scholarly journals Anthropogenic effects on the physiology and behaviour of chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrina Chowdhury ◽  
Janine Brown ◽  
Larissa Swedell
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Anthropogenic Landscapes ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Cape Peninsula ◽  
Chacma Baboons ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract As animals increasingly occupy habitats in proximity to humans, with home ranges a mosaic of natural and anthropogenic landscapes, it becomes imperative from a conservation perspective to understand the impacts of human activities on wildlife. Many non-human primates share habitats with humans, an ability stemming largely from shared ecological needs due to our close evolutionary relationship. Such proximity, however, is often accompanied by direct conflict between humans and wildlife, leading to higher stress levels, injuries, mortality and behavioural changes, with detrimental effects on long-term health and fitness. Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, which are released in response to ecological and social challenges, are increasingly employed to understand responses to anthropogenic disturbance. Here we investigate physiological and behavioural responses of female chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) to variation in spatial overlap and conflict with humans in their natural home range. The baboons resided in the Tokai Section of Table Mountain National Park in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, where their home range included four types of habitats: protected, suburban, agricultural and mosaic areas. We studied the largest group of baboons in Tokai (70 individuals) and examined the effects of ranging in these different habitats on the faecal GCs and behaviour of all adult females in the troop (N = 16). We found time spent ranging in more anthropogenic habitats to be associated with higher levels of GCs, more aggression, less time socializing and shorter grooming bouts. Self-directed behaviour, however, varied and did not necessarily reflect physiological measures of stress. Taken together, the results of this study highlight the risks associated with ranging in anthropogenic environments and point to the need for a multifaceted approach to studying the negative impacts of human activities on animals so as to better inform conservation practices.

scholarly journals Movement and Home Range of Nile Crocodiles in Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Calverley ◽  
Colleen T. Downs
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Satellite Telemetry ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Game Reserve ◽  
Nile Crocodile

The study of movement patterns and home range is fundamental in understanding the spatial requirements of animals and is important in generating information for the conservation and management of threatened species. Ndumo Game Reserve, in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, bordering Mozambique, has the third largest Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) population in South Africa. Movement patterns of 50 Nile crocodiles with a total length of between 202 cm and 472 cm were followed over a period of 18 months, using mark-resight, radio and satellite telemetry. The duration of radio transmitter attachment (131 ± 11.4 days) was significantly and negatively related to total length and reproductive status. Satellite transmitters failed after an average of 15 ± 12.5 days. Home range was calculated for individuals with 10 or more radio locations, spanning a period of at least 6 months. There was a significant relationship between home range size and total length, with sub-adults (1.5 m – 2.5 m) occupying smaller, more localised home ranges than adults (> 2.5 m). The largest home ranges were for adults (> 2.5 m). Home ranges overlapped extensively, suggesting that territoriality, if present, does not result in spatially discrete home ranges of Nile crocodiles in Ndumo Game Reserve during the dry season. Larger crocodiles moved farther and more frequently than smaller crocodiles. The reserve acts as a winter refuge and spring breeding site for an estimated 846 crocodiles, which also inhabit the Rio Maputo during the summer months. Nile crocodile movement out of the reserve and into the Rio Maputo starts in November and crocodiles return to the reserve as water levels in the floodplain recede in May.Conservation implications: Movement patterns of Nile crocodiles show the important role the reserve plays in the conservation of Nile crocodile populations within the greater Ndumo Game Reserve–Rio Maputo area.

scholarly journals The home range of a recently established group of Southern ground-hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) in the Limpopo Valley, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Theron ◽  
Raymond Jansen ◽  
Paul Grobler ◽  
Antoinette Kotze
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Range Analysis ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Northern Border ◽  
Semi Arid

Little is known about Southern ground-hornbill (SGH) population ecology outside of large, formally protected areas where the largest declines in numbers have been recorded. The SGH has started re-colonising, establishing group territories and breeding successfully in the Limpopo Valley on the northern border of South Africa, following localised extinction from the 1950s to the 1970s. A group of SGH was monitored over a period of 14 months by means of radio telemetry across privately owned land in order to investigate their seasonal habitat movements in this semi-arid, predominantly livestock-based environment. We also investigated seasonal fluctuations in invertebrate prevalence, as an indication of food availability and its influence on seasonal SGH group movements and foraging activity patterns. There was a clear increase in food availability during the summer rainfall period allowing the group to forage over a wider area, whilst winter foraging remained localised within their range. Kernel home range analysis indicated a marked difference in size between the summer (13 409 ha) and winter (5280 ha) home ranges, with an overall home range of 19 372 ha, which is approximately double that of home ranges recorded that fall within formally and informally protected reserves. In this article, we proposed that food availability is the driving force for home range size and seasonal activity patterns in a semi-arid livestock-ranching habitat.Conservation implications: The Limpopo Valley SGH population is one of the most significant outside protected areas in South Africa. This population is especially vulnerable to threats such as poisoning, persecution for window breaking and drought, as shown by their near extirpation from the area. Conservation efforts need to focus on awareness amongst local farmers, provision of artificial nests and continued monitoring of groups.

