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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Sandoval‐Seres E, Moyo W, Madhlamoto D, Madzikanda H, Blinston P, Kotze R, van der Meer E, Loveridge A. Long‐distance African wild dog dispersal within the
Kavango‐Zambezi
transfrontier conservation area. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Sandoval‐Seres
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology University of Oxford. Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Tubney House Tubney UK
- Painted Dog Conservation Dete Zimbabwe
| | | | - Daphine Madhlamoto
- Scientific Services Main Camp, Hwange National Park Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) Dete Zimbabwe
| | | | | | - Robynne Kotze
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology University of Oxford. Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Tubney House Tubney UK
| | | | - Andrew Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology University of Oxford. Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Tubney House Tubney UK
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van der Meer E, Dullemont H, Chen W, Chang A, Chen C, Pei KJ, Lai Y. Live capture and handling of Taiwanese leopard cats
Prionailurus bengalensis
: an evaluation of trap designs and capture protocol. Wildlife Biology 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wlb3.01032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Esther van der Meer
- Inst. of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Hans Dullemont
- Inst. of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Wen‐Li Chen
- Inst. of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Ai‐Mei Chang
- Inst. of Animal Vaccine Technology, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Chen‐Chih Chen
- Inst. of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Kurtis Jai‐Chyi Pei
- Inst. of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Ching Lai
- Dept of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design, Huafan Univ. New Taipei City Taiwan
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Chen WL, van der Meer E, Pei KJC. Determinants of attitudes towards wildlife in rural Taiwan and its implications for leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) conservation performance payment. Wildl Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/wr21129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Sibanda L, van der Meer E, Hughes C, Macdonald EA, Hunt JE, Parry RH, Dlodlo B, Macdonald DW, Loveridge AJ. Exploring Perceptions of Subsistence Farmers in Northwestern Zimbabwe Towards the African Lion (Panthera leo) in the Context of Local Conservation Actions. African Journal of Wildlife Research 2020. [DOI: 10.3957/056.050.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Courtney Hughes
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Ewan A. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Jane E. Hunt
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Roger H. Parry
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Box 159, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - Bongani Dlodlo
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Box 159, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
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Armstrong EE, Taylor RW, Prost S, Blinston P, van der Meer E, Madzikanda H, Mufute O, Mandisodza-Chikerema R, Stuelpnagel J, Sillero-Zubiri C, Petrov D. Cost-effective assembly of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) genome using linked reads. Gigascience 2019; 8:5140148. [PMID: 30346553 PMCID: PMC6350039 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A high-quality reference genome assembly is a valuable tool for the study of non-model organisms. Genomic techniques can provide important insights about past population sizes and local adaptation and can aid in the development of breeding management plans. This information is important for fields such as conservation genetics, where endangered species require critical and immediate attention. However, funding for genomic-based methods can be sparse for conservation projects, as costs for general species management can consume budgets. Findings Here, we report the generation of high-quality reference genomes for the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) at a low cost (<$3000), thereby facilitating future studies of this endangered canid. We generated assemblies for three individuals using the linked-read 10x Genomics Chromium system. The most continuous assembly had a scaffold and contig N50 of 21 Mb and 83 Kb, respectively, and completely reconstructed 95% of a set of conserved mammalian genes. Additionally, we estimate the heterozygosity and demographic history of African wild dogs, revealing that although they have historically low effective population sizes, heterozygosity remains high. Conclusions We show that 10x Genomics Chromium data can be used to effectively generate high-quality genomes from Illumina short-read data of intermediate coverage (∼25x–50x). Interestingly, the wild dog shows higher heterozygosity than other species of conservation concern, possibly due to its behavioral ecology. The availability of reference genomes for non-model organisms will facilitate better genetic monitoring of threatened species such as the African wild dog and help conservationists to better understand the ecology and adaptability of those species in a changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie E Armstrong
- Program for Conservation Genomics, Department of Biology, 385 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ryan W Taylor
- Program for Conservation Genomics, Department of Biology, 385 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Stefan Prost
- Program for Conservation Genomics, Department of Biology, 385 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, 3040 Valley Life Science Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3140, USA
| | - Peter Blinston
- Painted Dog Conservation, PO Box 72, Dete, 00263, Zimbabwe
| | | | | | - Olivia Mufute
- The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, Corner Sandringham & Borrowdale Roads, Botanical Gardens. Causeway, Harare, 00263, Zimbabwe
| | - Roseline Mandisodza-Chikerema
- The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, Corner Sandringham & Borrowdale Roads, Botanical Gardens. Causeway, Harare, 00263, Zimbabwe
| | - John Stuelpnagel
