Maintaining key ecological processes is a strong argument for conserving biodiversity, and this should extend to preventing the local extinction of keystone species that are otherwise common. Seed dispersal is such a process and chacma baboons (Papio ursinus ursinus) may facilitate seed dispersal, but currently suffer range contractions in South Africa. Between April 2016 and February 2017, we collected a total of 122 chacma baboon scat samples in a semi-arid subtropical thicket, South Africa, and identified food items and seeds from the scats. We show that chacma baboons are omnivores, able to disperse at least 24 different seed species. This is a wider range of seed species than those dispersed by a broad range of birds, reptiles or other mammals in subtropical thicket, and nearly five times that dispersed by domestic goats (Capra hircus). This suggests that baboons are key seed dispersers, whose role might not be substituted by goats. We believe that baboons may become more important seed dispersers in arid subtropical thicket as climate change alters the distributional ranges of plant communities. This important role as endo-zoochores highlights the need to conserve, rather than persecute, chacma baboons.
{"title":"The Contribution of the Chacma Baboon to Seed Dispersal in the Eastern Karoo, South Africa","authors":"E. Tew, M. Landman, G. Kerley","doi":"10.3957/056.048.023002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.023002","url":null,"abstract":"Maintaining key ecological processes is a strong argument for conserving biodiversity, and this should extend to preventing the local extinction of keystone species that are otherwise common. Seed dispersal is such a process and chacma baboons (Papio ursinus ursinus) may facilitate seed dispersal, but currently suffer range contractions in South Africa. Between April 2016 and February 2017, we collected a total of 122 chacma baboon scat samples in a semi-arid subtropical thicket, South Africa, and identified food items and seeds from the scats. We show that chacma baboons are omnivores, able to disperse at least 24 different seed species. This is a wider range of seed species than those dispersed by a broad range of birds, reptiles or other mammals in subtropical thicket, and nearly five times that dispersed by domestic goats (Capra hircus). This suggests that baboons are key seed dispersers, whose role might not be substituted by goats. We believe that baboons may become more important seed dispersers in arid subtropical thicket as climate change alters the distributional ranges of plant communities. This important role as endo-zoochores highlights the need to conserve, rather than persecute, chacma baboons.","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":"48 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.023002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42625846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Page-Nicholson, G. Tate, Constant Hoogstad, Megan Murison, Megan Diamond, Arthur Blofield, Mattheuns D. Pretorius, M. Michael
As human populations and developments expand, it is inevitable that interactions between wildlife and electrical infrastructure will increase. Such is the case in protected areas, where mammal electrocutions often occur as a result of damaged electrical infrastructure. In a previous study, a camera trap survey along a power line in the Kruger National Park (Kruger) revealed that large mammals [particularly Cape buffalo, Syncerus caffer, rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum and Diceros bicornis) and African elephant, Loxodonta africana] damaged wooden utility poles by rubbing or pushing against them. Such interactions can result in poles breaking, creating high electrocution risks to wildlife. In this study, we tested four mitigation measures (steel sleeve, VB Rhino, Grating box and Polefix industrial cast) for their effectiveness in reducing damaging contact between these four large mammals and wooden electrical poles. Camera traps were set up along the Foskor-Kruger 22 kV power line in the Kruger over 16 months to monitor wildlife interactions at experimentally treated (n = 14) and control (n = 8) utility poles. Direct contact between large mammals (buffalo: 64%, rhino: 23%, elephant: 11%) and poles made up 71% of pole–wildlife interactions. A cost– benefit analysis was undertaken to determine the most cost-effective mitigation measure. Our findings suggest that implementing mitigation measures can reduce wildlife-pole interactions and subsequently reduce the risk of wildlife electrocutions in protected areas. Based on both its effectiveness, advantages and cost, we recommend using the Grating box mitigation method to reduce large mammal damage to poles in the Kruger.
