Directedeness, correlations, and daily cycles in springbok motion: From data via stochastic models to movement prediction

Physical Review Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(4)

Published: Nov. 7, 2023

How predictable is the next move of an animal? Specifically, which factors govern short- and long-term motion patterns overall dynamics land-bound, plant-eating animals in general ruminants particular? To answer this question, we here study movement springbok antelopes Antidorcas marsupialis. We propose several complementary statistical-analysis techniques combined with machine-learning approaches to analyze---across multiple time scales---the recorded GPS tracking collared springboks at a private wildlife reserve Namibia. As result, are able predict within hour certainty about 20%. The remaining 80% stochastic nature induced by unaccounted modeling algorithm individual behavioral features springboks. find that directedness contributes approximately 17% predicted fraction. measure for directedeness strongly dependent on daily cycle activity. previously known affinity their water points, as from our algorithm, accounts only 3% deterministic component motion. Moreover, resting points found affect least much formally studied effects points. generality these statements underlying reasons other can be examined basis tools future.

Language: Английский

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Savanna resilience to droughts increases with the proportion of browsing wild herbivores and plant functional diversity

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60(2), P. 251 - 262

Published: Jan. 30, 2023

Abstract Maintaining the resilience and functionality of savannas is key to sustaining ecosystem services they provide. This maintenance largely dependent on stressors, such as prolonged droughts. The drought determined by interaction herbivores functional composition vegetation. So far, our understanding ability predict response under different types rangeland use a function vegetation are still limited. In this study, we used ecohydrological, spatially‐explicit savanna model EcoHyD determine if towards droughts can be enhanced choice type (grazer‐dominated, mixed‐feeders or browser‐dominated) animal density. We evaluated Namibian system withstand recover from based its perennial grass cover overall species composition. Generally, low high grazer densities. Most importantly, found that diversification plants acted insurance against droughts, leading greater resistance recovery grasses. particular, higher proportion allowed for resilience, probably also due short‐term switch more drought‐resistant unpalatable species. case, herbivore was self‐regulatory value reestablishing trophic complexity, reducing need additional management interventions. Synthesis applications : Savanna systems will resistant (i) dense maintained, protecting topsoil heat‐induced water losses erosion, encompassing functionally important particularly well adapted stress palatable, (ii) grazing pressure adjusted productivity system, (iii) community includes browsers.

Language: Английский

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Wildlife Fences to Mitigate Human–Wildlife Conflicts in Africa: A Literature Analysis

Diversity, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 87 - 87

Published: Jan. 25, 2025

The deployment of wildlife fences in Africa serves as a crucial intervention to balance conservation with human safety and agricultural productivity. This review synthesizes current research case studies provide comprehensive understanding the implications, benefits, drawbacks fencing Africa. Information was drawn from 54 articles selected through thorough search Web Science Scopus databases. Results indicate that primary reason for mitigation human–wildlife conflicts. Electric were most commonly mentioned type, prominently used protect lands crop-raiding species. In addition, prevention livestock depredation disease transmission also an important driver fencing. Elephants studied species concerning fencing, they caused damage fences, creating pathways other move beyond protected areas. Antelopes large carnivores common targets fences. Fences found be effective mainly against crop raiding particularly when well-maintained frequent inspections damages permeability. Several authors documented challenges primates, burrowers, high-jumping like leopards. cost varied depending on materials, design, maintenance, significantly impacting local communities near Despite their posed ecological challenges, such habitat fragmentation restricted animal movement, necessitating integrated management approaches include corridors crossing structures. provides insights policymakers conservationists optimize use diverse environmental contexts African continent.