- 10x Genomics, Inc., 7068 Koll Center Pkwy #401, Pleasanton, CA, 94566, USA
| | - Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Abingdon Road, Tubney House, Tubney, UK014
| | - Dmitri Petrov
- Program for Conservation Genomics, Department of Biology, 385 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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van der Meer E, Lyon N, Mutonhori T, Mandisodza-Chikerema R, Blinston P. Dangerous game: preferential predation on baboons by African wild dogs in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. BEHAVIOUR 2019. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
When selecting prey, carnivores optimise energy gained when consuming prey against energy spent when pursuing and subduing prey. Additionally, predators seem to preferentially predate on prey which presents a low risk of injury. When defending itself against predators, baboons (Papio spp.) can inflict serious injury and cause mortality. Although part of Africa’s large carnivores’ diet, predation on baboons is usually avoided. We investigated prey selection patterns of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Based on direct and indirect observations and analyses of faecal samples, we show that baboons form a substantial part of the African wild dog diet and were more frequently predated on than would be expected based on availability. Predation on baboons did not vary over baboon sex or age classes but was affected by seasonality. This is the first study to describe a preference for predation on this unusual prey species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nick Lyon
- bBBC Natural History Unit, P.O. Box 194, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Mutonhori
- aPainted Dog Conservation, P.O. Box 72, Dete, Zimbabwe
- cZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, P.O. Box CY140, Harare, Zimbabwe
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8
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Weise FJ, Vijay V, Jacobson AP, Schoonover RF, Groom RJ, Horgan J, Keeping D, Klein R, Marnewick K, Maude G, Melzheimer J, Mills G, van der Merwe V, van der Meer E, van Vuuren RJ, Wachter B, Pimm SL. The distribution and numbers of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in southern Africa. PeerJ 2017; 5:e4096. [PMID: 29250465 PMCID: PMC5729830 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the numbers and distribution of threatened species is a central challenge in conservation, often made difficult because the species of concern are rare and elusive. For some predators, this may be compounded by their being sparsely distributed over large areas. Such is the case with the cheetah Acinonyx jubatus. The IUCN Red List process solicits comments, is democratic, transparent, widely-used, and has recently assessed the species. Here, we present additional methods to that process and provide quantitative approaches that may afford greater detail and a benchmark against which to compare future assessments. The cheetah poses challenges, but also affords unique opportunities. It is photogenic, allowing the compilation of thousands of crowd-sourced data. It is also persecuted for killing livestock, enabling estimation of local population densities from the numbers persecuted. Documented instances of persecution in areas with known human and livestock density mean that these data can provide an estimate of where the species may or may not occur in areas without observational data. Compilations of extensive telemetry data coupled with nearly 20,000 additional observations from 39 sources show that free-ranging cheetahs were present across approximately 789,700 km2 of Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe (56%, 22%, 12% and 10% respectively) from 2010 to 2016, with an estimated adult population of 3,577 animals. We identified a further 742,800 km2 of potential cheetah habitat within the study region with low human and livestock densities, where another ∼3,250 cheetahs may occur. Unlike many previous estimates, we make the data available and provide explicit information on exactly where cheetahs occur, or are unlikely to occur. We stress the value of gathering data from public sources though these data were mostly from well-visited protected areas. There is a contiguous, transboundary population of cheetah in southern Africa, known to be the largest in the world. We suggest that this population is more threatened than believed due to the concentration of about 55% of free-ranging individuals in two ecoregions. This area overlaps with commercial farmland with high persecution risk; adult cheetahs were removed at the rate of 0.3 individuals per 100 km2 per year. Our population estimate for confirmed cheetah presence areas is 11% lower than the IUCN's current assessment for the same region, lending additional support to the recent call for the up-listing of this species from vulnerable to endangered status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian J. Weise
- CLAWS Conservancy, Worcester, MA, United States of America
- Center for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Varsha Vijay
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Andrew P. Jacobson
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Rebecca F. Schoonover
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Rosemary J. Groom
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs, The Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- African Wildlife Conservation Fund, Chishakwe Ranch, Savé Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe
| | - Jane Horgan
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Derek Keeping
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rebecca Klein
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Kelly Marnewick
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Glyn Maude
- Kalahari Research and Conservation, Maun, Botswana
- Department of Conservation and Research, Denver Zoological Foundation, Denver, CO, United States of America
| | - Jörg Melzheimer
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gus Mills
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Lewis Foundation, South Africa
| | - Vincent van der Merwe
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Esther van der Meer
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Cheetah Conservation Project Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - Rudie J. van Vuuren
