scholarly journals Prey selection of lions Panthera leo in a small, enclosed reserve

Koedoe ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Power
Keyword(s):  
Prey Selection ◽  
Panthera Leo ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Tragelaphus Strepsiceros ◽  
Connochaetes Taurinus ◽  
Related Mortality ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

Annual trends in numbers of ungulate species on a 15 km² reserve from 1993 to 1998, were evaluated in the context of lion Panthera leo reintroduction during 1996, and subsequent predation by them. The ungulate prey base was enumerated annually by aerial counts and a road count that took place during 1998. The lion prey record was obtained from direct observations of a radio-located pride of eight lions and daily reserve management records. All ungulate species that underwent precipituous declines were also the most important prey to lions, comprising over 80 % of their prey, and they were preyed upon according to their availability. Lion predation was causal for the declines in wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, Blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi and Warthog Phacochoerus africana, while the decline in Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros was only partly ascribed to lions, as other non-lion related mortality sources were identified. The only ungulate species to increase subsequent to lion reintroduction was the Impala Aepyceros melampus, which was furthermore under-selected by lions. The uncontrolled population growth of Impala could have elicited ecological degradation, and it was advised to either not stock Impala, or otherwise control their numbers if lions are unable to do so. Lion hunting success and kill rate, were 21 % (n = 63) and 1 kill/4.4 days, respectively. Three bushpigs Potamochoerus larvatus were killed but not utilised,and this finding is corroborated by an intensive study in Kwazulu-Natal, and this aversion is discussed. Predators can cause unprecedented declines of their prey where the prey are confined to small reserves that have no refuge from predation. On an annual basis, prey may need to be augmented to sustain predators on small reserves

scholarly journals Prey selection and feeding habits of the large carnivores in the Southern Kalahari

Koedoe ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. L Mills
Keyword(s):  
Prey Selection ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Crocuta Crocuta ◽  
Panthera Leo ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Connochaetes Taurinus

Prey selection and feeding habits of lions Panthera leo, spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta, cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus and leopards Panthera pardus are investigated. Lions kill mainly adult gemsbok Oryx gazella and blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, tending to select older animals of both species and males in the case of gemsbok. Spotted hyaenas also prey mainly on gemsbok and wildebeest, but select for juveniles, particularly from gemsbok. Cheetahs prey heavily on springbok Antidorcas marsupialis lambs and then on adult males and older individuals. Leopards also prey relatively heavily on springbok, but appear to have a wider diet than cheetahs do. It is concluded that predators generally have a small impact on their prey populations in the southern Kalahari, although in the case of springbok they do appear to influence the structure of the population.

scholarly journals Natural mortality amoung four common ungulate species on Letaba Ranch, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H.P. Cronje ◽  
B.K. Reilly ◽  
I.D. Macfadyen
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Lycaon Pictus ◽  
Tragelaphus Strepsiceros ◽  
Connochaetes Taurinus ◽  
Wild Dogs ◽  
Respective Species ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

Five years of mortality data of impala Aepyceros melampus, blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, buffalo Syncerus caffer and kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros have been used to describe the minimum mortality profiles of the respective species in an open savanna system with the full compliment of predators. Predation is the principle cause of natural mortalities on the study site, Letaba Ranch, which is adjacent to the Kruger National Park. The principle cause of impala mortality are leopards Panthera pardus and wild dogs Lycaon pictus. Lion Panthera leo were major contributors to the mortality of wildebeest and buffalo. Anthrax Bacillus anthracis was the main cause of kudu mortality.

scholarly journals Influence of social upbringing on the activity pattern of captive lion Panthera leo cubs: Benefits of behavior enrichment

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibonokuhle Ncube ◽  
Hilton Garikai Taambuka Ndagurwa
Keyword(s):  
Activity Pattern ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Visual Exploration ◽  
Panthera Leo ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Enrichment Program ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Behavioral Enrichment ◽  
Connochaetes Taurinus ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

Abstract The influence of social upbringing on the activity pattern of lion Panthera leo cubs was investigated at three sites. In this study, stimulus objects such as sticks, grass, fresh dung (elephant Loxondota africana, zebra Equus quagga, impala Aepyceros melampus, duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros, giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis and wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus) and cardboard boxes, were utilized in an enrichment program aimed at encouraging active behaviors of captive lion cubs at Antelope Park and Masuwe. Lion cubs at Chipangali were not behaviorally enriched. Activity patterns were recorded for 10 days at each site. We recorded moving, resting, playing, grooming, visual exploration and display of hunting instincts. We found that behavioral enrichment enhanced the active behaviors of captive lion cubs. Orphan-raised cubs spent more time moving, playing and displaying hunting instincts than mother-raised cubs, but the time spent grooming was similar across areas and suggests that grooming is not influenced by enrichment. Mother-raised cubs spent more time engaged in visual exploration than orphan-raised cubs and this could be a behavior acquired from mothers or a result of confidence to explore because of their presence. Activity patterns were different among time treatments across our three study sites. Based on these findings, we suggest that lion cubs raised in captivity could benefit from behavioral enrichment to encourage active behaviors essential for eventual reintroduction into the wild.

scholarly journals Predation on bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis by Cape hunting dogs Lycaon pictus

