The role of antelope trampling on scarp erosion in a hyper-arid environment, Skeleton Coast, Namibia

The role of animal trampling in a hyper-arid environment is evaluated. Field observations on fluvial terraces of the Uniab fan in Namibia suggest that animal impact on level surfaces with gravel armouring is minimal. However, animal trampling along tracks across scarp slopes results in scarp recess and initiate cutback development. With continued growth ephemeral fluvial processes become more dominant and obscure the animal impact. Animal trampling effects are pronounced in hyper-arid environments due to the low rates of other slope processes. However, it is argued that large herd migration may have contributed significantly to cutback development in other environments, especially in Africa, but may be very difficult to substantiate by landform analysis. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.