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- N/a’an ku sê Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Bettina Wachter
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stuart L. Pimm
- Big Cats Initiative, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
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Durant SM, Mitchell N, Groom R, Pettorelli N, Ipavec A, Jacobson AP, Woodroffe R, Böhm M, Hunter LTB, Becker MS, Broekhuis F, Bashir S, Andresen L, Aschenborn O, Beddiaf M, Belbachir F, Belbachir-Bazi A, Berbash A, Brandao de Matos Machado I, Breitenmoser C, Chege M, Cilliers D, Davies-Mostert H, Dickman AJ, Ezekiel F, Farhadinia MS, Funston P, Henschel P, Horgan J, de Iongh HH, Jowkar H, Klein R, Lindsey PA, Marker L, Marnewick K, Melzheimer J, Merkle J, M'soka J, Msuha M, O'Neill H, Parker M, Purchase G, Sahailou S, Saidu Y, Samna A, Schmidt-Küntzel A, Selebatso E, Sogbohossou EA, Soultan A, Stone E, van der Meer E, van Vuuren R, Wykstra M, Young-Overton K. The global decline of cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and what it means for conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:528-533. [PMID: 28028225 PMCID: PMC5255576 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1611122114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing and maintaining protected areas (PAs) are key tools for biodiversity conservation. However, this approach is insufficient for many species, particularly those that are wide-ranging and sparse. The cheetah Acinonyx jubatus exemplifies such a species and faces extreme challenges to its survival. Here, we show that the global population is estimated at ∼7,100 individuals and confined to 9% of its historical distributional range. However, the majority of current range (77%) occurs outside of PAs, where the species faces multiple threats. Scenario modeling shows that, where growth rates are suppressed outside PAs, extinction rates increase rapidly as the proportion of population protected declines. Sensitivity analysis shows that growth rates within PAs have to be high if they are to compensate for declines outside. Susceptibility of cheetah to rapid decline is evidenced by recent rapid contraction in range, supporting an uplisting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List threat assessment to endangered. Our results are applicable to other protection-reliant species, which may be subject to systematic underestimation of threat when there is insufficient information outside PAs. Ultimately, conserving many of these species necessitates a paradigm shift in conservation toward a holistic approach that incentivizes protection and promotes sustainable human-wildlife coexistence across large multiple-use landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Durant
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom;
- Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY 10460
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Mitchell
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY 10460
| | - Rosemary Groom
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY 10460
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Audrey Ipavec
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY 10460
| | - Andrew P Jacobson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department of Geography, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Rosie Woodroffe
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Monika Böhm
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Matthew S Becker
- Zambian Carnivore Programme, Mfuwe, Zambia
- Conservation Biology and Ecology Program, Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717
| | - Femke Broekhuis
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13 5QL, United Kingdom
- Mara Cheetah Project, Kenya Wildlife Trust, Kenya
| | - Sultana Bashir
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Leah Andresen
- Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
| | - Ortwin Aschenborn
- Bwabwata Ecological Institute, Susuwe Park Station, Zambezi Region, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia
| | - Mohammed Beddiaf
- Office National du Parc Culturel du Tassili N'Ajjer, Djanet, Algeria
| | - Farid Belbachir
- Laboratoire d'Écologie et Environnement, Université de Béjaïa, Béjaïa, Algeria
| | - Amel Belbachir-Bazi
- Laboratoire d'Écologie et Environnement, Université de Béjaïa, Béjaïa, Algeria
| | - Ali Berbash
- Nature Conservation Department, Environment General Authority (EGA), Tripoli, Libya
| | | | - Christine Breitenmoser
- Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management (KORA), 3074 Muri, Switzerland
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature/Species Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group, 3074 Muri, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Amy J Dickman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13 5QL, United Kingdom
| | - Fabiano Ezekiel
- Department of Wildlife Management and Ecotourism, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Mohammad S Farhadinia
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13 5QL, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Jane Horgan
- Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Hans H de Iongh
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Houman Jowkar
- Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Tehran 15856-86341, Iran
- Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Program, Department of Environment, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | | | | | - Joerg Melzheimer
- Department Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jassiel M'soka
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Chilanga, Zambia
| | - Maurus Msuha
- Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Helen O'Neill
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Parker
- Working Dogs for Conservation, Bozeman, MT 59771
| | - Gianetta Purchase
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Samaila Sahailou
- Direction de la Faune, de la Chasse et des Aires Protégées, Niamey, Niger
| | - Yohanna Saidu
- Nigeria National Park Service, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Abdoulkarim Samna
- Direction de la Faune, de la Chasse et des Aires Protégées, Niamey, Niger
| | | | | | | | | | - Emma Stone
- Carnivore Research Malawi, Conservation Research Africa, Lilongwe, Malawi