{"title":"Mitigating the Impact of Large Mammals on Wooden Electrical Distribution Poles in the Kruger National Park, South Africa","authors":"S. Page-Nicholson, G. Tate, Constant Hoogstad, Megan Murison, Megan Diamond, Arthur Blofield, Mattheuns D. Pretorius, M. Michael","doi":"10.3957/056.048.023006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.023006","url":null,"abstract":"As human populations and developments expand, it is inevitable that interactions between wildlife and electrical infrastructure will increase. Such is the case in protected areas, where mammal electrocutions often occur as a result of damaged electrical infrastructure. In a previous study, a camera trap survey along a power line in the Kruger National Park (Kruger) revealed that large mammals [particularly Cape buffalo, Syncerus caffer, rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum and Diceros bicornis) and African elephant, Loxodonta africana] damaged wooden utility poles by rubbing or pushing against them. Such interactions can result in poles breaking, creating high electrocution risks to wildlife. In this study, we tested four mitigation measures (steel sleeve, VB Rhino, Grating box and Polefix industrial cast) for their effectiveness in reducing damaging contact between these four large mammals and wooden electrical poles. Camera traps were set up along the Foskor-Kruger 22 kV power line in the Kruger over 16 months to monitor wildlife interactions at experimentally treated (n = 14) and control (n = 8) utility poles. Direct contact between large mammals (buffalo: 64%, rhino: 23%, elephant: 11%) and poles made up 71% of pole–wildlife interactions. A cost– benefit analysis was undertaken to determine the most cost-effective mitigation measure. Our findings suggest that implementing mitigation measures can reduce wildlife-pole interactions and subsequently reduce the risk of wildlife electrocutions in protected areas. Based on both its effectiveness, advantages and cost, we recommend using the Grating box mitigation method to reduce large mammal damage to poles in the Kruger.","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47592110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Productivity of herbivores depends on their success in attaining protein and fat stores above survival and reproductive thresholds. Populations in semi-arid regions depend on mobility to access resources that are spatiotemporally heterogeneous. The potentially isolated wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), gemsbok (Oryx gazella) and springbok (Antidorcus marsupialis) populations in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) depend on high-quality grasslands, a limited and important vegetation type. We used microhistological analyses of dung samples from these ungulates to estimate their seasonal diet composition. Results showed that forage quality and availability drive wet season diet composition. Protein-rich short grasses on pans were important for all ungulates in the wet season. Wildebeest, gemsbok and springbok diets overlapped in the wet season. The favoured grasses were depleted during the dry season and the ungulates shifted their diet likely as an adaptive mechanism to maintain intake rates. Wildebeest fed on lower-quality grasses while springbok and gemsbok fed on dicotyledons when more preferred forage was scarce. Our findings demonstrate the importance of access to heterogeneity of vegetation types that provide high-quality resources in the wet season (saline pan grassland habitats) and dry season reserves of forage (woodland habitats).
{"title":"Adaptive Foraging of Sympatric Ungulates in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana","authors":"Moses Selebatso, G. Maude, R. Fynn","doi":"10.3957/056.048.023005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.023005","url":null,"abstract":"Productivity of herbivores depends on their success in attaining protein and fat stores above survival and reproductive thresholds. Populations in semi-arid regions depend on mobility to access resources that are spatiotemporally heterogeneous. The potentially isolated wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), gemsbok (Oryx gazella) and springbok (Antidorcus marsupialis) populations in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) depend on high-quality grasslands, a limited and important vegetation type. We used microhistological analyses of dung samples from these ungulates to estimate their seasonal diet composition. Results showed that forage quality and availability drive wet season diet composition. Protein-rich short grasses on pans were important for all ungulates in the wet season. Wildebeest, gemsbok and springbok diets overlapped in the wet season. The favoured grasses were depleted during the dry season and the ungulates shifted their diet likely as an adaptive mechanism to maintain intake rates. Wildebeest fed on lower-quality grasses while springbok and gemsbok fed on dicotyledons when more preferred forage was scarce. Our findings demonstrate the importance of access to heterogeneity of vegetation types that provide high-quality resources in the wet season (saline pan grassland habitats) and dry season reserves of forage (woodland habitats).","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48710259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Richard Chandlers new book ‘Shorebirds in Action: an introduction to waders and their behaviour’ is a well-timed addition to the growing literature on this fascinating group of birds.The first thing you notice when you start reading it is that Richard knows his waders personally, and is extremely passionate about them. This comes through strongly in the fantastic language used to describe them in the book’s introduction, and filters through into the rest of the text. This is not a dry account of waders meant for academics and students alone, it is a passionate summary of knowledge that transcends from being purely academic in its writing to being eloquently written to appeal to all birders interested in shorebirds. It does this with excellent emotional prose that does not lose its scientific appeal. The introduction is full of anecdotal accounts of Richard’s own entry into the world of shorebirds, and his frustrations getting to grips with this difficult group of birds – something many of us can relate to. By setting his readers minds at ease with these great stories, he draws us into the world of these fascinating birds, and takes us on a journey to explore the