Table 1.
Environmental conditions (mean ± SD) prevailing across four seasons during which gemsbok and wildebeest were free-living within the Bakgalagadi Schwelle, Botswana
| Hot-wet (Dec–Feb) | Transition-dry (Mar–May) | Cold-dry (Jun–Aug) | Hot-dry (Sep–Nov) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black globe temperature (°C) | ||||
| Mean 24-h | 27.8 ± 1.7 | 20.7 ± 4.0 | 14.1 ± 2.1 | 25.1 ± 2.5 |
| Maximum 24-h | 42.7 ± 2.7 | 36.2 ± 3.4 | 31.6 ± 1.6 | 42.1 ± 2.8 |
| Minimum 24-h | 16.9 ± 0.6 | 9.4 ± 4.5 | 0.8 ± 1.4 | 9.8 ± 1.9 |
| Total rainfall (mm)a | 189 | 77 | 0 | 35 |
| Number of rainy days | 25 | 8 | 0 | 9 |
| Vegetation greenness index (NDVI)b | 0.241 ± 0.08 | 0.301 ± 0.06 | 0.190 ± 0.01 | 0.174 ± 0.00 |
Note: aRainfall data were obtained from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) for the same location as the weather station (S 24.3451°, E 20.6049°). bVegetation greenness data were obtained from the MODIS Terra Daily NDVI dataset for the entire study area.