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Meer EVD, Badza MN, Ndhlovu A. Large Carnivores as Tourism Flagship Species for the Zimbabwe Component of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. African Journal of Wildlife Research 2016. [DOI: 10.3957/056.046.0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Esther van der Meer
- Cheetah Conservation Project Zimbabwe, P.O. Box 204, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - Muchaneta N. Badza
- National University of Science and Technology, Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, P.O. Box AC 939, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
| | - Aldwin Ndhlovu
- National University of Science and Technology, Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, P.O. Box AC 939, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
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11
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van der Meer E, van Oers K. Gender and Personality Differences in Response to Social Stressors in Great Tits (Parus major). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127984. [PMID: 26011633 PMCID: PMC4444083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to stressors, animals can increase the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, resulting in elevated glucocorticoid concentrations. An increase in glucocorticoids results in an increase in heterophils and a decrease in lymphocytes, which ratio (H/L-ratio) is an indicator of stress in birds. The physiological response to a stressor can depend on individual characteristics, like dominance rank, sex and personality. Although the isolated effects of these characteristics on the response to a stressor have been well studied, little is known about the response in relation to a combination of these characteristics. In this study we investigate the relationship between social stress, dominance rank, sex and exploratory behaviour as a validated operational measure of personality in great tits (Parus major). Great tits show consistent individual differences in behaviour and physiology in response to stressors, and exploratory behaviour can be classified as fast or slow exploring. We group-housed four birds, two fast and two slow explorers, of the same sex that were previously singly housed, in an aviary and compared the H/L-ratio, lymphocyte and heterophil count before and after group housing. After experiencing the social context all birds increased their H/L-ratio and heterophil count. Females showed a stronger increase in H/L-ratio and heterophil count than males, which seemed to be related to a higher number of agonistic interactions compared to males. Dominance rank and exploration type did not affect the H/L-ratio or heterophil count. Contrary to our expectations, all birds increased their lymphocyte count. However, this increase was slower for fast than for slow explorers. Our study suggests that personality and sex related differences, but not dominance rank, are associated with changes in an individual's physiological response due to a social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther van der Meer
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Cheetah Conservation Project Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Predators not only prey upon certain prey species, but also on certain age–sex classes within species. Predation risk and an individual’s response to this risk might therefore vary with an individual’s characteristics. We examined the proportion of time different age–sex classes of kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and impala (Aepyceros melampus) spent high quality vigilant (costly vigilance that detracts from all other activities) in response to mimicked predation risk by African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). For both species predation risk was the main factor determining the investment in high quality vigilance behaviour. Age–sex class-specific responses were not related to age–sex class specific lethality risk presented by African wild dogs. For impala, regardless of predation risk, age seemed to have some effect on the investment in high quality vigilance with sub-adult impala spending more time high quality vigilant than adult impala, which is possibly why African wild dogs predominantly preyed upon adult impala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther van der Meer
- Painted Dog Conservation, Hwange National Park, P.O. Box 72, Dete, Zimbabwe
- Université de Lyon, CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 UMR 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Băt Gregor Mendel, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Hervé Fritz
- Université de Lyon, CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 UMR 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Băt Gregor Mendel, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
- CNRS HERD program, Hwange National Park, P.O. Box 62, Dete, Zimbabwe
| | - Olivier Pays
- CNRS HERD program, Hwange National Park, P.O. Box 62, Dete, Zimbabwe
- Université d’Angers–UFR Sciences, Groupe Ecologie et Biologie de la Conservation Campus de Belle-Beille, 2 Bd Lavoisier, F-49045 Angers, France
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van der Meer E, Mpofu J, Rasmussen GS, Fritz H. Characteristics of African wild dog natal dens selected under different interspecific predation pressures. Mamm Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2013.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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van der Meer E, Rasmussen GS, Muvengwi J, Fritz H. Foraging costs, hunting success and its implications for African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) conservation inside and outside a protected area. Afr J Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Esther van der Meer
- Painted Dog Conservation; P.O. Box 72 Dete Zimbabwe
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive; Bât Gregor Mendel; Universite′ Claude Bernard Lyon 1 UMR 5558; 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918 Villeurbanne Cedex 69622 France
| | | | - Justice Muvengwi
- Department of Environmental Science; Bindura University of Science Education; P.Bag 1020 Bindura Zimbabwe
| | - Hervé Fritz
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive; Bât Gregor Mendel; Universite′ Claude Bernard Lyon 1 UMR 5558; 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918 Villeurbanne Cedex 69622 France
- CNRS HERD Project; P.O.Box 62 Dete Zimbabwe
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