group, and their varied ways of life.The author is up front – this is not meant to be another identification guide, although with the book covering around 80% of the worlds shorebird species, it definitely adds value in that arena. It is rather an exploration intended to draw the reader deeper into the lives of shorebirds through a combined use of excellent photographs and well-written accounts of the elaborate lives shorebirds lead. The book then has a strong chapter on current taxonomy of the group, discussing current issues of debate, but wisely choosing to follow the taxonomic standpoint of the IOC.As such, it presents a great overview of the current taxonomic views around this difficult group of birds, including the recent decision taken to include the buttonquails (Turnicidae) within the Charadriiformes. This chapter takes the time to introduce each group within the shorebirds, and a brief mention of each species found globally. Alternative common names are mentioned where appropriate, which is a nice touch – there is even an honorable mention in this chapter of the name ‘dikkop’, for the Thickknees! I personally love the high number of quality photographs used in this section to illustrate examples of species from each taxonomic group, giving the book a great introduction to the variety of species of shorebirds found around the world, and definitely making the taxonomic section much more palatable to wade through, if you will excuse the pun. The following chapter deals with plumage and moult, and does so in a really pragmatic way.While many general shorebird books carry a strong northern hemisphere bias, this one at least takes the time to summarise differences between northern and southern hemisphere lifestyles, and gives advice on how to estimate southern hemisphere parameters fo
{"title":"Book Review","authors":"Mark Brown","doi":"10.3957/056.048.027001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.027001","url":null,"abstract":"Richard Chandlers new book ‘Shorebirds in Action: an introduction to waders and their behaviour’ is a well-timed addition to the growing literature on this fascinating group of birds.The first thing you notice when you start reading it is that Richard knows his waders personally, and is extremely passionate about them. This comes through strongly in the fantastic language used to describe them in the book’s introduction, and filters through into the rest of the text. This is not a dry account of waders meant for academics and students alone, it is a passionate summary of knowledge that transcends from being purely academic in its writing to being eloquently written to appeal to all birders interested in shorebirds. It does this with excellent emotional prose that does not lose its scientific appeal. The introduction is full of anecdotal accounts of Richard’s own entry into the world of shorebirds, and his frustrations getting to grips with this difficult group of birds – something many of us can relate to. By setting his readers minds at ease with these great stories, he draws us into the world of these fascinating birds, and takes us on a journey to explore the group, and their varied ways of life.The author is up front – this is not meant to be another identification guide, although with the book covering around 80% of the worlds shorebird species, it definitely adds value in that arena. It is rather an exploration intended to draw the reader deeper into the lives of shorebirds through a combined use of excellent photographs and well-written accounts of the elaborate lives shorebirds lead. The book then has a strong chapter on current taxonomy of the group, discussing current issues of debate, but wisely choosing to follow the taxonomic standpoint of the IOC.As such, it presents a great overview of the current taxonomic views around this difficult group of birds, including the recent decision taken to include the buttonquails (Turnicidae) within the Charadriiformes. This chapter takes the time to introduce each group within the shorebirds, and a brief mention of each species found globally. Alternative common names are mentioned where appropriate, which is a nice touch – there is even an honorable mention in this chapter of the name ‘dikkop’, for the Thickknees! I personally love the high number of quality photographs used in this section to illustrate examples of species from each taxonomic group, giving the book a great introduction to the variety of species of shorebirds found around the world, and definitely making the taxonomic section much more palatable to wade through, if you will excuse the pun. The following chapter deals with plumage and moult, and does so in a really pragmatic way.While many general shorebird books carry a strong northern hemisphere bias, this one at least takes the time to summarise differences between northern and southern hemisphere lifestyles, and gives advice on how to estimate southern hemisphere parameters fo","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"256"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46123828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nomthandazo S. Manqele, Jeanetta A. Selier, T. Hill, C. Downs
In most marginalized rural areas of developing countries, where employment opportunities and income channels are limited, illegal hunting of wildlife for subsistence and commercial purposes often prevails. Rapid human population growth and the rising demand for bushmeat, particularly in cities where bushmeat has become a popular delicacy, has increased illegal bushmeat harvesting. The extent and drivers of illegal hunting of two important habitat specialists and keystone species in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa, namely oribi (Ourebia ourebi) and serval (Leptailurus serval), are relatively poorly understood. Thus, we interviewed community members in the region (n = 271 interviews) and found that most respondents hunted illegally to acquire meat (82%), as bushmeat was perceived to taste better than domestic meat (46%). However, illegal bushmeat hunting in the region did not represent an important source of livelihood. Oribi were hunted for meat while serval were sought after for the purposes of traditional medicine and for the skin trade. The consideration of site-specific socio-economic drivers of illegal resource use is vital in ensuring effective conservation management for these two species. Our results also provide support for conservation initiatives addressing a wide range of wild animals affected by illegal hunting in this region.
