1
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Drouilly M, Nattrass N, O’Riain MJ. Small-livestock farmers' perceived effectiveness of predation control methods and the correlates of reported illegal poison use in the South African Karoo. AMBIO 2023; 52:1635-1649. [PMID: 37389757 PMCID: PMC10460750 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01892-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The use of poison against predators is pervasive and negatively impacts biodiversity and ecosystem health globally. Little is known about the correlates of poison use as a lethal control method on small-livestock farmland. We used a mixed-methods approach to investigate commercial farmers' experience with and perceived effectiveness of predation control methods, reported poison use and its correlates in the Central Karoo. Farmers perceived lethal methods to be cheaper and more effective than non-lethal methods in protecting their livestock from predation. They reported more experience with lethal methods, and over half reported having used poison. This is higher than other estimates in southern Africa and consistent with other survey-based evidence from the Karoo. Reported poison use was positively related to perceived efficacy, declining on-farm employment and perceived threats of predators. It was negatively related to terrain ruggedness. Our findings provide an understanding of the context and motivations shaping this illegal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Drouilly
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, H.W. Pearson Building, University of Cape Town, University Avenue North, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
- Panthera, 8 W 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018 USA
- Centre for Social Science Research, Robert Leslie Social Science Building, University of Cape Town, 12 University Avenue South, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
| | - Nicoli Nattrass
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, H.W. Pearson Building, University of Cape Town, University Avenue North, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
- Centre for Social Science Research, Robert Leslie Social Science Building, University of Cape Town, 12 University Avenue South, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
| | - M. Justin O’Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, H.W. Pearson Building, University of Cape Town, University Avenue North, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
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2
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Slater K, Jager D, Wyk AM, Dalton DL, Kropff AS, Preez I. Population genetics of a lethally managed medium‐sized predator. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Slater
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit (ABEERU), Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences University of South Africa Florida Gauteng South Africa
| | - D. Jager
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science University of Pretoria Pretoria Gauteng South Africa
| | - A. M. Wyk
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science University of Pretoria Pretoria Gauteng South Africa
| | - D. L. Dalton
- South African National Biodiversity Institute Pretoria South Africa
- School of Health and Life Sciences Teesside University Middlesbrough UK
| | - A. S. Kropff
- South African National Biodiversity Institute Pretoria South Africa
| | - I. Preez
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit (ABEERU), Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences University of South Africa Florida Gauteng South Africa
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3
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Botha AE, Bruns AC, le Roux A. The spatial ecology of black-backed jackals ( Canis mesomelas) in a protected mountainous grassland area. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2057818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Edward Botha
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
- Afromontane Research Unit, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
| | - Angela Caren Bruns
- South African National Parks, Veterinary Wildlife Services, Kimberley, South Africa
| | - Aliza le Roux
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
- Afromontane Research Unit, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
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4
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Habitat structure, not the anthropogenic context or large predators, shapes occupancy of a generalist mesopredator across protected areas in South Africa. MAMMAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00636-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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5
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Black-backed jackal niche analysis: a stable isotope approach to a generalist mesopredator. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00241-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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6
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Tong X, Ding YY, Deng JY, Wang R, Chen XY. Source-sink dynamics assists the maintenance of a pollinating wasp. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4695-4707. [PMID: 34347898 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Dispersal that unites spatially subdivided populations into a metapopulation with source-sink dynamics is crucial for species persistence in fragmented landscapes. Understanding such dynamics for pollinators is particularly urgent owing to the ongoing global pollination crisis. Here, we investigated the population structure and source-sink dynamics of a pollinating wasp (Wiebesia sp. 3) of Ficus pumila in the Zhoushan Archipelago of China. We found significant asymmetry in the pairwise migrant numbers for 22 of 28 cases on the historical timescale, but only two on the contemporary timescale. Despite a small population size, the sole island not colonized by a superior competitor wasp (Wiebesia sp. 1) consistently behaved as a net exporter of migrants, supplying large sinks. Comparable levels of genetic diversity, with few private alleles and low genetic differentiation (total Fst : 0.03; pairwise Fst : 0.0005-0.0791), were revealed among all the islands. There was a significant isolation-by-distance pattern caused mainly by migration between the competition-free island and other islands, otherwise the pattern was negligible. The clustering analysis failed to detect multiple gene pools for the whole region. Thus, the sinks were most probably organized into a patchy population. Moreover, the estimates of effective population sizes were comparable between the two timescales. Thus the source-sink dynamics embedded within a well-connected population network may allow Wiebesia sp. 3 to persist at a competitive disadvantage. This study provides evidence that metapopulations in the real world may be complicated and changeable over time, highlighting the necessity to study such metapopulations in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tong
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Ding
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Yin Deng
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Yong Chen
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China
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7
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Blanco JC, Ballesteros F, Palomero G, López-Bao JV. Not exodus, but population increase and gene flow restoration in Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos) subpopulations. Comment on Gregório et al. 2020. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240698. [PMID: 33137146 PMCID: PMC7605620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In a genetic study on brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Cantabrian Mountains, Gregório et al. (2020) interpreted the asymmetrical gene flow they found from the eastern subpopulation towards the western one as an exodus of bears forced to flee from the eastern nucleus “with higher human disturbance and poaching”, concluding that connectivity may be operating as a means for eastern Cantabrian bears to find more suitable territories. In this reply, we maintain that the explanations of Gregorio et al. contradict the source-sink theory and we also present demographic data not considered by these authors showing that the eastern subpopulation is not declining, but persistently increasing. After reviewing the demographic and genetic studies published during the last 20 years, we conclude that the connectivity between the two subpopulations is operating as a route which allows the regular movement of males and the restoration of the gene flow across the whole Cantabrian population.
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8
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Nattrass N, Conradie B, Stephens J, Drouilly M. Culling recolonizing mesopredators increases livestock losses: Evidence from the South African Karoo. AMBIO 2020; 49:1222-1231. [PMID: 31679108 PMCID: PMC7128017 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01260-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Populations of adaptable mesopredators are expanding globally where passive rewilding and natural recolonization are taking place, increasing the risk of conflict with remaining livestock farmers. We analysed data from two social surveys of farmers in the Karoo, South Africa, where black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) and caracals (Caracal caracal) have re-emerged as a threat to sheep farms in the context of falling agricultural employment and the expansion of natural areas. We show that irrespective of measurement approach, lethal control of mesopredators in this fragmented socio-economic landscape was associated with increased livestock losses the following year. Terrain ruggedness was positively, and number of farmworkers negatively, associated with livestock losses. Our study provides further evidence that lethal control of mesopredators in this context is probably counter-productive and supports calls to develop, share and financially support a range of non-lethal methods to protect livestock, especially where natural recolonization of mesopredators is occurring. A graphical abstract can be found in Electronic supplementary material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoli Nattrass
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private bag x3, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
| | - Beatrice Conradie
- School of Economics and the Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private bag x3, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
| | - Jed Stephens
- Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private bag x3, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
| | - Marine Drouilly
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Private bag x3, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa
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9
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Kamler JF, Loveridge AJ, O’Donnell H, Macdonald DW. Effects of humans and large carnivores on the survival of black‐backed jackals. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan F. Kamler
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Abingdon UK
| | - Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Abingdon UK
| | - Holly O’Donnell
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Abingdon UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Abingdon UK
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10
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Davidson Z, Dupuis-Desormeaux M, Dheer A, Pratt L, Preston E, Gilicho S, Mwololo M, Chege G, MacDonald SE, Doncaster CP. Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul: managing threatened predators of endangered and declining prey species. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7916. [PMID: 31637142 PMCID: PMC6798864 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation policy and practice can sometimes run counter to their mutual aims of ensuring species survival. In Kenya, where threatened predators such as lion deplete endangered prey such as Grevy's zebra, conservation practitioners seek to ensure species success through exclusive strategies of protection, population increase and preservation. We found strong selection for the endangered Grevy's zebra by both lion and hyena on two small fenced conservancies in Kenya. Despite abundant diversity of available prey, Grevy's zebra were selected disproportionately more than their availability, while other highly available species such as buffalo were avoided. Lions were therefore not alone in presenting a credible threat to Grevy's zebra survival. Conservation practitioners must consider interlinked characteristics of prey selection, resource availability and quality, the interplay between carnivore guild members and landscape scale population trends performance in wildlife management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeke Davidson
- Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.,Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Isiolo, Meru, Kenya.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arjun Dheer
- Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Pratt
- Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Preston
- Marwell Wildlife, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Suzanne E MacDonald
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - C Patrick Doncaster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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11
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Kamler JF, Stenkewitz U, Gharajehdaghipour T, Macdonald DW. Social organization, home ranges, and extraterritorial forays of black‐backed jackals. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan F. Kamler
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of ZoologyOxford University Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL United Kingdom
| | - Ute Stenkewitz
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of ZoologyOxford University Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL United Kingdom
| | - Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour
- Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks Parks Canada, P.O. Box 350 Revelstoke British Columbia V0E 2S0 Canada
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of ZoologyOxford University Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon OX13 5QL United Kingdom
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12
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Tensen L, Drouilly M, Vuuren BJV. Insights into the Genetic Population Structure of Black-Backed Jackal and Caracal in South Africa. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.3957/056.049.0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tensen
- The Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, 2006 South Africa
| | - Marine Drouilly
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Upper Campus, Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa
| | - Bettine Jansen van Vuuren
- The Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, 2006 South Africa
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13
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Tensen L, Drouilly M, van Vuuren BJ. Genetic structure and diversity within lethally managed populations of two mesopredators in South Africa. J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tensen
- The Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, South Africa
| | - Marine Drouilly
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Upper Campus, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Bettine Jansen van Vuuren
- The Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, South Africa
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