scholarly journals Impact of natural salt lick on the home range of Panthera tigris at the Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Andrew Lazarus ◽  
Azlan Che-Amat ◽  
Muhammad Muzammil Abdul Halim Shah ◽  
Azwan Hamdan ◽  
Hasliza Abu Hassim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Salt Lick ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Salt Licks

AbstractNatural salt lick (sira) is a strategic localisation for ecological wildlife assemblage to exhibit geophagy which may act as a population dynamic buffer of prey and predators. Undoubtedly, many agree that geophagy at natural licks is linked to nutritional ecology, health and assembly places facilitating social interaction of its users. Overall, natural salt licks not only save energy of obtaining nutrient leading to health maintenance but also forms the basis of population persistence. The Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia (Royal Belum) is a typical tropical rainforest in Malaysia rich in wildlife which are mainly concentrated around the natural salt lick. Since this is one of the most stable fauna ecology forest in Malaysia, it is timely to assess its impact on the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) home range dynamics. The three-potential home ranges of the Malayan tiger in this rainforest were selected based on animal trails or foot prints surrounding the salt lick viz (e.g. Sira Kuak and Sira Batu; Sira Rambai and Sira Buluh and Sira Papan) as well as previous sightings of a Malayan tiger in the area, whose movement is dependent on the density and distribution of prey. Camera traps were placed at potential animal trails surrounding the salt lick to capture any encountered wildlife species within the area of the camera placements. Results showed that all home ranges of Malayan tiger were of no significance for large bodied prey availability such as sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), and smaller prey such as muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjac) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Interestingly, all home range harbour the Malayan tiger as the only sole predator. The non-significance of prey availability at each home range is attributed to the decline of the Malayan tiger in the rainforest since tigers are dependant on the movement of its preferred prey surrounding natural salt licks. Thus, the information from this study offers fundamental knowledge on the importance of prey-predator interaction at salt lick which will help in designing strategy in rewilding or rehabilitation programs of the Malayan tiger at the Royal Belum Rainforest.

The spatial dynamics of White-browed Babbler groups in a fragmented agricultural landscape

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Cale
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Group Movements

White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus groups occupying linear strips of vegetation had breeding territories that were smaller in area and had longer linear dimensions than those occupying patches. A group's non-breeding home range was larger than its breeding territory. Groups occupying linear/patch home ranges expanded the linear extent and area of their home ranges more than those within other home range configurations. Some groups moved during the non-breeding season and this was more likely to occur if the group occupied a remnant with a low abundance of invertebrates during summer. Some groups that moved returned prior to the next breeding season, but the majority were never seen again. New groups moved into the study sites and established in vacant home ranges. This suggests that those groups that left the study sites may have established new home ranges elsewhere. Breeding site fidelity was lower in groups that had failed in previous breeding attempts. Therefore, group movements were influenced by the feeding and breeding quality of the habitat. However, the configuration of the local population also influenced group movements with those groups on the edge of a local population being more likely to move than those in the interior. New groups were formed by two processes; group dispersal, where groups generally filled a vacant home range, and group budding, which involved the splitting of a large group. Group dispersal maintained group densities while group budding increased the density of groups in a local population. These two processes were common, producing localized fluctuations in the density of groups. Since babbler groups contain only one breeding pair, changes in group density represent changes in effective population size. Therefore, group dynamics may be important to the persistence of local populations of White-browed Babblers, especially in landscapes that have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation.

scholarly journals Unusually High Predation on Chacma Baboons(Papio ursinus)by Female Leopards(Panthera pardus)in the Waterberg Mountains, South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 83 (3-6) ◽  
pp. 353-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jooste ◽  
R.T. Pitman ◽  
W. van Hoven ◽  
L.H. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Papio Ursinus ◽  
High Predation ◽  
Chacma Baboons
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