{"title":"Drivers of the Illegal Hunting of Serval (Leptailurus serval) and Oribi (Ourebia ourebi) in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa","authors":"Nomthandazo S. Manqele, Jeanetta A. Selier, T. Hill, C. Downs","doi":"10.3957/056.048.023004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.023004","url":null,"abstract":"In most marginalized rural areas of developing countries, where employment opportunities and income channels are limited, illegal hunting of wildlife for subsistence and commercial purposes often prevails. Rapid human population growth and the rising demand for bushmeat, particularly in cities where bushmeat has become a popular delicacy, has increased illegal bushmeat harvesting. The extent and drivers of illegal hunting of two important habitat specialists and keystone species in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa, namely oribi (Ourebia ourebi) and serval (Leptailurus serval), are relatively poorly understood. Thus, we interviewed community members in the region (n = 271 interviews) and found that most respondents hunted illegally to acquire meat (82%), as bushmeat was perceived to taste better than domestic meat (46%). However, illegal bushmeat hunting in the region did not represent an important source of livelihood. Oribi were hunted for meat while serval were sought after for the purposes of traditional medicine and for the skin trade. The consideration of site-specific socio-economic drivers of illegal resource use is vital in ensuring effective conservation management for these two species. Our results also provide support for conservation initiatives addressing a wide range of wild animals affected by illegal hunting in this region.","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.023004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43179218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
INTRODUCTION The observed avoidance of small prey by large African carnivores is generally interpreted as reflecting the unsustainable trade-off between the nutritional returns against the costs of harvesting such small prey, following optimal foraging theory (e.g. Clements, Tambling, Hayward & Kerley 2014; Elliott, McTaggart Cowan & Holling 1977). By contrast, avoidance of large prey is interpreted as reflecting the risk for the predator associated with attacking such large prey, this risk exceeding the nutritional returns of such a large item (e.g. Clements et al. 2014; Hayward & Kerley 2005). This view is reinforced by the demonstration that the presence of horns reduces the preference of prey relative to body size (Clements, Tambling & Kerley 2016). However, even small prey may present a risk during capture and submission. Such risks are part of predator/prey co-evolution (Sunquist & Sunquist, 1997). The risk of small prey capture is, however, poorly documented and understood, and hence largely ignored. An example of such a risk is provided, and placed in the context of the literature to encourage further debate.
{"title":"Dying for Dinner: A Cheetah Killed by a Common Duiker Illustrates the Risk of Small Prey to Predators","authors":"G. Kerley","doi":"10.3957/056.048.024001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.024001","url":null,"abstract":"INTRODUCTION The observed avoidance of small prey by large African carnivores is generally interpreted as reflecting the unsustainable trade-off between the nutritional returns against the costs of harvesting such small prey, following optimal foraging theory (e.g. Clements, Tambling, Hayward & Kerley 2014; Elliott, McTaggart Cowan & Holling 1977). By contrast, avoidance of large prey is interpreted as reflecting the risk for the predator associated with attacking such large prey, this risk exceeding the nutritional returns of such a large item (e.g. Clements et al. 2014; Hayward & Kerley 2005). This view is reinforced by the demonstration that the presence of horns reduces the preference of prey relative to body size (Clements, Tambling & Kerley 2016). However, even small prey may present a risk during capture and submission. Such risks are part of predator/prey co-evolution (Sunquist & Sunquist, 1997). The risk of small prey capture is, however, poorly documented and understood, and hence largely ignored. An example of such a risk is provided, and placed in the context of the literature to encourage further debate.","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.024001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49362199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Artificial waterholes are a widely used, yet contested wildlife management practice in semi-arid environments. We evaluated wildlife water provisioning at four artificial waterholes in the southern region of the Kruger National Park. We documented daily waterhole visitation patterns of mammals during the wet and dry seasons using camera-traps. We recorded 26 mammal species at the waterholes, with African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and impalas (Aepyceros melampus) being the most abundant. We used generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine which variables (season, time of day, water quality, and the presence of carnivores or elephants) would affect animal visitation. Waterhole visitation patterns differed according to time of day, but this effect remained relatively constant between seasons. More animals visited waterholes in the dry season compared to the wet season. Carnivore presence negatively affected impala abundance. Elephant presence did not affect impala and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) visits to waterholes. Water quality also appeared to play a role in determining animal abundance. Based on our results, though obtained from a limited sample size, we suggest some management practices to be considered when deciding which waterholes should be closed down or left open.
