IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Laver, P.; Kelly, M.J. | |
| Philopatry, Dispersal and Static Interaction in Serengeti Cheetah | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Social interaction within populations can affect resource dispersion, home range placement and inter-specific agonistic behavior. Within protected areas it is important to understand dispersal behavior where it may expose individuals to external risks. Little is known about cheetah (_Acinonyx jubatus_) dispersal behavior on the Serengeti Plains. We used data for 240 female and 315 male cheetah between 1969 and 1994. We tested for dispersal using MRPP, and examined static interaction using MRPP, simple overlap metrics, and Spearman's Rank Order Correlation Coefficient (rs). 17% of females and all males shifted between juvenile and adult ranges, with most males present as only juveniles or adults. Using Kernel Density Estimation, fewer unrelated than related pairs overlapped in lifetime and core ranges. Degree of overlap differed significantly between unrelated and closely related pairs. Overlap in unrelated pairs decreased during the wet season and increased during the dry season. 70% closely related and only 27% unrelated pairs showed attraction, while no related pairs and 16% unrelated pairs showed avoidance. We conclude: degree of relatedness and seasonal resource distribution influence area requirements, health and hunting success of females in this population. Future research could focus on the movement of dispersing males and potential for metapopulation dynamics. |
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