Scent-marking strategies of a solitary carnivore: boundary and road scent marking in the leopard

Rafiq, Kasim; Jordan, Neil R.; Meloro, Carlo; Wilson, Alan M.; Hayward, Matt W.; Wich, Serge A.; McNutt, J. Weldon

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.12.016

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…At finer spatial scales, hyena latrine use was also consistent with our prediction of an economical marking strategy. Specifically, we found that latrines in this ecosystem were frequently located along human-made unsealed roads, which is consistent with other species in this environment (leopard, Panthera pardus, Rafiq et al 2020), and elsewhere (e.g. Iberian wolf, Barja et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…brown bear Ursus arctos horribilis rubbing trees, McTavish and Gibeau 2010). Thus, road creation may not only influence animal patterns and space use (reviewed by Trombulak and Frissell 2000), but may also impact animal communication systems (Krofel et al 2017;Rafiq et al 2020). In this context however, it worth considering the possible origin of road-related marking behavior in this and other species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…roads, boundaries) may funnel movements and consequently influence scent-marking (e.g. Krofel et al 2017;Rafiq et al 2020) and latrine placement (Barja et al 2004). Furthermore, in landscapes modified by human activities, anthropogenic noise may disrupt acoustic communication in a range of species and environments (reviewed in Brumm 2013).…”

Section: Significance Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and seasonal patterns of communal latrine use by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) reflect a seasonal resource defense strategy

Vitale

Jordan

Gilfillan

et al. 2020

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Communal marking sites, or latrines, appear to play an important role in intraspecific communication and social dynamics in a wide range of mammal species. The spatial distribution of latrines can provide clues to their function, and has been well documented in a number of species. Latrine use may vary considerably through time, however, and a more comprehensive approach to their study that considers spatial and seasonal patterns of use is required to understand more fully the costs and benefits of latrine use, and hence their adaptive significance.This study investigated spatial and seasonal patterns of latrine use by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in northern Botswana, examining their potential role in resource defense. Latrine characteristics and hyena activity were monitored to test the influence of season and location (relative to clan territories and roads) on latrine use. We conducted monthly scat counts (at 78 latrines) and continuously recorded hyena visitation (to 50 latrines) in five clan home ranges, demonstrating clear seasonal patterns in latrine use. Latrines were smaller in the wet season (November-March), resulting from fewer visits by hyenas, reduced scat accumulation, and the seasonal activity of coprophagous beetles. We speculate that such a seasonal pattern may be driven by reduced competition for food during the wet season. Latrines located within core clan areas were no larger or more frequently used than those in home-range boundary areas, but hyenas did preferentially place latrines alongside roads, and were more likely to re-use road-side latrines in subsequent years. This pattern was not due to observer detection bias, and adds to the growing body of literature on the impact that roads and other anthropogenic features have on the communication and movement ecology of wild animals.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Significance Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and seasonal patterns of communal latrine use by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) reflect a seasonal resource defense strategy

Vitale

Jordan

Gilfillan

et al. 2020

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…Cheetahs visited marking sites more frequently compared with leopards, but leopards may be more flexible in marking as they exhibit a boundary scent‐marking strategy (Bothma & Coertze, 2004; Rafiq et al, 2020). Cheetahs may also need to return quicker to marking sites as it is suggested that cheetah marking fluid loses its attraction to conspecifics after only 24 hours (Eaton, 1974).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal sharing and partitioning of scent‐marking sites by cheetahs and leopards in north‐central Namibia

et al. 2021

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Scent‐marking sites may facilitate interspecific information gathering and could help to minimise the risk of encounter with interspecific competitors. Recent evidence from South Africa shows that cheetahs avoid dominant predators at scent‐marking sites, which may delay or inhibit intraspecific communication in cheetahs. However, little is known on whether this pattern of avoidance occurs elsewhere in the cheetah's range. We analysed a 9‐year camera trap data set from north‐central Namibia to explore interspecific use of marking sites by cheetahs and leopards. We documented frequent sharing of marking sites, which was likely facilitated through temporal segregation and by availability of alternative sites that were species‐specific. We did not identify a stronger avoidance response of cheetahs to leopards than to conspecifics, suggesting that delayed communication by cheetahs resulting from predator avoidance may be limited in our study area. Seasonality affected patterns of marking site visitation, which may be attributed to behavioural changes in relation to reproduction or resource availability, or to differential detectability of olfactory cues among seasons. We recommend further research to better understand carnivore scent‐marking, including behavioural responses to olfactory cues and environmental conditions, as well as intra‐ and interpopulation differences.

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“…For example, some habitat features operate as attractors and increase local space use, such as riparian vegetation for brown bears ( Ursus arctos ) ( 31 ). Scent-marking sites of carnivores, such as Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ) ( 32 ), Sunda clouded leopard ( Neofelis diardi ) ( 33 ), leopard ( Panthera pardus ) ( 34 ), snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) ( 35 ), gray wolf ( 36 , 37 ), spotted hyena ( 38 ), and European badger ( Meles meles ) ( 39 ), are often frequently visited, can include conspicuous locations such as latrines, and are distributed unevenly across the landscape, particularly when linked to key habitat features ( 32 ), and can include conspicuous locations such as latrines. Even more pronounced causes for concentrated space use, ubiquitous among carnivores, are dens and other breeding sites during the period when juveniles are immobile ( 38 , 40 – 43 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication hubs of an asocial cat are the source of a human–carnivore conflict and key to its solution

Melzheimer

Heinrich

Wasiolka

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Human–wildlife conflicts occur worldwide. Although many nonlethal mitigation solutions are available, they rarely use the behavioral ecology of the conflict species to derive effective and long-lasting solutions. Here, we use a long-term study with 106 GPS-collared free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to demonstrate how new insights into the socio-spatial organization of this species provide the key for such a solution. GPS-collared territory holders marked and defended communication hubs (CHs) in the core area of their territories. The CHs/territories were distributed in a regular pattern across the landscape such that they were not contiguous with each other but separated by a surrounding matrix. They were kept in this way by successive territory holders, thus maintaining this overdispersed distribution. The CHs were also visited by nonterritorial cheetah males and females for information exchange, thus forming hotspots of cheetah activity and presence. We hypothesized that the CHs pose an increased predation risk to young calves for cattle farmers in Namibia. In an experimental approach, farmers shifted cattle herds away from the CHs during the calving season. This drastically reduced their calf losses by cheetahs because cheetahs did not follow the herds but instead preyed on naturally occurring local wildlife prey in the CHs. This implies that in the cheetah system, there are “problem areas,” the CHs, rather than “problem individuals.” The incorporation of the behavioral ecology of conflict species opens promising areas to search for solutions in other conflict species with nonhomogenous space use.

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Scent-marking strategies of a solitary carnivore: boundary and road scent marking in the leopard

Abstract: The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the record. Please see the repository URL above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.

Cited by 21 publications

References 41 publications

Spatial and seasonal patterns of communal latrine use by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) reflect a seasonal resource defense strategy

Spatial and seasonal patterns of communal latrine use by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) reflect a seasonal resource defense strategy

Spatiotemporal sharing and partitioning of scent‐marking sites by cheetahs and leopards in north‐central Namibia

Communication hubs of an asocial cat are the source of a human–carnivore conflict and key to its solution

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