A5025205727- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction
- Plant and animal studies
- Forest Management and Policy
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Agricultural Innovations and Practices
University of Venda
2016-2025
University of Pretoria
2010-2022
University of Georgia
2018
International Rice Research Institute
2017
University of Greenwich
2017
Natural Resources Institute
2017
Abstract Large mammalian carnivores are threatened by anthropogenic environmental impacts, particularly through habitat loss which often cause population declines. Understanding the extent of suitable is therefore great importance for carnivore conservation. The leopard ( P anthera pardus ) a widespread and relatively common large carnivore, but species declining in parts its range. Using maximum entropy‐based models, we estimated S outh A frica, what variables that associated with habitats,...
Abstract Estimation of survival rates is important for developing and evaluating conservation options large carnivores. However, telemetry studies carnivores are often characterized by small sample sizes that limit meaningful conclusions. We used data from 10 published 8 unpublished leopards Panthera pardus in southern Africa to estimate investigate causes leopard mortality. Mean were significantly lower non-protected (0.55 ± SE 0.08) compared protected areas (0.88 0.03). Inside juveniles...
Satellite telemetry is an increasingly utilized technology in wildlife research, and current devices can track individual animal movements at unprecedented spatial temporal resolutions. However, as we enter the golden age of satellite telemetry, need in-depth understanding main technological, species-specific environmental factors that determine success failure tracking across species habitats. Here, assess relative influence such on ability units to provide expected amount quality data by...
Abstract Science and conservation are often driven by different agendas, partly because many researchers reluctant to tackle applied topics perceived be less competitive for publishing or too impractical study. Consequently, research fails contribute meaningfully outcomes. We use leopards Panthera pardus in South Africa illustrate this mismatch between priorities. A review of the scientific literature showed that leopard studies focused disproportionately on basic research, particularly...
Summary Understanding resource selection and quantifying habitat connectivity are fundamental to conservation planning for both land‐use species management plans. However, data sets available authorities analyses often highly limited fragmentary. As a result, measuring is challenging, poorly integrated within wildlife management. To exacerbate the challenge, scale‐dependent use makes inference across scales problematic, modelled in areas where not present, typically measured using...
ABSTRACT The mopane worm (caterpillar stage of Gonimbrasia belina ), a communally exploited edible insect, is crucial component in the savanna ecosystems. Harvesting remains informal, largely unregulated, and mostly on communal private land. Recent increases demand have raised concerns about sustainability. This study takes initial step toward developing sustainable harvest strategies by quantifying suitable habitat, estimating each country's contribution to total effectiveness protected...
Data on the population size and trends of large carnivores remains cornerstone effective management conservation programs. However, such data are rarely available for majority carnivore species. Furthermore, research is often directed towards formally protected areas. There therefore a need to improve our knowledge regarding ecology in non‐protected In this study we use camera trapping conjunction with spatially explicit mark—recapture models estimate leopard Panthera pardus density across...
Apex predator reintroductions have proliferated across southern Africa, yet their ecological effects and proposed umbrella benefits of associated management lack empirical evaluations. Despite a rich theory on top-down ecosystem regulation via mesopredator suppression, knowledge gap exists relating to the influence lions ( Panthera leo ) over Africa's diverse mesocarnivore (less than 20 kg) communities. We investigate how geographical variation in community richness occupancy South African...
Temporal partitioning in large carnivores have previously been found to be one of the main factors enabling co-existence. While activity patterns investigated separately at artificial waterholes and e.g ., game trails, simultaneous comparative analyses trails not attempted. In this study, camera trap data from Maremani Nature Reserve was used investigate whether temporal existed a carnivore guild four species (spotted hyena, leopard, brown hyena African wild dog). Specifically, we on roads...
Abstract Rodents generate negative consequences for smallholder farmers in Africa that directly impact household and livestock damage, food security, public health. Ecologically Based Rodent Management (EBRM) seeks sustainable solutions the mitigation of rodent damage through assessments population dynamics, agro‐ecosystems, socio‐cultural contexts. We adopt a comparative approach across 3 rural Afro‐Malagasy farming regions South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar to assess impacts pests current...
Abstract Apex predators are essential for the viability of healthy ecosystems. By studying carnivoran feeding ecology, we can obtain a better understanding ecological limits, resilience and predator–prey dynamics that govern these populations. However, monitoring elusive – like leopard P anthera pardus is often fraught with logistical financial constraints, particularly in inaccessible terrain. In this study, identified clusters G lobal ositioning S ystem ( GPS ) points from four ‐collared...
There are considerable challenges in the conservation of large carnivores, caused by area requirements, low reproduction rates and population densities coupled with their tendency to cause conflict humans. Trophy hunting is one strategy increase support for carnivore conservation. Leopards, Panthera pardus, rank among most sought-after trophies South Africa. However, trophy has been suggested as partly responsible leopard declines, leopards also killed retaliatory actions. In this study 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 Conservation efforts in South Africa play out across multi‐use landscapes where formal protected areas coexist with private wildlife business (ecotourism and/or hunting) a human‐dominated matrix. Despite the persistence of highly diverse carnivore guilds, management idiosyncrasies are often orientated towards charismatic large predators and assemblage‐level patterns remain largely unexplored. We conducted an extensive camera‐trap survey natural quasi‐experimental setting...
Theory on intraguild killing (IGK) is central to mammalian carnivore community ecology and top-down ecosystem regulation. Yet, the cryptic nature of IGK hinders empirical evaluations. Using a novel data source - online photographs interspecific aggression between African carnivores we revisited existing predictions about extent drivers IGK. Compared with seminal reviews, our constructed network yielded 10 more species nearly twice as many interactions. The interactions increased 37% when...
Abstract Interspecific interactions can influence species' activity and movement patterns. In particular, species may avoid or attract each other through reactive responses in space and/or time. However, data methods to study such have remained scarce were generally limited two interacting species. At this time, the deployment of camera traps opens new opportunities but adapted statistical techniques are still required analyze interaction patterns with data. We present multivariate Hawkes...
Abstract Fires are common in many ecosystems world‐wide, and frequently used as a management tool. Although the responses of herbivores to fire have been well‐studied, carnivores remain unclear. In particular, post‐fire habitat changes, associated changes prey availability, might affect coexistence or competition carnivore species within larger community, but few studies focused on how fires influence multiple simultaneously. Using South African our focal we explored relative intensity use...