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Sandoval‐Serés E, Mbizah M, Phiri S, Chatikobo SP, Valeix M, van der Meer E, Dröge E, Madhlamoto D, Madzikanda H, Blinston P, Loveridge AJ. Food resource competition between African wild dogs and larger carnivores in an ecosystem with artificial water provision. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11141. [PMID: 38500850 PMCID: PMC10944706 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Predators of similar size often compete over prey. In semi-arid ecosystems where water is a limiting resource, prey availability can be affected by water distribution, which further increases resource competition and exacerbate conflict among predators. This can have implications for carnivore dietary competition. Hence, we evaluated the dynamics of food resource competition between African wild dogs and four competing predators (cheetahs, leopards, lions and spotted hyaenas) in different seasons and across areas with different waterhole densities in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. We used the frequency of occurrence of prey items found in predators' scats to analyse diet composition, overlap and prey preference. For most predators, kudu was most frequently consumed and preferred. Low and medium water-dependent prey (medium and small-sized) were mostly consumed by wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs. Wild dog diet overlap was high with all predators, particularly with hyaenas and lions. There were no seasonal differences in the predators diet. The diet overlap of wild dogs with lions was highest in the low waterhole density area, and wild dog diet composition did not differ significantly from the diet of lions and hyaenas. In the low waterhole density area, wild dogs and hyaenas broadened their niche breadth, and predators diet had a higher proportion of low water-dependent prey. A low density of waterholes increased food resource competition. However, high density of waterholes, where there is more prey availability, can increase the aggregation and density of predators, and hence, increase the risks involved in interspecific competition on wild dogs. To reduce food resource competition on wild dogs, we propose to conserve larger-bodied prey that are less dependent on water (e.g. kudu, reedbuck, eland and gemsbok). As the use of water pumping is common practice, we propose maintaining water management heterogeneity where prey which is less dependent on water can also thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Sandoval‐Serés
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
- Painted Dog Conservation (PDC)DeteZimbabwe
| | - Moreangels Mbizah
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
- Wildlife Conservation ActionBelgravia, HarareZimbabwe
| | | | | | - Marion Valeix
- CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université de Lyon 1, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS UMRVilleurbanneFrance
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
- Long‐Term Socio‐Ecological Research Site (LTSER) France, Zone Atelier ‘Hwange’Hwange National ParkZimbabwe
| | | | - Egil Dröge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
- Zambian Carnivore ProgramMfuweZambia
| | - Daphine Madhlamoto
- Scientific Services Main Camp, Hwange National ParkZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA)DeteZimbabwe
| | | | | | - Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
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Strampelli P, Campbell LAD, Henschel P, Nicholson SK, Macdonald DW, Dickman AJ. Trends and biases in African large carnivore population assessments: identifying priorities and opportunities from a systematic review of two decades of research. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14354. [PMID: 36452072 PMCID: PMC9703985 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
African large carnivores have undergone significant range and population declines over recent decades. Although conservation planning and the management of threatened species requires accurate assessments of population status and monitoring of trends, there is evidence that biodiversity monitoring may not be evenly distributed or occurring where most needed. Here, we provide the first systematic review of African large carnivore population assessments published over the last two decades (2000-2020), to investigate trends in research effort and identify knowledge gaps. We used generalised linear models (GLMs) and generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) to identify taxonomic and geographical biases, and investigated biases associated with land use type and author nationality. Research effort was significantly biased towards lion (Panthera leo) and against striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), despite the latter being the species with the widest continental range. African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) also exhibited a negative bias in research attention, although this was partly explained by its relatively restricted distribution. The number of country assessments for a species was significantly positively associated with its geographic range in that country. Population assessments were biased towards southern and eastern Africa, particularly South Africa and Kenya. Northern, western, and central Africa were generally under-represented. Most studies were carried out in photographic tourism protected areas under government management, while non-protected and trophy hunting areas received less attention. Outside South Africa, almost half of studies (41%) did not include authors from the study country, suggesting that significant opportunities exist for capacity building in range states. Overall, large parts of Africa remain under-represented in the literature, and opportunities exist for further research on most species and in most countries. We develop recommendations for actions aimed at overcoming the identified biases and provide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with priorities to help inform future research and monitoring agendas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Strampelli
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Liz AD Campbell
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samantha K. Nicholson
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa,The University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amy J. Dickman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Dheer A, Davidian E, Courtiol A, Bailey LD, Wauters J, Naman P, Shayo V, Höner OP. Diurnal pastoralism does not reduce juvenile recruitment nor elevate allostatic load in spotted hyenas. J Anim Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Dheer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
- Ngorongoro Hyena Project Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
| | - Eve Davidian
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
- Ngorongoro Hyena Project Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
| | - Alexandre Courtiol
- Ngorongoro Hyena Project Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
| | - Liam D. Bailey
- Ngorongoro Hyena Project Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
| | - Jella Wauters
- Department of Reproduction Biology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
| | - Philemon Naman
- Ngorongoro Hyena Project Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
| | - Victoria Shayo
- Department of Wildlife and Rangeland Management, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
| | - Oliver P. Höner
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
- Ngorongoro Hyena Project Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
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Tarugara A, Clegg BW. Using by‐catch camera trapping data for estimating the population size of spotted hyaenas (
Crocuta crocuta
). Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Mwasi S, Dheer A. Habitat degradation, vegetation damage, and wildlife‐livestock interactions in Amboseli ecosystem wildlife sanctuaries, Kenya. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shem Mwasi
- Department of Environmental Biology and Health University of Eldoret Eldoret Kenya
| | - Arjun Dheer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
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Dheer A, Samarasinghe D, Dloniak SM, Braczkowski A. Using camera traps to study hyenas: challenges, opportunities, and outlook. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00188-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe use of remote camera traps has accelerated rapidly in the field of large carnivore science since the 1990s. Members of the Hyaenidae are important components of functional ecosystems in Africa and parts of the Middle East and South Asia, and make good candidates for study using camera traps. However, camera trap studies of hyenas remain rare in the literature when compared to species like tigers Panthera tigris, leopards Panthera pardus, and snow leopards Panthera uncia. In this paper, we examine the published use of camera traps for hyenas (n = 34 studies implemented between 2007 and 2020) and examine the logistical challenges of using camera traps, such as individual identification, limited sexual dimorphism, and complex social structures, for studies of hyena population biology, behavioral ecology, and conservation. We highlight what these challenges may mean for data analyses and interpretation. We also suggest potential benefits of further camera trap studies of this taxonomic family, including new insights into social behavior, range extensions, and robust density estimates.
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Braczkowski A, Schenk R, Samarasinghe D, Biggs D, Richardson A, Swanson N, Swanson M, Dheer A, Fattebert J. Leopard and spotted hyena densities in the Lake Mburo National Park, southwestern Uganda. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12307. [PMID: 35127275 PMCID: PMC8801179 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Robust measures of animal densities are necessary for effective wildlife management. Leopards (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta Crocuta) are higher order predators that are data deficient across much of their East African range and in Uganda, excepting for one peer-reviewed study on hyenas, there are presently no credible population estimates for these species. A lack of information on the population status and even baseline densities of these species has ramifications as leopards are drawcards for the photo-tourism industry, and along with hyenas are often responsible for livestock depredations from pastoralist communities. Leopards are also sometimes hunted for sport. Establishing baseline density estimates for these species is urgently needed not only for population monitoring purposes, but in the design of sustainable management offtakes, and in assessing certain conservation interventions like financial compensation for livestock depredation. Accordingly, we ran a single-season survey of these carnivores in the Lake Mburo National Park of south-western Uganda using 60 remote camera traps distributed in a paired format at 30 locations. We analysed hyena and leopard detections under a Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) modelling framework to estimate their densities. This small national park (370 km2) is surrounded by Bahima pastoralist communities with high densities of cattle on the park edge (with regular park incursions). Leopard densities were estimated at 6.31 individuals/100 km2 (posterior SD = 1.47, 95% CI [3.75-9.20]), and spotted hyena densities were 10.99 individuals/100 km2, but with wide confidence intervals (posterior SD = 3.35, 95% CI [5.63-17.37]). Leopard and spotted hyena abundance within the boundaries of the national park were 24.87 (posterior SD 7.78) and 39.07 individuals (posterior = SD 13.51) respectively. Leopard densities were on the middle end of SECR studies published in the peer-reviewed literature over the last 5 years while spotted hyena densities were some of the first reported in the literature using SECR, and similar to a study in Botswana which reported 11.80 spotted hyenas/100 km2. Densities were not noticeably lower at the park edge, and in the southwest of our study site, despite repeated cattle incursions into these areas. We postulate that the relatively high densities of both species in the region could be owed to impala Aepyceros melampus densities ranging from 16.6-25.6 impala/km2. Another, potential explanatory variable (albeit a speculative one) is the absence of interspecific competition from African lions (Panthera leo), which became functionally extinct (there is only one male lion present) in the park nearly two decades ago. This study provides the first robust population estimate of these species anywhere in Uganda and suggests leopards and spotted hyenas continue to persist in the highly modified landscape of Lake Mburo National Park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Braczkowski
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China,Resilient Conservation Group, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia,School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, Western Cape, South Africa
| | | | - Dinal Samarasinghe
- Wildlife Research and Nature Conservation Foundation (WRNCF), Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Duan Biggs
- Resilient Conservation Group, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia,School of Earth and Sustainability. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Az, USA,Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Allie Richardson
- School of Biological Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland
| | | | | | - Arjun Dheer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julien Fattebert
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States,Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Chaka SNM, Kissui BM, Gray S, Montgomery RA. Predicting the fine‐scale factors that correlate with multiple carnivore depredation of livestock in their enclosures. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan N. M. Chaka
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | | | - Steven Gray
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Robert A. Montgomery
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
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