Feeding behaviour of lions (Panthera leo) on a small reserve

Lehmann, Monika B.; Funston, Paul J.; Owen, Cailey R.; Slotow, Rob

doi:10.3957/0379-4369-38.1.66

Cited by 36 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This is consistent with findings from Kruger National Park where GPS data from male and female lions suggest that males were only present with females at 10% of their kills [4]. Indeed, it has become apparent in Southern Africa that male lions hunt successfully and quite often in the absence of female lions [25], [26]. Hence male and female data were analysed separately.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 86%

Seasonal Diet and Prey Preference of the African Lion in a Waterhole-Driven Semi-Arid Savanna

et al. 2013

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Large carnivores inhabiting ecosystems with heterogeneously distributed environmental resources with strong seasonal variations frequently employ opportunistic foraging strategies, often typified by seasonal switches in diet. In semi-arid ecosystems, herbivore distribution is generally more homogeneous in the wet season, when surface water is abundant, than in the dry season when only permanent sources remain. Here, we investigate the seasonal contribution of the different herbivore species, prey preference and distribution of kills (i.e. feeding locations) of African lions in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, a semi-arid African savanna structured by artificial waterholes. We used data from 245 kills and 74 faecal samples. Buffalo consistently emerged as the most frequently utilised prey in all seasons by both male (56%) and female (33%) lions, contributing the most to lion dietary biomass. Jacobs’ index also revealed that buffalo was the most intensively selected species throughout the year. For female lions, kudu and to a lesser extent the group “medium Bovidae” are the most important secondary prey. This study revealed seasonal patterns in secondary prey consumption by female lions partly based on prey ecology with browsers, such as giraffe and kudu, mainly consumed in the early dry season, and grazers, such as zebra and suids, contributing more to female diet in the late dry season. Further, it revealed the opportunistic hunting behaviour of lions for prey as diverse as elephants and mice, with elephants taken mostly as juveniles at the end of the dry season during droughts. Jacobs’ index finally revealed a very strong preference for kills within 2 km from a waterhole for all prey species, except small antelopes, in all seasons. This suggested that surface-water resources form passive traps and contribute to the structuring of lion foraging behaviour.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 86%

Seasonal Diet and Prey Preference of the African Lion in a Waterhole-Driven Semi-Arid Savanna

et al. 2013

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“…These reintroductions have provided aframework within whichimpacts of apex predators on ecosystem dynamics can be tested experimentally. While the impacts of apex predators on prey species have been well documented (Power 2003;Hayward et al 2007b;Hayward, O'Brien & Kerley 2007;Lehmann et al 2008), their influence on the foraging ecology of other carnivores in fenced reserves is not fully understood (Hayward & Kerley 2009;Brassine & Parker 2012). Moreover, very little is known about interspecific interactions between mesocarnivores and large apex predators in South Africa prior to the extirpation of the latter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Large Predators on the Feeding Ecology of Two African Mesocarnivores: The Black-Backed Jackal and the Brown Hyaena

Yarnell

Phipps

Burgess

et al. 2013

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

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Interactions between apex and mesopredators and their impacts on prey populations have been well documented, while the influence of apex predators such as lions on carrion availability and the subsequent impactsatlower trophic levels are not fully understood.Here we assess dietary overlap between two sympatric carnivores (brown hyaena, Parahyaena brunnea,and black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas) in neighbouring reserves with and without apex predators (lions, Panthera leo,and wild dog, Lycaon pictus). We investigate whether apex predators facilitate niche partitioning between mesocarnivores by creating additional scavengingopportunities through predatoryactivity.Wefound that brown hyaena density was higher in the area with apex predators, while black-backed jackal density was higher in the area without apex predators. Black-backed jackal scats contained broadly similar dietary items at both sites, while large mammal remains occurred significantly more frequentlyinbrown hyaena scats collected inthe presenceofapex predators.Inthe absence of apex predators there wasamarkedly higher degree of overlap between brown hyaena and jackal diets, suggesting increased levels of inter-specific competition. Our results suggest that apex predators potentially reduce levels of inter-specific competition for food between mesocarnivores byproviding additional scavenging opportunities for specialist scavengers such as brown hyaena.

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“…The reserve is characterized by a combination of undulating terrain with scattered rocky outcrops, and vegetation dominated by mixed Combretum bushveld (Vanak et al 2013). Between January 2006 and November 2010, seven cheetahs were monitored, five (two males, each in a separate coalition, and three females which were accompanied by young at various times) of which were fitted with very high frequency (VHF) radio-collars (Africa Wildlife Tracking cc; Rietondale, Gauteng, South Africa, incorporating Telonics high-power transmitters; Telonics, Mesa, AZ, U.S.A.) following Lehmann et al (2008) and Vanak et al (2013) on the same reserve. Similarly, we attempted to locate animals twice every day (c. 05:00-09:00 and c. 15:00-19:00) by radio-telemetry (Telonics TR-4 receiver and Telonics RA-2A directional antenna).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine-Scale Differences in Predicted and Observed Cheetah Diet: Does Sexual Dimorphism Matter?

Tambling

Wilson

Bradford³

et al. 2014

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

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Feeding behaviour of lions (Panthera leo) on a small reserve

Cited by 36 publications

References 14 publications

Seasonal Diet and Prey Preference of the African Lion in a Waterhole-Driven Semi-Arid Savanna

Seasonal Diet and Prey Preference of the African Lion in a Waterhole-Driven Semi-Arid Savanna

The Influence of Large Predators on the Feeding Ecology of Two African Mesocarnivores: The Black-Backed Jackal and the Brown Hyaena

Fine-Scale Differences in Predicted and Observed Cheetah Diet: Does Sexual Dimorphism Matter?

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