{"title":"Use of Artificial Waterholes by Animals in the Southern Region of the Kruger National Park, South Africa","authors":"K. Sutherland, M. Ndlovu, A. Pérez‐Rodríguez","doi":"10.3957/056.048.023003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.023003","url":null,"abstract":"Artificial waterholes are a widely used, yet contested wildlife management practice in semi-arid environments. We evaluated wildlife water provisioning at four artificial waterholes in the southern region of the Kruger National Park. We documented daily waterhole visitation patterns of mammals during the wet and dry seasons using camera-traps. We recorded 26 mammal species at the waterholes, with African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and impalas (Aepyceros melampus) being the most abundant. We used generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine which variables (season, time of day, water quality, and the presence of carnivores or elephants) would affect animal visitation. Waterhole visitation patterns differed according to time of day, but this effect remained relatively constant between seasons. More animals visited waterholes in the dry season compared to the wet season. Carnivore presence negatively affected impala abundance. Elephant presence did not affect impala and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) visits to waterholes. Water quality also appeared to play a role in determining animal abundance. Based on our results, though obtained from a limited sample size, we suggest some management practices to be considered when deciding which waterholes should be closed down or left open.","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.023003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47935432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrei Snyman, E. Raynor, C. Chizinski, L. Powell, J. Carroll
Large carnivores are key drivers of ecosystem structure and function, yet their populations are declining worldwide. African lion (Panthera leo) populations have decreased significantly in recent decades with an estimated 23 000 lions left in Africa. Successful conservation efforts rely on a sound understanding of how animals utilize their surrounding habitat. We used movement data from GPS collars to investigate patterns and drivers of seasonal space use by free-roaming lions in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GM-TFCA). We developed individual and population-level resource utilization functions (RUF) from 2008 to 2015. RUFs relate non-uniform space use within a home range to landscape metrics in a multiple regression framework. We identified six landscape features hypothesized a priori to be good predictors of lion space use: land use, land cover, elevation, terrain ruggedness, distance to human settlements and rivers. Only elevation during the dry season was a significant factor detected for lion space use ( ± S.E.) (-0.278 ± 0.107, CI = -0.4881, -0.0676). Across seasons, lions varied in their avoidance of human settlements, but 12 of 18 (67%) individuals selected areas within their home ranges that were farther from human settlements. Lions moved randomly across the landscape independent of vegetation type regardless of season. In season-specific analyses, some lions avoided human settlements (dry season: 45%, [n = 10] utilized areas farther from settlements; wet season: 50% [n = 9]). The lack of avoidance of settlements by some lions in our study also confirms that individual variation among lions can lead to human—wildlife conflicts. Perhaps the most critical observation from our study is that individual lions acted very differently as they used the landscape, which suggests the need for management plans to be landscape and case-specific.