Language: Английский

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Two decades of One Health in action: Enabling sustainable wildlife conservation and livestock production in southern Africa

CABI One Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 16, 2025

Abstract The AHEAD (Animal & Human Health for the Environment And Development) program was launched in 2003 at IUCN World Parks Congress Durban, South Africa. We defined our mission as serving “a convening, facilitative mechanism, working to create enabling environments that allow different and often competing sectors literally come same table find collaborative ways forward address challenges interface of wildlife health, livestock human health livelihoods.” continue on this more than 20 years later, convening stakeholders, helping delineate conceptual frameworks underpin planning, management research, providing technical support resources projects stakeholders identify priorities. As one first applied One programs, work is premised upon fact challenge managing transboundary animal diseases (TADs) lies heart whether transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) will succeed or fail their aspirations become ecologically resilient land-use entities required long-term delivery poverty alleviation related development well biodiversity benefits. Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area’s (KAZA’s) remaining key corridors, needed populations survive thrive generations come, be blocked by veterinary cordon fences, urgency improving regional disease cannot overstated. This especially relevant those European donors TFCAs whose nations set up fencing-based system place – starting 1950s when today’s KAZA partner countries were colonies protectorates. prevailing fencing paradigm rooted colonial era, but with impacts KAZA’s have persisted present. If we help all within a given TFCA actually co-manage threats sector value highly culturally, economically, politically then how can expect significant progress terms fostering habitat connectivity across international boundaries? When country fears they believe know are border, lower perceived actual risks vision restoring migrations through removal segments most environmentally damaging fences? continues these challenges, recent sectorally integrative approaches reasons cautious optimism. impact statement What arguably program, Durban year before us led drafting Manhattan Principles ‘One World, Health’ (Cook et al ., 2004 ). has recently marked its 20th anniversary, some introspection certainly seems prudent. Our goal, raison d’etre , been serve ‘a livelihoods’ (available at: http://cornell-ahead.org convene provide AHEAD’s framing recognises need look disease, environment together, while always taking region’s socio-economic, political, policy context into account.

Language: Английский

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Ranging behaviours across ecological and anthropogenic disturbance gradients: a pan-African perspective of giraffe ( Giraffa spp . ) space use

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(2001)

Published: June 26, 2023

Animal movement behaviours are shaped by diverse factors, including resource availability and human impacts on the landscape. We generated home range estimates daily rate for 148 giraffe ( Giraffa spp . ) from all four species across Africa to evaluate effects of environmental productivity anthropogenic disturbance space use. Using continuous time modelling framework a novel application mixed meta-regression, we summarized overall use tested impact 95% autocorrelated kernel density estimate (AKDE) size movement. The mean AKDE was 356.4 km 2 14.1 km, both with marginally significant differences species. found negative availability, positive heterogeneity protected area overlap size. There were movements Our results provide unique insights into interactive development large-bodied browser highlight potential rapidly changing landscapes animal space-use patterns.

Language: Английский

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Feral horses and pronghorn: a test of the forage maturation hypothesis in an arid shrubland

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 210, P. 55 - 61

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

Language: Английский

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Effects of fences and fence gaps on the movement behavior of three southern African antelope species

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 3

Published: Oct. 20, 2022

Globally, migratory ungulates are affected by fences. While field observational studies reveal the amount of animal–fence interactions across taxa, GPS tracking-based uncover fence effects on movement patterns and habitat selection. However, direct fences gaps behavior, especially based high-frequency tracking data, scarce. We used three common African antelopes ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros , Antidorcas marsupialis T. oryx ) with strategies ranging from range residency to nomadism in a semi-arid, Namibian savanna traversed wildlife-proof that elephants have regularly breached. classified major forms ungulate–fence interaction types seasonal daily scale. Furthermore, we recorded distances times spent at regarding total individual space use. Based this, analyzed animals’ behavior for previously defined interactions. Antelope-fence peaked during early hours day transitions when limiting resource changed between water forage. Major were quick, trace-like, or marked halts. found time was highest nomadic eland. Migratory springbok adjusted their use concerning gap positions. If small home ranges sedentary kudu included fence, they frequently interacted this fence. For eland, distance traveled along declined increasing utilization gap. All species reduced speed proximity but often increased encountering Crossing led speeds all species. demonstrate mainly occur crucial foraging (seasonal scale) directed movements (daily scale). Importantly, provide evidence directly alter antelope behaviors negative implications energy budgets persistent can reduce intensity such alterations. Our findings help guide future insights wildlife fencing planning.

