideal for dry seasons (Babaasa, 2000). The Mubwindi Swamp is a Chrysophyllum dominant mixed forest that the elephants depend on for survival during the dry seasons (Babaasa, 2000). Another source also supported Babaasa's theory in regards to elephant movement and feeding strategy. de Knegt et al. (2010)  also noticed patterns during dry season: elephants lack a source of sustenance due to the nutritionally depleted areas near water sources leading them away from water in search of forage.

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Delving further into the study conducted by de Knegt et al. (2010) in Kruger National Park, the scientists analyzed distribution of water sources and food while also including climate variables. Two structural components of vegetation were used were used; tree and  herbaceous vegetation (de Knegt et al. (2010) . In terms of water supply, 6 perennial rivers cross within the Kruger National park while 14 streams are only active during the wet season. During this study, mean annual rainfall ranged from 400mm to 940mm and mean annual temperature varied from 19.5 to 24.5 degrees Celsius (de Knegt et al., 2010) .

 

Based on the habitat usage obtained from 33 African elephants (19 female and 14 male) --through the use of directional statistics and elephant telemetry-- analyses showed that elephants were able to select habitats based on other sources due to ample water supple in Kruger National Park. Nevertheless, the elephants were still constrained  by the distance of the nearest water source (de Knegt et al., 2010). 

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Male elephants selected areas with a high 'tree cover' (TC) while avoiding areas with a high 'herbaceous biomass' (HB) whereas female elephants avoided areas with high TC and selected for areas with a high HB (de Knegt et al., 2010). Variation between male and female elephants was evident, suggesting  contrasting patterns between sexual habitat segregation (de Knegt et al., 2010). 

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To summarize, the scientists were able to come to the conclusion that African elephants prioritize vegetated environments (in constraint by the distance to water) therefore exhibiting a preferential pattern in habitat usage regarding vegetation and water availability (de Knegt et al., 2010).

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Elephants are notorious for clearing out vegetated environments, to the point in which woody plants are completely extracted from the Earth with no chance of regrowth. Studying the migration pattern of elephants allows scientists not only to aid in the conservation of this species but also intervene and prevent the loss of other animal species due to elephant-induced transformations of the environment (Chegg, 2008).