Koedoe ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.S.A. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Lycaon Pictus ◽  
Mammalian Herbivores ◽  
Hunting Dogs ◽  
Hunting Dog ◽  
Tragelaphus Strepsiceros ◽  
Connochaetes Taurinus ◽  
Sylvicapra Grimmia ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

The predatory habits of the Cape hunting dog Lycaon pictus have been well documented, and have been found to include almost exclusively mammalian herbivores (Childes 1988). The prey species chosen varies from area to area according to availability, with wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus and Thompson's gazelle, Gazella thomsonii being recorded as preferred prey in East Africa (Malcolm & Van Lawick 1975), whereas impala Aepyceros melampus, kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros and duiker Sylvicapra grimmia are predominantly selected in southern Africa (Fuller & Kat 1990). This paper documents a case of a pack of Cape hunting dogs preying specifically on bat-eared foxes.

Diet composition and prey selection of vendace Coregonus albula in the mesotrophic, temperate Lake Ostrowite (Northern Poland)

2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Kakareko ◽  
Paweł Napiórkowski ◽  
Jacek Kozłowski
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Temperate Lake ◽  
Coregonus Albula ◽  
Northern Poland ◽  
Mesotrophic Lake ◽  
Selection Of

Diet composition and prey selection of vendaceLake Ostrowite is a mesotrophic lake in Northern Poland 280.7 ha in area and 43 m deep at its deepest point. To study vendace (

Kalahari Cheetahs

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gus Mills ◽  
Margaret Mills
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Foraging Success ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
The Impact

This book demonstrates how cheetahs are adapted to arid savannahs like the southern Kalahari, and makes comparisons with other areas, especially the Serengeti. Topics dealt with are: demography and genetic status; feeding ecology, i.e. methods used for studying diet, diets of different demographic groups, individual diet specializations of females, prey selection, the impact of cheetah predation on prey populations, activity regimes and distances travelled per day, hunting behaviour, foraging success and energetics; interspecific competition; spatial ecology; reproductive success and the mating system; and conservation. The major findings show that cheetahs are well adapted to arid ecosystems and are water independent. Cheetah density in the study area was stable at 0.7/100 km2 and the population was genetically diverse. Important prey were steenbok and springbok for females with cubs, gemsbok, and adult ostrich for coalition males, and steenbok, springhares, and hares for single animals. Cheetahs had a density-dependent regulatory effect on steenbok and springbok populations. Females with large cubs had the highest overall food intake. Cheetahs, especially males, were often active at night, and competition with other large carnivores, both by exploitation and interference, was slight. Although predation on small cubs was severe, cub survival to adolescence was six times higher than in the Serengeti. There was no difference in reproductive success between single and coalition males. The conservation priority for cheetahs should be to maintain protected areas over a spectrum of landscapes to allow ecological processes, of which the cheetah is an integral part, to proceed unhindered.

Habitat selection of Cape porcupines in a farmland-suburban context in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Samukelisiwe P. Ngcobo ◽  
Amy-Leigh Wilson ◽  
Colleen T. Downs
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Selection Of

Suitability of Natural Geomedia for Radwaste Storage

1982 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Fyfe
Keyword(s):  
Rock Properties ◽  
Fracture Flow ◽  
Time Prediction ◽  
Sedimentary Sequences ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Mining Disturbance ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACTSelection of the best rock types for radwaste disposal will depend on their having minimal permeability, maximal flow dispersion, minimal chance of forming new wide aperture fractures, maximal ion retention, and minimal thermal and mining disturbance. While no rock is perfect, thinly bedded complex sedimentary sequences may have good properties, either as repository rocks, or as cover to a repository.Long time prediction of such favorable properties of a rock at a given site may be best modelled from studies of in situ rock properties. Fracture flow, dispersion history, and geological stability can be derived from direct observations of rocks themselves, and can provide the parameters needed for convincing demonstration of repository security for appropriate times.

Examination of direct daytime predation by Coregonus artedi on Bythotrephes longimanus in Harp Lake, Ontario, Canada: no evidence for the refuge hypothesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joelle D. Young ◽  
Ellis R. Loew ◽  
Norman D. Yan
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Planktivorous Fish ◽  
Bythotrephes Longimanus ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Coregonus Artedi ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Gill Netting ◽  
Harp Lake

Since its introduction to Harp Lake, Ontario, Canada, summer abundance of the cladoceran zooplanktivore Bythotrephes longimanus has fluctuated substantially both among and within years. The principal planktivorous fish in Harp Lake is the cold-water Coregonus artedi (cisco). Previous studies hypothesized that Bythotrephes abundance was affected by the thickness of an ephemeral, dark, daytime refuge from cisco that potentially established at the bottom of the metalimnion. During summer of 2003, we estimated peak daytime refuge thickness by simulating light energy visible to cisco and found it was always negative and did not correlate with Bythotrephes death rates. Direct observations using gill-netting and acoustical methods suggested that cisco had frequent metalimnetic forays. Additionally, including years 2000–2004, the previous correlation between mean Bythotrephes abundance and refuge thickness no longer held. The refuge hypothesis appears to fail, as the amount of metalimnetic illumination was always above the level at which cisco reaction distance to prey is maximal. Selection of Bythotrephes by cisco instead appeared to increase once Bythotrephes became abundant, remaining consistent and nontrivial even after Bythotrephes population declined.

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