Applying Island Biogeographic Theory to an East African Reserve

The isolation of nature reserves by encroaching civilization may provide significant changes in the structure and composition of protected animal communities. Recent models from applied island biogeographic theory provide a means of predicting the possible effects of isolation in the large-mammal community in the Mkomazi Game Reserve of northern Tanzania. A decrease in the number of large-mammal species inhabiting this preserve is predicted by all the models.The dynamic interdependence of the large-mammal communities of East African reserves is vital to their survival and yet is especially vulnerable to disruption from surrounding human activities. Knowledge of the effects of increasing isolation on the complex community interactions among the component ecosystems in East African reserves, will enhance conservationists' ability to minimize extirpation pressures in this region.

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Performance of individual species as indicators for large mammal species richness in Northern Tanzania

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.01.022 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 70-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Christian Kiffner ◽

Michael Albertini ◽

Alena Ede ◽

Brenna Donnellan ◽

Nathan Hahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Individual Species ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Northern Tanzania

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Revisiting the late Pleistocene mammal extinction record at Tight Entrance Cave, southwestern Australia

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2011.08.001 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 76 (3) ◽

pp. 397-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

J. Tyler Faith ◽

James F. O'Connell

Keyword(s):

Biomass Burning ◽

Small Mammal ◽

Vegetation Change ◽

Primary Role ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Southwestern Australia ◽

Drying Trend ◽

Small Mammal Communities ◽

Mammal Communities

AbstractTight Entrance Cave (TEC) in southwestern Australia provides a Pleistocene sequence documenting the extinction of 14 large mammal species. This record has been interpreted as indicating that extinctions did not occur during or before the penultimate glacial maximum (PGM) and that humans played a primary role in the extinctions. However, it remains possible that the majority of extinct megafauna persisted no later than the PGM. The TEC extinctions correspond with vegetation change, a cooling/drying trend, increased biomass burning, and increasingly unstable small mammal communities. The initiation of these trends predates human arrival on the continent and implies environmentally mediated extinctions.

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Inconstancy in predator/prey ratios in Quaternary large mammal communities of Italy, with an appraisal of mechanisms

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2006.10.005 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 255-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Pasquale Raia ◽

Carlo Meloro ◽

Carmela Barbera

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Strong Support ◽

Ecological Research ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Predator Prey ◽

Pleistocene Mammals ◽

Animal Communities ◽

Dispersal Events ◽

Mammal Communities ◽

Time Extinction

AbstractConstancy in predator/prey ratio (PPR) is a controversial issue in ecological research. Published reports support both constancy and inconstancy of the ratio in animal communities. Only a few studies, however, specifically address its course through time. Here we study the course of predator/prey ratio in communities of large Plio-Pleistocene mammals in Italy. After controlling for taphonomic biases, we find strong support for PPR inconstancy through time. Extinction, dispersal events, and differences in body size trends between predators and their prey were found to affect the ratio, which was distributed almost bimodally. We suggest that this stepwise dynamic in PPR indicates changes in ecosystem functioning. Prey richness was controlled by predation when PPR was high and by resources when PPR was low.

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The diet of brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) in Shamwari Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v56i1.1143 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kerry Slater ◽

Konrad Muller

Keyword(s):

Feeding Ecology ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Field Guides ◽

Plant Matter ◽

Game Reserve ◽

Species Being ◽

Feeding Observations

Brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) were introduced to Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape Province during 2002, but their feeding ecology is poorly understood. Feeding observations of brown hyaena by field guides and the collection of 31 scats from the study area took place over an 11 month period. Standard techniques were used to analyse the scats and identify prey items present. Ten dietary categories were identified from the scats, with a mean of 3.2 dietary categories per scat. Large mammal remains were found in 30 of the 31 scats, with kudu being the most abundant (61.0% of scats). Overall the two methods indicated at least 14 mammal species being fed on by the brown hyaena. The presence of mainly large mammal remains and invertebrates (in 38.7% of all scats), together with the feeding observations of mainly large mammals by field guides, suggests that brown hyaena in Shamwari are mainly scavengers and that sufficient carrion is available, thereby reducing the need for them to hunt. A 52.0% occurrence of plant matter was found in the scats, suggesting that plant material is an important component of their diet. Further studies are underway to investigate the feeding ecology of brown hyaena in Shamwari and surrounding areas.Conservation implications: Comprehensive scat analysis over a number of years, monitoring of individual movement patterns and population numbers of brown hyaena in and around conservation areas will be beneficial in quantifying resource use of this species.

