Diet of the Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) on Former Cattle Grounds in a Tanzanian Savanna

Treydte, Anna C.; Bernasconi, Stefano M.; Kreuzer, Michael; Edwards, Peter J.

doi:10.1644/05-mamm-a-336r2.1

Cited by 52 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…Following abandonment, boma sites often support a nutrient-enriched plant community and potentially alter the spatial pattern of nutrient cycling within the ecosystem. Recently abandoned boma sites in East Africa support unique herbaceous plant communities with nutrient enrichment both in soils and grasses (Stelfox, 1986;Augustine, 2003a;Treydte et al, 2006;Muchiru et al, 2009). Studies in South Africa even suggest that plant communities on abandoned sites of human occupation can persist in a nutrient-enriched state for centuries (Blackmore et al, 1990).…”

Section: Livestock Management and Nutrient Heterogeneitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways for Positive Cattle–Wildlife Interactions in Semiarid Rangelands

Augustine¹,

Veblen²,

Goheen³

et al. 2011

Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology

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ABSTRACT. Livestock-wildlife interactions in rangelands are often viewed in terms of competition, but livestock and native ungulates can also benefit each other through longterm modifications of rangeland habitats. Here we synthesize research on rangelands in central Laikipia focusing on two types of cattle-wildlife interactions that have implications for their long-term coexistence. The first interaction occurs via redistribution of soil nutrients within the ecosystem, which is a consequence of the use of bomas (temporary corrals) to manage livestock. Our studies on two different soil types show that rotational boma management creates hectare-scale patches in the landscape that are enriched in soil and plant nutrients and persist for decades to centuries. In both of the predominant soil types in Laikipia, forage phosphorus content is low relative to ungulate demands during peak lactation. Nutrient-rich boma sites (hereafter referred to as glades) provide a key wet-season forage resource of nutritional sufficiency for lactation. Our studies further show that a wide range of native ungulates selectively use glades relative to surrounding nutrient-poor habitats. Impala (Aepyceros melampus) in particular show intensive use of glades on sandy soils and are rare in portions of the landscape lacking glades. A second important pathway for cattle-wildlife interaction occurs through the influence of native browsing ungulates on woody vegetation. Shrub and tree cover has been increasing in Laikipia over the past century, followed by increases in native browsers in recent decades on ranches where wildlife are allowed to coexist with cattle. Our exclosure experiments in central Laikipia indicate that native browsers suppress shrub encroachment on both dominant soil types. However, the strength of browser effects are three to seven times greater on sandy soils, where two browsers, dik-dik and elephants, are both abundant, compared to heavy clay soils, where elephants are the only dominant browser. In the clay soils, native browsers still exert a significant influence on dynamics of the dominant tree, Acacia drepanolobium, and suppress encroachment by subdominant shrub species. Browser effects on woody vegetation likely enhance forage production for cattle and maintain open habitats favored by native grazers for predator avoidance. Taken together, our studies indicate that boma rotation and browser control of shrub encroachment are key interaction pathways that promote cattle-wildlife coexistence in the Ewaso ecosystem.

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Section: Livestock Management and Nutrient Heterogeneitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways for Positive Cattle–Wildlife Interactions in Semiarid Rangelands

Augustine¹,

Veblen²,

Goheen³

et al. 2011

Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology

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“…Recent studies on the long-term impact of abandoned settlements on the productivity, structure and dynamics of savanna habitats (Muchiru, 1994;Muchiru et al, submitted;Reid and Ellis, 1995;Treydte et al, 2000;Young et al, 1995) add a long-term and ecosystem perspective to the role of pastoralism in the savannas. The growing body of data argues for viewing pastoralism as an integral and dominant element of savanna ecology.…”

Section: Role Of Pastoralism In the Savannasmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of abandoned pastoral settlements in the dynamics of African large herbivore communities

Muchiru

Western

Reid

2008

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…Of these materials, analysis of faeces is amongst the most promising for SIA in wildlife research, because collections do not necessitate interference with animals, and samples are easily obtained over heterogeneous spatiotemporal contexts (Treydte et al 2006;Codron et al 2007;Codron and Codron 2009). Laboratory and field experiments have demonstrated that faecal stable isotope compositions are generally consistent with diet isotope compositions, at least amongst large mammal herbivores (Sponheimer et al 2003;Codron and Codron 2009;Norman et al 2009;Wittmer et al 2010;Codron et al 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking the fate of digesta 13C and 15N compositions along the ruminant gastrointestinal tract: Does digestion influence the relationship between diet and faeces?

et al. 2011

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Faecal stable isotope compositions reflect wildlife diets, if digestive processes along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) do not alter diet-faeces isotopic relationships in an unpredictable way. We investigated 13 C and 15 N compositions of digesta along the ruminant GIT, using Saanen dairy goats kept on pure grass hay or browse for >20 days. Isotopic changes occurred in the ventral rumen, and in the small intestine, where digesta had significantly higher δ 13 C and δ 15 N (associated with lower C or higher N content, respectively) values relative to other GIT sites. However, effects on isotope fractionation were small (∼1.0‰ for δ 13 C and∼2.0‰ for δ 15 N), and were reversed in the hindgut such that faecal isotope compositions did not differ from the foregut. No other substantial isotopic changes occurred across GIT sites, despite the morphophysiological complexity of the ruminant GIT. We found similarly small differences across GIT components of rheem gazelles (Gazella leptoceros) fed a mixture of C 3 lucerne and C 4 grass, although in this case faeces were N abundance is needed. Finally, we note high levels of isotopic variability between individuals fed the same diets, even accounting for the relatively short duration of the experiments, suggesting an important influence of stochasticity on isotope fractionation.

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Diet of the Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) on Former Cattle Grounds in a Tanzanian Savanna

Cited by 52 publications

References 37 publications

Pathways for Positive Cattle–Wildlife Interactions in Semiarid Rangelands

Pathways for Positive Cattle–Wildlife Interactions in Semiarid Rangelands

The role of abandoned pastoral settlements in the dynamics of African large herbivore communities

Tracking the fate of digesta 13C and 15N compositions along the ruminant gastrointestinal tract: Does digestion influence the relationship between diet and faeces?

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