A5016540172- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Nelson Mandela University
2020-2025
Endangered Wildlife Trust
2016-2022
University of Pretoria
2012-2022
Competitively dominant carnivore species can limit the population sizes and alter behavior of inferior competitors. Established mechanisms that enable coexistence include spatial temporal avoidance predator by subordinates, dietary niche separation. However, heterogeneity across landscapes could provide competitors with refuges in form areas lower competitor density and/or locations concealment from Here, we combine temporally overlapping telemetry data lions (Panthera leo) subordinate...
Habitat quality is often assumed to be directly related increased consumer density, but such assumptions cannot made without supporting demographic data that indicate improved fitness. selection might especially important for denning species, where vulnerable offspring are confined a single location extended periods, the effect of den choice on reproductive success species poorly understood. By combining airborne high-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measurements with pack...
Variation in the vulnerability of herbivore prey to predation is linked body size, yet whether this relationship size‐nested or size‐partitioned remains debated. If size‐partitioned, predators would be focused on within their preferred size range. size‐nested, smaller species should become increasingly more vulnerable because are capable catching them. Yet, either these strategies manifests top–down population limitation depend both number potential predator as well total mortality imposed....
Large carnivores have experienced widespread extirpation and species are now threatened globally. The ecological impact of the loss large has been prominent in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, after most were extirpated during 1977–92 civil war. To remedy this, reintroductions being implemented Gorongosa, initiating with endangered African wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus ), hereafter ‘wild dogs’. We describe first transboundary translocation reintroduction founding packs to over a 28-month...
Herbivores balance forage acquisition with the need to avoid predation, often leading tradeoffs between forgoing resources areas of high predation risk, or tolerating increased risk in exchange for improved forage. The outcome these decisions is likely change varying resource levels, herbivores altering their response across heterogeneous landscapes. Such contrasting responses will alter strength non‐consumptive effects, but are poorly understood multiple‐predator/multiple‐prey systems. We...
As the global road network expands, roads pose an emerging threat to wildlife populations. One way in which can affect is wildlife-vehicle collisions, be a significant cause of mortality through roadkill. In order successfully mitigate these problems, it vital understand factors that explain distribution Collecting data required enable this expensive and time consuming, but there potential partnering with organisations conduct existing patrols obtain necessary data. We assessed feasibility...
Abstract Social integration is an important factor when reintroducing group‐living species, but examples of the formation social groups before reintroduction are largely lacking. African wild dogs Lycaon pictus endangered, and reintroductions have become a routine part range expansion in South Africa. Wild form packs that essential to their reproduction survival, artificial pack often required reintroduction. We examined proximate (i.e. integration) ultimate reproduction) success 43 attempts...
The physiological condition of animals connects resources in the environment to demographic responses through reproduction, survival and abundance, it provides critical information for conservation management wildlife populations. We used archived data (early-wet season 1987, late-wet early-dry 1988) from culls impala (Aepyceros melampus) compare how kidney fat index (KFI, short-term body condition) carcass mass (long-term index) varied seasonally. For females, KFI increased across seasons,...
Abstract Wolves ( Canis lupus ) can exert top‐down pressure and shape ecological communities through the predation of ungulates beavers (Castor spp.). Therefore, understanding wolf foraging is critical to estimating their ecosystem‐level effects. Specifically, if wolves are consumers that optimize tradeoffs between cost benefits prey acquisition, changes in these factors may lead prey‐switching or negative‐density dependent selection with potential consequences for community stability. For...
Abstract The risk of predation can alter the way animals perceive costs and benefits in their environment, on which foraging decisions are made. To maximize fitness, with offspring show most pronounced alteration behavior because mothers experience increased nutritional requirements vulnerability to predation. Therefore, tolerance is shaped, part, by reproductive state. Like prey species, mesopredators balance a trade-off between food fitness. However, few studies have acknowledged its...
As the global road network expands, roads pose an emerging threat to wildlife populations. One way in which can affect is wildlife-vehicle collisions, be a significant cause of mortality through roadkill. In order successfully mitigate these problems, it vital understand factors that explain distribution Collecting data required enable this expensive and time consuming, but there potential partnering with organisations conduct existing patrols obtain necessary data. We assessed feasibility...
Wildlife ACT Fund, Land Rover Centurion, Richard Bosman, Investec, Vaughan de la Harpe, Q20, and Jaguar Rover South Africa.
In human-dominated and highly fragmented landscapes, keeping wildlife within reserve boundaries is vital for conservation success. South Africa, fences are a widely employed management tool protected areas successful in mitigating human-wildlife conflict. However, permeable, predators able to cross through fences. African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) often leave fenced boundaries, resulting high capture translocation costs. Moreover, when dog packs (up 30 individuals) reserves they enter...