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ECOLOGICAL SEPARATION OF THE LARGE MAMMAL SPECIES IN THE TARANGIRE GAME RESERVE, TANGANYIKA

African Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2028.1963.tb00179.x ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 63-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 189

Author(s):

H. F. Lamprey

Keyword(s):

Mammal Species ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Game Reserve ◽

Ecological Separation

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Diversity lost: are all Holarctic large mammal species just relict populations?

Journal of Biology ◽

10.1186/jbiol228 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 24 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael Hofreiter ◽

Ian Barnes

Keyword(s):

Mammal Species ◽

Large Mammal ◽

Relict Populations

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Changes in the woody component of an East African savanna during 25 years

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467499001017 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 545-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Claudius A. D. M. Van De Vijver ◽

Charles A. Foley ◽

Han Olff

Keyword(s):

Woody Species ◽

Original Data ◽

Fire Frequency ◽

Tree Density ◽

Severe Drought ◽

East African ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Northern Tanzania ◽

Total Tree ◽

Large Decline

Changes in density, structure and species composition of the woody component of the two predominant savanna types in Tarangire National Park, northern Tanzania, during a period of 25 y were investigated. The park is known for its large, increasing elephant numbers and high frequency of fires. In 1996 a study on woody species density, composition and age structure, which was first performed in 1971, was repeated, using the same transects and method. Access to the original data of 1971 allowed for a full comparison of the changes and an investigation whether these could be related to changes in elephant numbers and fire frequency. The total tree density declined during the 25 y, but the decline was not evenly distributed over the different height classes. Although the density of trees taller than 5 m declined significantly, the greatest decline occurred in the density of trees shorter than 1 m. The density of trees in the intermediate height class of 1–5 m did not decline. Although damage to trees by elephants increased during the 25-y period, c. 25% showed no browse damage and, except for some severely damaged trees, elephant damage was not found to reduce tree vigour. Elephants affected the size distribution of the savanna woody component much more than the density, while the data suggest no significant effect of fire on changes in tree density. The large decline in density of small trees was attributed to a severe drought in 1993. Based on large numbers of elephants during the past decades and on relatively low elephant impact on the total tree density, the present study suggests that the current elephant number of 2300 can be sustained in the park without causing detrimental effects, provided that their current range is maintained.

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Archaeology in Eastern Africa: Recent Developments and More Dates

The Journal of African History ◽

10.1017/s0021853700028449 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 369-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Peter Robertshaw

Keyword(s):

Iron Age ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Eastern Africa ◽

East African ◽

Long Distance ◽

East African Coast ◽

Northern Tanzania ◽

Recent Developments ◽

First Millennium ◽

Historical Sequences

Obsidian hydration dating has been successfully applied to East African archaeological sites. Chemical sourcing of obsidian artefacts has documented long-distance movement of obsidian from the Central Rift valley. A date in the ninth or eighth century b.c. has been obtained for iron objects in the Er Renk District of the Southern Sudan. Tentative culture-historical sequences are available from excavations around the Sudd and in the Lake Besaka region of Ethiopia. Archaeological research has begun in the interior of Somalia. In northern Kenya, claims that Namoratunga II is an archaeo-astronomical site have been challenged. Excavations at Mumba-Höhle and Nasera have shed new light on the transition from the Middle to Later Stone Age in northern Tanzania perhaps 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. Knowledge of the Elmenteitan Tradition has been considerably advanced by excavations in south-western Kenya. Iron-smelting furnaces with finger-decorated bricks have been discovered in south-eastern Kenya, though not yet dated. New dates falling in the last few centuries have caused first millennium a.d. dates obtained previously for Engaruka to be rejected. Excavations at several sites on the East African coast indicate that the beginnings of coastal occupation from the Lamu archipelago to Mozambique fall in the ninth century a.d. In Malawi the Shire Highlands seem to have been settled around the tenth century a.d. Investigations of large smelting-furnaces in central Malawi indicate that they were used as concentrators of poor-quality iron ore. Excavations in rock-shelters on the southern edge of the Copperbelt have produced a culture-historical sequence spanning the last 18,000 years. The western stream of the Early Iron Age was established in the Upper Zambezi valley by about the mid fifth century a.d.

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