Scent-post preference of free-ranging Namibian cheetahs

Walker, Eli H.; Nghikembua, Matti T.; Bibles, Brent D.; Marker, Laurie

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2016.08.007

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Marking trees are regularly visited by all individuals inhabiting an area. Both sexes exchange social information via chemical communication using secretions from anal glands, urine and faecal deposits (Walker, Nghikembua, Bibles, & Marker, 2016). None of the individuals trapped in one sampling location was observed in another sampling location.…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut microbiomes of free‐ranging and captive Namibian cheetahs: Diversity, putative functions and occurrence of potential pathogens

et al. 2017

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Although the significance of the gut microbiome for host health is well acknowledged, the impact of host traits and environmental factors on the interindividual variation of gut microbiomes of wildlife species is not well understood. Such information is essential; however, as changes in the composition of these microbial communities beyond the natural range might cause dysbiosis leading to increased susceptibility to infections. We examined the potential influence of sex, age, genetic relatedness, spatial tactics and the environment on the natural range of the gut microbiome diversity in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). We further explored the impact of an altered diet and frequent contact with roaming dogs and cats on the occurrence of potential bacterial pathogens by comparing free-ranging and captive individuals living under the same climatic conditions. Abundance patterns of particular bacterial genera differed between the sexes, and bacterial diversity and richness were higher in older (>3.5 years) than in younger individuals. In contrast, male spatial tactics, which probably influence host exposure to environmental bacteria, had no discernible effect on the gut microbiome. The profound resemblance of the gut microbiome of kin in contrast to nonkin suggests a predominant role of genetics in shaping bacterial community characteristics and functional similarities. We also detected various Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) assigned to potential pathogenic bacteria known to cause diseases in humans and wildlife species, such as Helicobacter spp., and Clostridium perfringens. Captive individuals did not differ in their microbial alpha diversity but exhibited higher abundances of OTUs related to potential pathogenic bacteria and shifts in disease-associated functional pathways. Our study emphasizes the need to integrate ecological, genetic and pathogenic aspects to improve our comprehension of the main drivers of natural variation and shifts in gut microbial communities possibly affecting host health. This knowledge is essential for in situ and ex situ conservation management.

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Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut microbiomes of free‐ranging and captive Namibian cheetahs: Diversity, putative functions and occurrence of potential pathogens

et al. 2017

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“…Oestrous event will occur every 14 days until the cheetah becomes pregnant with gestation lasting an average of 94 days (Brown et al., 1996). Cheetahs are also known to repeatedly scent‐mark on conspicuous objects that provide a vantage point over the landscape, such as termite mounds, trees with horizontal branches and man‐made objects (Cornhill & Kerley, 2020; Eaton, 1970; Marnewick, Bothma, & Verdoorn, 2006; Walker, Nghikembua, Bibles, & Marker, 2016). Here, we refer to such objects, which are repeatedly marked on, as scent‐marking sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When a cheetah visits a scent‐marking site, it might be for a specific purpose(s), or the purpose might change upon receiving information from the site deposited by the previous visitor. Moreover, as we are the first study quantifying cheetahs behaviour at scent‐marking sites, we do not know the baseline for each behaviour, we, therefore, define our predictions relative to each other and compare each to the currently accepted function of scent‐marking sites, which is dominant males visiting sites to scent‐mark (Eaton, 1970; Marnewick et al., 2006; Walker et al., 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cheetah behaviour at scent‐marking sites indicates differential use by sex and social rank

Cornhill

Kerley

2020

Ethology

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Scent‐marking is an important form of communication for solitary species, as the information remains for the receiver after the sender has left the area. Individuals of different demographic or dominance classes (ranks) need to provide different information to conspecifics. Therefore, the use of scent‐marking sites is of particular value for solitary species, but their functional role may vary between demographic classes. Using camera traps, we video‐recorded the behaviour of cheetahs at scent‐marking sites, assessing how individuals of different sex and social rank use the sites for different roles. We tested hypotheses that these sites are for territorial marking, reproductive signalling and information gathering. We found that females visit the sites infrequently, apparently to signal oestrous events, while males visit the sites frequently for territorial marking and information gathering. Among males, dominant individuals scent‐marked the most and reacted to female visitation by vocalizing. In contrast, subordinate males, although also visiting the sites, were not recorded scent‐marking nor vocalizing. These differences in the functional use of scent‐marking sites among sex and social rank support the hypotheses that cheetahs use these scent‐marking sites for both territorial and reproductive signalling, as well as to gather information.

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“…Although marking posts have been used in numerous camera trap studies (Brassine & Parker, ; Marker, Fabiano, & Nghikembua; Marnewick, Bothma, & Verdoorn, ; Walker, Nghikembua, Bibles, & Marker, ), surprisingly little is known about them. But given the potential utility of these sites as monitoring tools, it is imperative to better understand the role that marking posts play in cheetah social behaviour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%