Language: Английский

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Fencing affects movement patterns of two large carnivores in Southern Africa

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: June 9, 2023

The erection of peripheral fences around protected areas has been shown to adversely affect the movement behavior, genetic connectivity and long-term viability animal populations. However, fencing is also used extensively reduce human encroachment, limit poaching activities, mitigate human–wildlife conflicts. Limited information on behavior carnivores available along periphery areas, particularly in semi-arid environments. To quantify potential effects 824 km perimeter fence surrounding Etosha National Park (Etosha, Namibia) space use carnivores, we collected GPS data from 36 lions ( Panthera leo ) seven spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta over a 14-year period. For these two apex measured impact their movements (step lengths path straightness), calculated likelihood crossings, evaluated spatial–temporal characteristics crossings. Our results indicated that moved faster (longer step lengths) when closer fence. Lions showed no variation straightness with respect but had straighter paths When moving within vicinity fence, 9% crossing while were much more likely (18%) do so, which suggests was permeable for than lions. Fence crossings predominantly occurred at night both species. cross during cold dry season (May–August) whereas crossed often warm wet (December–April). Female adult higher probability males subadults. These findings could be useful development appropriate strategies human–carnivore conflicts thus promote conservation multiple-use park. Further research needed better elucidate broader suite other large mammals, including species-specific response fences, as well economic benefits provided local communities.

Language: Английский

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Carnivore exclosures to protect sheep affect the distribution of a wild cervid

Wildlife Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 9, 2024

With the recent recovery of large carnivores in Europe, preventive measures to protect livestock are on rise. Fences that exclude from grazing areas have been proven as effective, but they can be costly well posing a barrier for wildlife. We studied effect exclosures > 10 km 2 sheep Ovis aries distribution and density moose Alces alces using fecal pellet group counts two study southeastern Norway. During summer season, fences were powered. Outside one exclosure remained fenced while other fence was demounted. This quasi‐experimental setting allowed us investigate whether had moose, and/or affected by interactions with (competition or facilitation) (refuge hypothesis). winter, about equal inside outside demounted wire strands, less than half permanently compared outside, indicating potential fragmentation fence. when strands powered, doubled both exclosures. Moose may sought refuge fences. Fecal densities neither positively (facilitation) nor negatively (competition) correlated. However, used young forest, most habitat type sheep, lesser extent exclosures, maybe due interference competition. Our demonstrates protection an impact more targeted wildlife species. To understand mechanisms behind direct indirect effects fences, monitoring movement survival individuals means GPS camera traps would needed.

Language: Английский

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Keeping cool on hot days: activity responses of African antelope to heat extremes

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: June 15, 2023

Long-lived organisms are likely to respond a rapidly changing climate with behavioral flexibility. Animals inhabiting the arid parts of southern Africa face particularly rapid rise in temperature which combination food and water scarcity places substantial constraints on ability animals tolerate heat. We investigated how three species African antelope—springbok Antidorcas marsupialis , kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros eland T. oryx —differing body size, habitat preference movement ecology, change their activity response extreme heat an savanna. Serving as proxy for activity, dynamic acceleration data recorded every five minutes were analyzed seven eight individuals per hottest months year. Activity responses during time day (the afternoons) diel patterns compared between hot cool days. Springbok, prefer open habitat, highly mobile smallest studied, showed greatest decrease rising temperature. Furthermore, springbok reduced mean over 24 h cycle days Large-bodied seemed less affected by afternoon than springbok. While also diurnal days, they compensated this increasing nocturnal possibly because predation risk is lower. Kudu, comparatively sedentary typically occupy shady least no appreciable difference The interplay preference, patterns, other factors seems complex even sub-lethal levels stress have been shown impact animal's long-term survival reproduction. Thus, differing tolerances among could result shift composition herbivore communities temperatures continue rise, significant implications economically important wildlife-based land use conservation.

Language: Английский

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