{"title":"African Lion (Panthera leo) Space Use in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area","authors":"Andrei Snyman, E. Raynor, C. Chizinski, L. Powell, J. Carroll","doi":"10.3957/056.048.023001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.023001","url":null,"abstract":"Large carnivores are key drivers of ecosystem structure and function, yet their populations are declining worldwide. African lion (Panthera leo) populations have decreased significantly in recent decades with an estimated 23 000 lions left in Africa. Successful conservation efforts rely on a sound understanding of how animals utilize their surrounding habitat. We used movement data from GPS collars to investigate patterns and drivers of seasonal space use by free-roaming lions in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GM-TFCA). We developed individual and population-level resource utilization functions (RUF) from 2008 to 2015. RUFs relate non-uniform space use within a home range to landscape metrics in a multiple regression framework. We identified six landscape features hypothesized a priori to be good predictors of lion space use: land use, land cover, elevation, terrain ruggedness, distance to human settlements and rivers. Only elevation during the dry season was a significant factor detected for lion space use ( ± S.E.) (-0.278 ± 0.107, CI = -0.4881, -0.0676). Across seasons, lions varied in their avoidance of human settlements, but 12 of 18 (67%) individuals selected areas within their home ranges that were farther from human settlements. Lions moved randomly across the landscape independent of vegetation type regardless of season. In season-specific analyses, some lions avoided human settlements (dry season: 45%, [n = 10] utilized areas farther from settlements; wet season: 50% [n = 9]). The lack of avoidance of settlements by some lions in our study also confirms that individual variation among lions can lead to human—wildlife conflicts. Perhaps the most critical observation from our study is that individual lions acted very differently as they used the landscape, which suggests the need for management plans to be landscape and case-specific.","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.023001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48192150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Comley, C. Bissett, Craig J. Tambling, Rebecca J. Welch, D. Parker
Jessica Comley* ( ), Charlene Bissett ( ), Craig J. Tambling ( ), Rebecca J. Welch ( ), Dan M. Parker ( ) Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Kimberley, South Africa Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031 South Africa Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700 South Africa Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Qwaqwa Campus, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866 South Africa School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Private Bag X11283, Nelspruit, 1200 South Africa
Jessica Comley* ()， Charlene Bissett ()， Craig J. Tambling ()， Rebecca J. Welch ()， Dan M. Parker()罗德大学动物和昆虫学系野生动物和保护区管理研究小组，南非科学服务处，6140南非国家公园，金伯利，南非非洲保护生态中心，纳尔逊曼德拉大学动物学系，伊丽莎白港，6031南非动物和昆虫学系，南非自由州大学动物与昆虫学系，普赫塔迪贾巴Qwaqwa校区，9866南非姆普马兰加大学生物与环境科学学院，私人袋X11283，内尔斯普雷特，1200南非
{"title":"Diet of Recently Established Brown Hyaenas in the Eastern Cape, South Africa","authors":"J. Comley, C. Bissett, Craig J. Tambling, Rebecca J. Welch, D. Parker","doi":"10.3957/056.048.014002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.014002","url":null,"abstract":"Jessica Comley* ( ), Charlene Bissett ( ), Craig J. Tambling ( ), Rebecca J. Welch ( ), Dan M. Parker ( ) Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Kimberley, South Africa Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031 South Africa Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700 South Africa Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Qwaqwa Campus, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866 South Africa School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Private Bag X11283, Nelspruit, 1200 South Africa","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":"48 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.014002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70036583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
William-Georges Crosmary, D. Ikanda, F. Ligate, P. Sandini, Imani J. Mkasanga, Lameck Mkuburo, R. Lyamuya, K. Ngongolo, P. Chardonnet
Lion densities in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania William-Georges Crosmary* ( ), Dennis Ikanda, Fredrick Ambwene Ligate, Pietro Sandini, Imani Mkasanga, Lameck Mkuburo, Richard Lyamuya, Kelvin Ngongolo & Philippe Chardonnet Fondation Internationale pour la Gestion de la Faune under the auspices of the Fondation François Sommer, 56 rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris, France. Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania Wildlife Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mpingo House, 40 Julius Nyerere Road, 15472 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, P.O. Box 2494, Iringa, Tanzania University of Dodoma, Department of Conservation Biology, P.O. Box 259, Dodoma, Tanzania
{"title":"Lion Densities in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania","authors":"William-Georges Crosmary, D. Ikanda, F. Ligate, P. Sandini, Imani J. Mkasanga, Lameck Mkuburo, R. Lyamuya, K. Ngongolo, P. Chardonnet","doi":"10.3957/056.048.014001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3957/056.048.014001","url":null,"abstract":"Lion densities in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania William-Georges Crosmary* ( ), Dennis Ikanda, Fredrick Ambwene Ligate, Pietro Sandini, Imani Mkasanga, Lameck Mkuburo, Richard Lyamuya, Kelvin Ngongolo & Philippe Chardonnet Fondation Internationale pour la Gestion de la Faune under the auspices of the Fondation François Sommer, 56 rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris, France. Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania Wildlife Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mpingo House, 40 Julius Nyerere Road, 15472 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, P.O. Box 2494, Iringa, Tanzania University of Dodoma, Department of Conservation Biology, P.O. Box 259, Dodoma, Tanzania","PeriodicalId":49492,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Wildlife Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3957/056.048.014001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45868588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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