A genet drive-through: are large spotted genets using urban areas for “fast food”? a dietary analysis

Widdows, Craig D.; Downs, Colleen T.

doi:10.1007/s11252-015-0438-8

Cited by 25 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…We can consider these seasonal fluctuations to make more implicit management recommendations. Our data showed that foraging on anthropogenic food was highest in the winter months when semi-natural food availability was low, supporting dated research on vervet monkeys at tourist lodges (Brennan et al 1985) and urban wildlife research (Widdows and Downs 2015). We suggest that management could therefore focus preventative methods to reduce anthropogenic food foraging opportunities in winter months and make residents aware of the increased likelihood of vervet monkey presence at anticipated sources of anthropogenic food.…”

Section: Anthropogenic Foodsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Various studies have highlighted that anthropogenic food is a key driver behind the nature of human-wildlife cohabitation e.g. large spotted genets, Genetta tigrina (Widdows and Downs 2015) and woolly-necked storks, Ciconia microscelis (Thabethe and Downs 2018). Anthropogenic food resources provide a more reliable foraging option for urban wildlife as they are less likely to be affected by seasonal fluctuations (Bateman and Fleming 2012;Lowry et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding foraging flexibility in urban vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, for the benefit of human-wildlife coexistence

2020

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Generalist wildlife species often thrive in urban environments because of increased anthropogenic resources. However, human-wildlife interactions, especially if negative, raise concerns for urban wildlife management. An enhanced understanding of wildlife behavioural flexibility has been suggested to be a key tool to provide educated and effective management strategies. We therefore investigated how availability of semi-naturally occurring food affected behavioural foraging patterns of urban vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), a generalist primate commonly found in urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Over one year, we conducted 20 min. focal animal observations recording foraging behaviour and food consumption. We used a combination of a generalised linear model and descriptive statistics to examine the relationship between anthropogenic food consumption and semi-natural food availability. Our analyses showed that anthropogenic food consumption decreased as semi-natural food availability increased. We also showed that increased aggression from humans towards vervet monkeys decreased time spent foraging on anthropogenic food. Our study highlights how vervet monkeys have adapted to their urban landscape, showing foraging flexibility in response to available food resources and the frequency of human interactions. We suggest how our results can be applied for management recommendations, particularly controlling anthropogenic food availability and decreasing negative human-wildlife interactions.

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Section: Anthropogenic Foodsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding foraging flexibility in urban vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, for the benefit of human-wildlife coexistence

2020

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“…A seasonal change in anthropogenic food use was observed in coyotes, with a greater use during the dispersal season and by transient animals (Grigione et al 2011;Lukasik and Alexander 2012). A preference for anthropogenic food during the winter months has also been observed in large spotted genets (Genetta tigrina) (Widdows and Downs 2015). Reductions in natural resources or the ability to procure them has been suggested as the cause of a switch to anthropogenic food in red (Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) (Savory et al 2014), as well as in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) (Kolowski and Holekamp 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Species recorded to live in close association with humans range in size from the mongooses (Herpestidae) (Laver 2013), to bears (Ursidae) (Beckmann and Berger 2003). The often predictable nature of the anthropogenic food sources makes urban areas a reliable alternative to the often seasonal changes of natural resources (Widdows and Downs 2015). Therefore, urban environments can be regarded as a distinct wildlife habitat (Šálek et al 2015), and urban ecology is subsequently expanding rapidly as a research focus (Magle et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic influences on spotted hyaena diet in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

2018

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Rapid urban expansion has led to an increase in carnivores that live close to human dominated environments. Some carnivore species have successfully adapted to these novel conditions and taken advantage of opportunities associated with human habitation. Whilst many studies have compared carnivores living in protected areas to those in an urban setting, few have looked at the relationships between carnivores and human habitation within protected areas. In this study we examined the effects of human habitation on the diet of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Our results suggested a limited effect of anthropogenic resources on spotted hyaena diet in the KNP. We found neither temporal nor spatial variation in the amount of, nor types of, anthropogenic material in spotted hyaena scats, despite observations of more road side litter close to large anthropogenic sites. We therefore suggest that anthropogenic resources may not have been utilized completely according to abundance. We encourage further research evaluating potential secondary effects of human activity and infrastructure on spotted hyaena diet, and also stable isotope approaches that may provide further insights into the importance of anthropogenic food for spotted hyaenas inside the KNP.

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“…75,76 Thus, we typically concentrate on the negative impacts of human-wildlife on humans and largely ignore the impact of humans on the behaviour of local wildlife. Directions of research could include describing the behaviour of various species in urban areas 77 , or assessing responses to humans as tourists 78 , road users 60 and scientific observers 79 .…”

Section: The Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in behavioural ecology: Putting South African research in a global perspective

Roux¹

2018

S. Afr. J. Sci.

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ARTICLE INCLUDES:× Supplementary material × Data set FUNDING:None South Africa remains at the leading edge of scientific publishing on the African continent, yet few analyses of publication patterns exist outside the biomedical field. Considering the large number of protected areas and mammalian guilds within the country, I examined trends in South African ecological research as it pertains to the behaviour of mammals. I assessed the topics and taxonomic focus of mammalogists at South African institutes over the span of 15 years (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015), and contrasted local research with the shifting focus of international behavioural research. This review of more than 1000 publications indicates that South African based researchers exhibit a strong tendency towards field-based research, as opposed to laboratory-centred experiments. In terms of topical focus, local ecologists place significant weight on the behavioural categories of mating, social and foraging behaviour -reflecting a global priority for these topics. This finding contrasts with an increased emphasis on animal cognition and communication research in the international research arena, including field-based studies on these themes. I make suggestions on how behavioural ecologists in South Africa can align themselves with global trends while also continuing to distinguish those facets that make South African behavioural ecology unique. Significance:• This review is the first of behavioural ecology in South Africa.• Suggestions are made for where South African researchers can profitably shift research focus.• International trends in behavioural ecology are highlighted.

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A genet drive-through: are large spotted genets using urban areas for “fast food”? a dietary analysis

Cited by 25 publications

References 34 publications

Understanding foraging flexibility in urban vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, for the benefit of human-wildlife coexistence

Understanding foraging flexibility in urban vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, for the benefit of human-wildlife coexistence

Anthropogenic influences on spotted hyaena diet in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Trends in behavioural ecology: Putting South African research in a global perspective

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