Seasonal
variation in habitat use in African Lions
- Principal
researcher: Grant Hopcraft.
- Supervisors:
Prof Craig Packer, Prof Tony Sinclair.
- Study
area: Serengeti National Park,
Tanzania.
- Date
started: 1999
- Duration:
2 years
- Academic
institution: University of British
Columbia.
- Affiliated
institutions: University of Minnesota,
Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute.
- Summary:
A GIS project relating prey consumption
to resource availability by measuring
habitat characteristics influencing
hunting success in Serengeti Lions.
Social
networks – communication in lions
- Principal
researcher: John Grinnell.
- Co-worker:
Rob Slotow.
- Study
area: Several conservation areas.
- Date
started: 1998
- Academic
institution: University of Natal;
Durban & Wooster College, USA.
- Summary:
Experimental testing the importance
of context in response of individuals
to roars, as well as the importance
of recognition of individuals.
Temporal
and spatial patterns of roaring in lions
- Principal
researcher: Guy Redman.
- Supervisor:
Dr Rob Slotow.
- Study
area: Several conservation areas.
- Date
started: 1999
- Academic
institution: University of Natal,
Durban.
- Summary:
Roars are played through a playback
system at different times of day to
assess the attenuation and degradation
of roars at heard at different distances
and habitat types (BSc Hons project).
Sexual
selection and parental investment in
African lions
- Principal
researcher: Peyton West.
- Supervisor:
Prof Craig Packer.
- Study
area: Serengeti National Park,
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
- Date
started: 1996
- Duration:
5 years
- Academic
institution: University of Minnesota.
- Affiliated
institutions: Tanzania Wildlife
Research Institute.
- Summary:
The project examines the ecological
and physiological factors affecting
variation in the lion's mane and asks
whether manes act as signals of male
quality to lions of both sexes. The
project also investigates how ecological
factors influence co-operation and
conflict between females and males
with respect to parental investment.
An
assessment of the factors affecting
the ratio of lion (Panthera leo) to
spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) in
protected areas of Africa
- Principal
researcher: Gianetta Purchase.
- Supervisors:
Dr. Martyn Gorman, Department of Zoology,
University of Aberdeen, Scotland;
Dr. Glenn Iason, Animal Science Group,
Macauley Land Use Research Institute,
Aberdeen, Scotland; Prof. Johan du
Toit, Mammal Research Institute, University
of Pretoria.
- Study
area: Matusadona National Park,
Zimbabwe; Liuwa Plain National Park,
Zambia.
- Date
started: 1999
- Duration:
?
- Academic
institution: University of Aberdeen,
Scotland, U.K.
- Affiliated
institutions: Macauley Land Use
Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland;
Tropical Resource Ecology Programme,
University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
Mammal Research Institute, University
of Pretoria, South Africa.
- Summary:
Data are collected in two national
parks for comparison, including the
use of available resources (prey and
habitat) by lions and spotted hyaenas
in the two contrasting ecosystems.
Range size, shape and location of
groups of lions and spotted hyaenas
are studied. The degree of overlap
in the diet of the two species and
the interaction of the two species
over available carcasses is also studied.
It is hoped that by using a combination
of modelling and path analysis, the
ecological factor (s) with the strongest
correlation with the ratio of lion
to spotted hyaena numbers can be isolated.
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