Social dynamics of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in fenced protected areas: Implications for conservation management of a socially intelligent species
- Authors: Honiball, Terry-Lee
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Spotted hyena -- Behavior -- South Africa , Wildlife conservation -- South Africa , Wildlife management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68884 , vital:77159
- Description: It is important to understand the impact of fenced protected area management on the behaviour and fitness of less popular species, such as the spotted hyeana (Crocuta crocuta), that have been historically overlooked in species management across protected areas. As a result of this oversight, hyaena population densities have reached high levels, making it critical to study the effects of fenced protected area management on these species. There is a lack of understanding of how species adapt to the potentially high-pressure systems (through the restriction of resources spatially) created by fenced protected areas and the intrinsic effects that management regimes may have on wildlife. Due to the spotted hyaena’s high behavioural plasticity, they make excellent candidates to explore the effects of management regimes in fenced protected areas while enhancing our understanding of spotted hyaena ecology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the ecology and social behaviour of high density spotted hyaena populations in fenced protected areas to understand the effects of different management regimes and how spotted hyaenas respond to these differing pressures. This was achieved through four main objectives which consider different aspects of spotted hyaena ecology and the influence of management regimes and environmental variables in two fenced protected areas in South Africa; Madikwe Game Reserve (a socio-economically incentivised reserve) and Addo Elephant National Park (a reserve incentivised by the promotion of biodiversity), between 2021 and 2023. This study explored 1) range residency patterns and third order habitat selection in spotted hyaena movement, 2) interspecific interactions at shared food sources to understand the role of lion, Panthera leo, and spotted hyaenas dynamics in top-down pressure in carnivore structure, 3) territorial interactions when defending resources to understand spotted hyaena social dominance when occurring at high densities, 4) welfare considerations and allostatic load of spotted hyaenas, and additionally we provided insight into the social hierarchy disruptions which occur when removing the matriarch from a clan through an opportunistic record. By assessing the effects of socio-economic or biodiversity driven management regimes, this study provided novel accounts of social behaviour and responses of spotted hyaenas to pressures in fenced protected areas, highlighting the top-down pressure that lions have on multiple aspects of spotted hyaena functioning. Road networks and infrastructure in fenced protected areas were generally utilised by spotted hyaenas and despite high abundance, prey availability remained an important aspect of spotted hyaena ecology regardless of management regimes. Further, we showed that when food is abundant, spotted hyaenas are tolerant of subordinate carnivores, which emphasises their dynamic behavioural plasticity. We showed that spotted hyaenas gauge territorial responses according to the perceived threat and are less tolerant to familiar intruders than to unfamiliar individuals, which is an important inbreeding avoidance tactic that remains in place in fenced protected areas. And lastly, we showed that management regimes influence the adrenal function of spotted hyaenas, where fenced protected areas incentivised by wildlife photographic tourism may negatively affect species fitness through elevated epidandrosterone levels over time. However, spotted hyaenas appear to have adapted to elevated hormone levels, thus not affecting fecundity in fenced protected areas, resulting in high density populations. This study provides a holistic overview of the effects of management regimes on spotted hyaenas in fenced protected areas and provides insights into how spotted hyaenas adapt to pressures when occurring at high densities in these areas. This study contributes to the understanding of spotted hyaena ecology and the intrinsic effects on wildlife of different approaches to management regimes in fenced protected areas. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-12
Varying degrees of spatio-temporal partitioning among large carnivores in a fenced reserve, South Africa
- Authors: Evers, Emma E M , Pretorius, Mariëtte E , Venter, Jan A , Honiball, Terry-Lee , Keith, Mark , Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Somers, Michael J
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462779 , vital:76334 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1071/WR21045"
- Description: Context The spatio-temporal partitioning of large carnivores is influenced by interspecific competition and coexistence within small, enclosed reserves. Lions (Panthera leo), spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) and leopards (Panthera pardus) are the three largest African carnivores and have the greatest potential for intra-guild competition, particularly where space is limited.Aim To investigate the spatio-temporal partitioning between lions, spotted hyaenas and leopards in a small (~75 000 ha), enclosed nature reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve (Madikwe), South Africa.Methods We deployed 110 camera traps (baited n = 55 and unbaited n = 55) across Madikwe from 26 August 2019 until 6 May 2020. Von Mises kernel density plots were used to investigate daily temporal partitioning among the three species. A multiple-species, single-season occupancy model was used to investigate daily space use patterns.Key results We found both temporal and spatial exclusion between lions and spotted hyaenas on Madikwe. However, no evidence was found of spatio-temporal partitioning between lions and leopards, and spotted hyaenas and leopards.Conclusions Exploitative and interference competition on Madikwe might be high enough to warrant spatio-temporal partitioning between lions and spotted hyaenas to avoid the negative effects of intra-guild competition. Contrastingly, patterns observed between leopards and both lions and spotted hyaenas preclude the possibility of top-down control by superior carnivores.Implication These findings call for an adaptive management approach, where both carnivore and prey species compositions are constantly monitored. Management strategies such as these will allow for the conservation of valuable resources (i.e. prey species) to ensure the persistence of large carnivore populations across African ecosystems.
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- Date Issued: 2022
Estimating the population size of three large carnivore species and the diet of six large carnivore species, in Madikwe Game Reserve
- Authors: Honiball, Terry-Lee
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Carnivores
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52139 , vital:43421
- Description: Large carnivores play a vital role in ecosystems, providing ecosystem services such as herbivore regulation. If not properly monitored, carnivores could place significant pressure on certain prey species, and in extreme cases, result in the local extinction of certain species. A lack of demographic data can indirectly threaten carnivores, as policies and management decisions based on demographic data can result in the over harvesting or unsustainable hunting of large carnivores. Furthermore, their conservation is becoming confined to small, fenced, protected areas. Whereby species are intensively managed, making demographic and ecological data a fundamental part of conservation decisions. Therefore, it is essential for conservation practitioners to understand large carnivore demography and their role, to conserve them effectively. To provide Madikwe Game Reserve with the necessary data for effective long-term monitoring and management of the large carnivore guild, I estimated the population size of the cryptic carnivores. I then investigated the efficacy of different camera trap survey designs on improving the detection probability of leopard (Panthera pardus), brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea), and spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). I found that brown hyaena and spotted hyaena detection probability increased with a higher number of camera traps, whereas leopard detection probability did not increase with an increased number of camera traps. I further investigated the diet, prey preferences and dietary overlap of lion (Panthera leo), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), leopard, spotted hyaena and brown hyaena. I found that all species displayed a degree of dietary overlap, however the most notable level of competition occurred between leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs. This iv information will assist MGR to make informed decisions about large carnivore management in the reserve. I recommend continued long-term monitoring for the establishment of trends over time, allowing for holistic management of the entire large carnivore guild. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04