Mate availability and intruder pressure as determinants of territory size in male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)

Wronski, Torsten; Plath, Martin

doi:10.1007/s10211-006-0013-7

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…It is plausible to suppose that there could be some relation between the number of individuals inside the demarcated area and the number of overlaps between territorial and non-territorial individuals, and the mean size of the overlapping between them. Many more individuals present in the area, an increase in the density of individuals (potential competitors), would likely increase these relations, as observed by some researchers in studies of intruder's pressure on territory size (Myers et al, 1979;Ewald et al, 1980;Norton et al, 1982;Dunk and Cooper, 1994;Tripp and Collazo, 1997;Wronski and Plath, 2006). However it does not seem to be the case here.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Unravelling feeding territoriality in the Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, in Cananéia, Brazil

2010

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Habitat use by the Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) and discovery of feeding territoriality are discussed here. The results showed the existence of a territorial individual defending an area (2,564.46 ± 943.56 m 2 ) close to the mangrove, and non-territorial individuals (9.17 ± 2.54) in the rest of a demarcated area (mean area for the non-territorial: 893.25 ± 676.72). A weak positive correlation (r = 0.47, df = 46, p < 0.05) was found between the overlapping of territorial and non-territorial individuals (2.85 ± 3.07 m 2 ) and the mean overlapped area for territorial individuals (171.41 ± 131.40 m 2 ). Higher capture (1.52 ± 1.14 × 1.00 ± 1.37 catches/minutes) and success rates (0.45 ± 0.31 × 0.21 ± 0.27) and lower energy expenditure rates (45.21 ± 14.96 × 51.22 ± 14.37 steps/minutes; and 3.65 ± 2.55 × 4.94 ± 3.28 stabs/minutes) were observed for individuals foraging in areas close to the mangrove. The results suggest that the observed territorial behaviour is more related to a number of food parameters than to intruder pressure, and also that the observed territoriality might be related to defense of areas with higher prey availability.Keywords: used area, estuary, defense, foraging behaviour, territory.Desvendando territorialidade alimentar na Garça-Azul, Egretta caerulea, em Cananéia, Brasil ResumoUso do habitat pela garça-azul (Egretta caerulea) e a descoberta da territorialidae alimentar são discutidos aqui. Os resultados apontaram para a existência de um indivíduo territorial defendendo uma área (2.564,46 ± 943,56 m 2 ) pró-xima ao manguezal e indivíduos não-territoriais (9,17 ± 2,54) no restante de uma área demarcada (média das áreas para os não-territoriais: 893,25 ± 676,72). Uma correlação positiva fraca (r = 0,47, df = 46, p < 0,05) foi encontrada entre a sobreposição de indivíduos territoriais e não-territoriais (2,85 ± 3,07 m 2 ) e a média de área sobreposta para indivíduos territoriais (171,41 ± 131,40 m 2 ). Maiores taxas de captura (1,52 ± 1,14 × 1,00 ± 1,37 capturas /minutos) e sucesso (0,45 ± 0,31 × 0,21 ± 0,27 capturas/tentativas de captura) e menores taxas de gasto energético (45,21 ± 14,96 × 51,22 ± 14,37 passos/min; e 3,65 ± 2,55 × 4,94 ± 3,28 tentativas de captura/min) foram registradas para indivíduos forrageando em áreas mais próximas do manguezal. Os resultados sugerem que o comportamento territorial observado tem mais relação com alguns parâmetros alimentares do que com a pressão de intrusos. Assim como a territorialidade observada pode estar relacionada com a defesa de áreas que contém alta disponibilidade de presas.Palavras-chave: área de uso, comportamento alimentar, defesa, estuário, território.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Unravelling feeding territoriality in the Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, in Cananéia, Brazil

2010

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“…On the basis of this, we chose to analyse behavioural data instead. We noted all incidences of aggressive male–male interactions (Wronski & Plath, 2006; Wronski et al. , 2006a,b) and male–female associations (‘mixed sightings’; Apio et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seasonal variation in reproductive behaviour of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas, 1766) in an equatorial savannah ecosystem

Apio

Muwanika

Plath

et al. 2009

African Journal of Ecology

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While several authors suggest that bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) from tropical areas with an approximately bimodal rainfall pattern breed throughout the year, there is also a report of seasonal breeding in this species. In this study, we provide indirect evidence of seasonality in reproduction by analysing behavioural data (e.g. rates of mixed‐sex sightings) in a population of bushbuck inhabiting an equatorial savannah ecosystem in western Uganda. Observation rates of mixed‐sex sightings were correlated with rainfall patterns. We suggest that peaks in reproductive behaviour following the wet season may be advantageous if calves are born during the next wet season, when fresh vegetation is available.

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“…Bushbuck has received little scientific attention in the past, which is surprising given their wide distribution range throughout most parts of Africa, with the exception of very arid areas and primary tropical rain forests (East 1999). Our own studies have revealed that both male and female bushbuck are sedentary and occupy well-defined home ranges (Wronski 2005;Wronski and Apio 2006;Wronski and Plath 2006). A number of earlier investigators believed that bushbuck lack territoriality (Allsopp 1978;Jacobsen 1974;Leuthold, in Jarman 1973;Waser 1975;), while others found signs of a territorial organisation among males (Jacobsen 1974;Odendaal and Bigalke 1979;Verheyen 1955;Walther 1964).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Object-horning as advertising and marking behaviour in male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)?

Wronski

Kabasa

Plath

et al. 2007

J Ethol

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A free-ranging bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) population was observed over a period of 3 years, thereby enabling long-term observations on object-horning behaviour (''horn-rubbing'', ''ground-horning'' and ''horn-thrashing'') in male bushbuck. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether object-horning in male bushbuck serves as demarcation of a territory. Of the three male age classes investigated (territorial males, youngadult bachelors, sub-adult males) adult, territorial males tended to perform object-horning significantly more often than the members of the other two age classes. An analysis of whether territorial males performed object-horning more often in the presence of another individual, which would suggest that object-horning acts as a visual display, revealed that object-horning was predominantly performed when males were solitary. These results suggest that scentmarking and/or leaving visible traces on the vegetation or on the ground plays an important role in territory demarcation. No correlation was detected between food plant preferences and the frequency at which plant species were used for marking.

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Mate availability and intruder pressure as determinants of territory size in male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)

Cited by 11 publications

References 36 publications

Unravelling feeding territoriality in the Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, in Cananéia, Brazil

Unravelling feeding territoriality in the Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, in Cananéia, Brazil

Seasonal variation in reproductive behaviour of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas, 1766) in an equatorial savannah ecosystem

Object-horning as advertising and marking behaviour in male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)?

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