Spatial distribution of lion kills determined by the water dependency of prey species

Predation risk from lions (Panthera leo) has been linked to habitat characteristics and availability and traits of prey. We separated the effects of vegetation density and the presence of drinking water by analyzing locations of lion kills in relation to rivers with dense vegetation, which offer goo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mammalogy Vol. 91; no. 5; pp. 1280 - 1286
Main Authors: de Boer, Willem F., Vis, Marc J. P., de Knegt, Henrik J., Rowles, Colin, Kohi, Edward M., van Langevelde, Frank, Peel, Mike, Pretorius, Yolanda, Skidmore, Andrew K., Slotow, Rob, van Wieren, Sipke E., Prins, Herbert H. T.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 American Society of Mammalogists 15.10.2010
Allen Press Publishing Services
Allen Press
Oxford University Press
Subjects:
abundance
african herbivores
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
behavior
Biological and medical sciences
Body size
body weight
Connochaetes taurinus
Digestion
Drinking water
Ecosystems
FEATURE ARTICLES
Feeding
Food habits
Food preferences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Habitat
Habitat conservation
habitat selection
Herbivores
hunting success
kruger-national-park
Lions
Nature reserves
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Panthera leo
population-dynamics
Predation
predation risk
Prey
prey availability
prey composition
randomization
River water
Rivers
Ruminantia
Ruminants
savanna
Seasonal variations
serengeti
Spatial distribution
Sulfur dioxide
Syncerus caffer
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Vegetation
Vegetation effects
vulnerability
Wildebeest
Wildlife ecology
South Africa
Availability
Fissipedia
Carnivora
Panthera leo
Savannah
prey composition
Vulnerability
Capture
Prey
body weight
Heterogeneity
Vertebrata
Mammalia
Spatial distribution
randomization
Vegetation
savanna
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
prey availability
Artiodactyla
Predator
Ungulata
Water resources
ISSN:0022-2372, 1545-1542
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Summary:Predation risk from lions (Panthera leo) has been linked to habitat characteristics and availability and traits of prey. We separated the effects of vegetation density and the presence of drinking water by analyzing locations of lion kills in relation to rivers with dense vegetation, which offer good lion stalking opportunities, and artificial water points with low vegetation density. The spatial distribution of lion kills was studied at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, South Africa. The distance between 215 lion kills and the nearest water source was analyzed using generalized linear models. Lions selected medium-sized prey species. Lion kills were closer to rivers and to artificial water points than expected by random distribution of the kills. Water that attracted prey, and not the vegetation density in riverine areas, increased predation risk, with kills of buffalo (Syncerus caffer), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) as water-dependent prey species. Traits of prey species, including feeding type (food habits), digestion type (ruminant or nonruminant), or body size, did not explain locations of lion kills, and no seasonal patterns in lion kills were apparent. We argue that the cascading impact of lions on local mammal assemblages is spatially heterogeneous.
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ISSN:0022-2372
1545-1542
DOI:10.1644/09-MAMM-A-392.1