Geophagic termite mounds as one of the resources for African elephants in Ugalla Game Reserve, Western Tanzania

Kalumanga, Elikana; Mpanduji, D. G.; Cousins, Sara A. O.

doi:10.1111/aje.12326

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Finally, termite mounds which are consumed by elephants within the Mimbo ecosystem of the Ugalla Game reserve, Tanzania, contained more minerals than termite mounds which are not used for geophagy (Kalumanga, Mpanduji & Cousins, 2017). Amounts of each mineral correlated with each other, making it impossible to distinguish a single vs multiple specific driver(s) underlying geophagy.…”

Section: Elephant Nutritional Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs

Sach

Dierenfeld

Langley‐Evans

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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BackgroundThe increasing human population and global intensification of agriculture have had a major impact on the world’s natural ecosystems and caused devastating effects on populations of mega-herbivores such as the African savanna elephants, through habitat reduction and fragmentation and increased human–animal conflict. Animals with vast home ranges are forced into increasingly smaller geographical areas, often restricted by fencing or encroaching anthropogenic activities, resulting in huge pressures on these areas to meet the animals’ resource needs. This can present a nutritional challenge and cause animals to adapt their movement patterns to meet their dietary needs for specific minerals, potentially causing human–animal conflict. The aim of this review is to consolidate understanding of nutritional drivers for animal movement, especially that of African savanna elephants and focus the direction of future research. Peer reviewed literature available was generally geographically specific and studies conducted on isolated populations of individual species. African savanna elephants have the capacity to extensively alter the landscape and have been more greatly studied than other herbivores, making them a good example species to use for this review. Alongside this, their movement choices, potentially linked with nutritional drivers could be applicable to a range of other species. Relevant case study examples of other herbivores moving based on nutritional needs are discussed.MethodsThree databases were searched in this review: Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, using identified search terms. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined and applied as required. Additional grey literature was reviewed as appropriate.ResultsInitial searches yielded 1,870 records prior to application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A less detailed review of grey literature, and additional peer-reviewed literature which did not meet the inclusion criteria but was deemed relevant by the authors was also conducted to ensure thorough coverage of the subject.DiscussionA review of peer reviewed literature was undertaken to examine nutritional drivers for African elephant movement, exploring documented examples from free-ranging African savanna elephants and, where relevant, other herbivore species. This could help inform prediction or mitigation of human–elephant conflict, potentially when animals move according to nutritional needs, and related drivers for this movement. In addition, appropriate grey literature was included to capture current research.

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Section: Elephant Nutritional Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amounts of each mineral correlated with each other, making it impossible to distinguish a single vs multiple specific driver(s) underlying geophagy. However, it is clear that mineral-rich termite mounds are being selected for consumption over less mineral-rich termite mounds (Kalumanga, Mpanduji & Cousins, 2017).…”

Section: Elephant Nutritional Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs

Sach

Dierenfeld

Langley‐Evans

et al. 2019

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Soils of termite mounds are richer in mineral elements compared with other soils (Kalumanga et al 2017). As a rule, they are rich in nutrients, particular calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and available phosphorus.…”

Section: Use Of Termite Mounds For Other Purposesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic and ecological importance of termites: A global review

Govorushko

2018

Entomological Science

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In this review article, the positive and negative impacts of termites on ecosystems and human activities are examined. Various ecosystem services provided by termites – their importance as a food resource for humans, wildlife and domestic animals – are discussed, along with the use of these insects in scientific research and in folk and traditional medicine. Some insufficiently studied properties of termites (their ability to perceive the radiation of radioactive substances, electric fields and magnetic fields), as well as the use of termites in bionics, are described. Special attention is paid to the use of termite mounds for different purposes (e.g. in mineral deposit searches, in medical applications, as furnaces for copper smelting, for storage of some nuts, as burial sites, for gathering of edible mushrooms of the genus Termitomyces and as fertilizer). Examples of such use in different countries are given. This article reviews the activities of termites as pests of agriculture and forestry, including crops that are most affected, and termites as structural pests (e.g. wooden structures, household furniture, books and museum collections). Examples of termites’ malicious activities in different parts of the world are provided. Information on the invasions of termites is given, and the main areas of expansion of their habitat are described. The economic loss caused by termites in some countries and the world as a whole are presented. The article also lists the most economically important termite species in the world.

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“…Finally, termite mounds which are consumed by elephants within the Mimbo ecosystem of the Ugalla Game reserve, Tanzania, contained more minerals than termite mounds which are not used for geophagy (Kalumanga, Mpanduji & Cousins, 2017). Amounts of each mineral correlated with each other, making it impossible to distinguish a single versus multiple specific driver(s) underlying geophagy.…”

Section: Manuscript To Be Reviewedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amounts of each mineral correlated with each other, making it impossible to distinguish a single versus multiple specific driver(s) underlying geophagy. However, it is clear that mineral-rich termite mounds are being selected for consumption over less mineral-rich termite mounds (Kalumanga, Mpanduji & Cousins, 2017).…”

Section: Manuscript To Be Reviewedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #3 of "African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs (v0.1)"

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background. The increasing human population and global intensification of agriculture have had a major impact on the world's natural ecosystems and caused devastating effects on populations of megaherbivores such as the African savanna elephants, through habitat reduction and fragmentation and increased human-animal conflict. Animals with vast home ranges are forced into increasingly smaller geographical areas, often restricted by fencing or encroaching anthropogenic activities, resulting in huge pressures on these areas to meet the animals' resource needs. This can present a nutritional challenge and cause animals to adapt their movement patterns to meet their dietary needs for specific minerals, potentially causing human-animal conflict. The aim of this review is to consolidate understanding of nutritional drivers for animal movement, especially that of African savanna elephants, and focus the direction of future research. Peer reviewed literature available was generally geographically specific and studies conducted on isolated populations of individual species. African savanna elephants have the capacity to extensively alter the landscape and have been more greatly studied than other herbivores, making them a good example species to use for this review. Alongside this, their movement choices, potentially linked with nutritional drivers could be applicable to a range of other species. Relevant case study examples of other herbivores moving based on nutritional needs are discussed. Methods. Three databases were searched in this review: Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using identified search terms. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined and applied as required. Additional grey literature was reviewed as appropriate. Results. Initial searches yielded 1,870 records prior to application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A less detailed review of grey literature, and additional peer-reviewed literature which did not meet the inclusion criteria but was deemed relevant by the authors was also conducted to ensure thorough coverage of the subject. Discussion. A review of peer reviewed literature was undertaken to examine nutritional drivers for African elephant movement, exploring documented examples from free-ranging African savanna elephants and, where relevant, other herbivore species. This could help inform prediction or mitigation of human-elephant conflict, potentially when animals move according to nutritional needs, and related drivers for this movement. In addition, appropriate grey literature was included to capture current research.

show abstract

Geophagic termite mounds as one of the resources for African elephants in Ugalla Game Reserve, Western Tanzania

Cited by 11 publications

References 34 publications

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs

Economic and ecological importance of termites: A global review

Peer Review #3 of "African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs (v0.1)"

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