The ruminantia (mammalia, cetartiodactyla) from the oligocene to the early miocene of Western Europe: systematics, plaeoecology and palaeobiogeography
Nowadays, the ruminants are the most ecologically diverse hoofed mammals of the world. All the extent of families (including related species from the Burdigalian) and feeding habits can be deduced from the mandible shape. The Tragulidae possess a small coronoid process, a shortened diastema, and a weak incisura vasorum. The Eupecora have an elongated diastema […]
Giraffe demography and population ecology
Population dynamics describe temporal change in population size and structure and the processes that contribute to that change. For conservation to succeed, it is critical that we are able to detect changes in population size and the demographic processes in the population, and also we must learn how to effect change in population size by […]
Migratory herds of wildebeests and zebras indirectly affect calf survival of giraffes
In long-distance migratory systems, local fluctuations in the predator–prey ratio can exhibit extreme variability within a single year depending upon the seasonal location of migratory species. Such systems offer an opportunity to empirically investigate cyclic population density effects on short-term food web interactions by taking advantage of the large seasonal shifts in migratory prey biomass. […]
Seasonal ungulate distribution and densities on Manyara ranch 2012-13
The northern Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem in Tanzania is among the richest areas in the world for large mammal diversity and abundance, and Manyara Ranch provides crucial wildlife habitat for migratory and resident species between the Tarangire River and Lake Natron. This area is essential to the survival of migratory wildlife populations in the area, and sustains […]
Changing Wildlife Populations in Nairobi National Park and Adjoining Athi-Kaputiei Plains: Collapse of the Migratory Wildebeest
There is mounting concern about declines in wildlife populations in many protected areas in Africa. Migratory ungulates are especially vulnerable to impacts of changing land use outside protected areas on their abundance. Range compression may compromise the capacity of migrants to cope with climatic variation, and accentuate both competitive interactions and predation. We analyzed the […]
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) follow migratory prey. Seasonal expansion of a clan territory in Etosha, Namibia
The spatial organization of one clan of spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta in the centre of the Etosha National Park, Namibia, is described during the dry and the wet seasons. The clan comprised 11 adults and sub‐adults and occupied a territory of 160 km2 in the dry season and 320 km2 in the wet season. The dry season territory contained […]
Modeling the dynamics of migrations for large herbivore populations in the Amboseli National Park, Kenya
The spread of human activity, settlement and land fragmentation threatens the migrations of large migratory ungulates in Africa. Modelling the migrations gives conservationists a tool for building scenarios of the threats and containment options. We propose a simple spatially explicit mathematical model of ungulate migrations based on the seasonal distribution of vegetation quantity and quality […]