IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Hayward, M.W. | |
| Moving Beyond the Descriptive: Predicting the Responses of Trop-Order Predators to Reintroduction | |
| 2009 Book Chapter | |
The reintroduction of large carnivores to South Africa has yielded important information on methods to successfully reintroduce top-order predators These programmes also identified major information deficiencies that have limited the ability of conservation managers to make successful and satisfactory management decisions. The first question involved identification of the species-and their numbers-that reintroduced predators would prey upon and the predators'potential impact on prey populations. To solve this, literature reviews were conducted to ascertain the preferred prey of Africa's largepredator guild using |acobs' electivity index. These analyses were then used to predict the diets of lions, Panthera leo, at novel sites, and these predictions were tested using independent data from four sites over several years throughout southern Africa. Three of these test sites involved recently ieintroduced lion populations. Lion diet was accurately predicted in nine of 13 tests and explained 62% of the variation in the data. In each case, the rank of prey taken was accurate. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |