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opencc-by-4.0Jan 2022View details →

The impacts of management interventions on the sociality of African lions (Panthera leo): implications for lion conservation

<ol> <li>African lion (Panthera leo) populations normally consist of several neighbouring prides and multiple adult males or groups of males that interact competitively. In large, open systems, cub defence from infanticidal males and territory defence drive group living in lions. However, in smaller (< 1,000 km2), fenced wildlife reserves, opportunities for natural immigration and emigration are limited which means that the evolutionary drivers of lion sociality may collapse.</li> <li>Here, we use lion behavioural data collected from 16 wildlife reserves across South Africa to test how management-induced ecological conditions alter lion social dynamics.</li> <li>The number of lionesses observed together was best predicted by pride size, prey biomass and biome. Lionesses were less likely to group together as pride size increased, but more likely to group together as prey biomass and habitat productivity increased. In addition, adult males were observed more frequently with prides that had young (< 12 months) cubs in reserves that had unfamiliar adult males present compared to reserves without any unfamiliar adult males.</li> </ol> Our results demonstrate how intra-specific competition between lions drives their sociality, and this may break down in small, fenced wildlife reserves where lions are actively managed. Although small, fenced reserves in South Africa have made a significant contribution to increasing lion numbers on the continent, our work highlights several important ecological implications of active lion management. For wildlife managers, mimicking the outcomes of different levels of intra-specific competition is likely a critical management tool for the persistence of lions in small reserves.

Fig. 1 in Equal contributions of feline immunodeficiency virus and coinfections to morbidity in African lions

Fig. 1. FIV infection is common in lions of Kruger National Park. Within the sample population, 72.8% (142/195) of lions were infected with FIV. Prevalence of FIV infection was similar between males and females (75.6% versus 70.2%; n = 74 and 121, respectively), but increased with host age (a). For ease of visualization, age has been broken up by life stage into cubs (0–2yrs), subadults (2.1–4yrs), young adults (4.1–6yrs), prime adults (6.1–8yrs), and seniors (>8yrs) based on previous age classifications (Schaller, 1976). Regional prevalence of FIV was highest in the central region and lowest in the north (b). The map to the right shows locations where lion prides were sampled.

Fig. 4 in Equal contributions of feline immunodeficiency virus and coinfections to morbidity in African lions

Fig. 4. FIV has strong direct and indirect effects on overall health. The final path model (a) shows only statistically significant relationships between manifest variables (rectangles) and latent variables (circles) for FIV infection, immune response (IMM), coinfections with hemoparasites (Hemoparasites), co-infections with gastrointestinal parasites (Helminths), and morbidity (Morbidity). Note that the parameter βx,z between each variable of interest represents the path coefficient obtained from least squares regression examining the relationship between one latent variable and the next (for example, FIV to IMM). Blue arrows represent positive relationships, whereas red arrows denote negative relationships. Final sample size was 106 lions.

Fig. 3 in Equal contributions of feline immunodeficiency virus and coinfections to morbidity in African lions

Fig. 3. FIV significantly increases the prevalence of select gastrointestinal and hemoparasitic coinfections, as well as overall parasite richness for both groups. Graph (a) shows the prevalence of coinfecting parasites isolated in lions from this study. Sample size for the parasite groups included is as follows: n = 114 for gastrointestinal parasites; n = 190 for hemoparasites; and n = 195 for viral parasites. Coinfections are broken down by FIV status (positive versus negative). The two additional graphs illustrate the relationship between FIV status and gastrointestinal parasite richness (b) and hemoparasite richness (c).

Fig. 2 in Equal contributions of feline immunodeficiency virus and coinfections to morbidity in African lions

Fig. 2. FIV has broad effects on lion health and is associated with progressive immune impairment. Box (2a) above provides a complete list of the health metrics measured for the purposes of this study. Arrows to the right of each variable summarize the directionality of statistically significant changes with FIV infection. Descriptive statistics and reference values can be found in Table 2. Complete model output can be found in supplementary tables S1–S4. For ease of visualization, each parameter has been broken into categories of clinical relevance. To the right, age-related changes in lymphocyte profiles are shown for total lymphocyte counts in FIV-positive versus FIV-negative lions (b); as well as specific lymphocyte subsets in FIV-positive lions (c). Due to small sample size for lymphocyte subsets, subadults, and cubs have been included together under the 'juvenile' category.

opencc-zeroFeb 2024View details →

Coexistence from a lion's perspective: Movements and habitat selection by African lions (Panthera leo) across a multi-use landscape

Diminishing wild space and population fragmentation are key drivers of large carnivore declines worldwide. Persistence of large carnivores in fragmented landscapes often depends on the ability of individuals to move between separated subpopulations for genetic exchange and recovery from stochastic events. Where separated by anthropogenic landscapes, subpopulations' connectivity hinges on the area's socio-ecological conditions for coexistence and dispersing individuals' behavioral choices. Using GPS-collars and resource- and step-selection functions, we explored African lion (Panthera leo) habitat selection and movement patterns to better understand lions' behavioral adaptations in a landscape shared with pastoralists. We conducted our study in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, a multiuse rangeland, that connects the small, high density lion subpopulation of the Ngorongoro Crater with the extensive Serengeti lion population. Landscape use by pastoralists and their livestock varies seasonally, driven by the availability of pasture, water, and disease avoidance. The most important factor for lion habitat selection was the amount of vegetation cover, followed by the distance to human settlements and the interaction between those two variables, with selectivity strengths varying with season and time of day. All lions were more willing to approach human settlements at night and during the dry season, selecting strongly for cover when moving closer to humans during the day. Resident females most consistently used areas close to humans, but also relied more consistently on cover than males. Connectivity of lion subpopulations, facilitated by nomadic males, does not appear to be blocked by sparse pastoralist settlements and nomadic males avoided humans on the landscape more strongly than did resident lions. These results are consistent with lions balancing risk from humans with exploitation of livestock by altering their behaviors to reduce potential conflict. Our study lends some optimism for the adaptive capacity of lions to promote coexistence with humans in shared landscapes.

opencc-zeroApr 2022View details →

Hierarchy of fear: experimentally testing ungulate reactions to lion, African wild dog and cheetah

Experiments have begun demonstrating that the fear (antipredator responses) large carnivores inspire in ungulates can shape ecosystem structure and function. Most such experiments have focused on the impacts of either just one large carnivore, or all as a whole, rather than the different impacts different large carnivores may have in intact multi-predator-prey systems. Experimentally testing the relative fearfulness ungulates demonstrate toward different large carnivores is a necessary first step in addressing these likely differing impacts. We tested the fearfulness ungulates demonstrated to audio playbacks of lions (Panthera leo), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) or non-predator controls (birds), in Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. Ungulates ran more to lions than wild dogs and more to wild dogs than cheetahs, demonstrating a very clear hierarchy of fear. Those that did not run were vigilant (looked toward the sound) more upon hearing large carnivores than controls, being most vigilant to lions. Notably, predator prey preferences did not predict the patterns observed. Our results demonstrate that different large carnivores inspire different levels of fear in their ungulate prey, pointing to differing community-level impacts, which we discuss in relation to the ongoing worldwide decline and loss of large carnivores.

opencc-zeroSep 2022View details →

Where have all the lions gone? Establishing realistic baselines to assess decline and recovery of African lions

Aim: Predict empirically the current and recent-historical (c. 1970) landscape connectivity and population size of the African lion as a baseline against which to assess conservation of the species. Location: Continental Africa. Methods: We compiled historical records of lion distribution to generate a recent-historical range for the species. Historical population size was predicted using a generalised additive model. Resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path analyses were used to predict recent-historical landscape connectivity and compare this with contemporary connectivity at continental, regional and country scales. Results: We estimate a baseline population of ~92,054 (83,017 – 101,094 95% CI) lions in c1970, suggesting Africa's lion population has declined by ~75%, over the last five decades. Although greatly reduced from historical extents (c. 1500 AD), recent-historical lion habitat was substantially connected. However, in comparison, contemporary population connectivity has declined dramatically, with many populations now isolated, as well as large declines within remaining population core areas. This decline was most marked in the West and Central region, with a 90% decline in connected habitat, and in the Congo Basin where connected habitat is reduced to 17% of its c. 1970 level. The Eastern and Southern regions have experienced lower, though significant, declines in connected habitat (44% and 55% respectively). Contemporary populations are connected by three non-core habitat linkages and 15 potential corridors (spanning unconnected habitat) that may allow dispersal and gene flow. Declining connectivity mirrors recent studies showing loss of genetic diversity and increasing genetic isolation of lion populations. Main conclusions: We provide an empirically derived baseline for African lion population size, habitat extent and connectivity in c. 1970 and at present against which to evaluate contemporary conservation of the species, avoiding a shifting baseline syndrome where conservation success/failure is measured only against recent population size or range. We recommend priorities for conservation of existing habitat to avoid further fragmentation.

opencc-zeroDec 2016View details →

Data from: Linking social and spatial networks to viral community phylogenetics reveals subtype-specific transmission dynamics in African lions

1.Heterogeneity within pathogen species can have important consequences for how pathogens transmit across landscapes; however, discerning different transmission routes is challenging. 2.Here we apply both phylodynamic and phylogenetic community ecology techniques to examine the consequences of pathogen heterogeneity on transmission by assessing subtype specific transmission pathways in a social carnivore. 3.We use comprehensive social and spatial network data to examine transmission pathways for three subtypes of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIVPle) in African lions (Panthera leo) at multiple scales in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. We used FIVPle molecular data to examine the role of social organization and lion density in shaping transmission pathways and tested to what extent vertical (i.e., father and/or mother offspring relationships) or horizontal (between unrelated individuals) transmission underpinned these patterns for each subtype. Using the same data, we constructed subtype specific FIVPle co-occurrence networks and assessed what combination of social networks, spatial networks, or co-infection best structured the FIVPle network. 4.While social organization (i.e., pride) was an important component of FIVPle transmission pathways at all scales, we find that FIVPle subtypes exhibited different transmission pathways at within- and between-pride scales. A combination of social and spatial networks, coupled with consideration of subtype co-infection, was likely to be important for FIVPle transmission for the two major subtypes, but the relative contribution of each factor was strongly subtype specific. 5.Our study provides evidence that pathogen heterogeneity is important in understanding pathogen transmission, which could have consequences for how endemic pathogens are managed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that community phylogenetic ecology coupled with phylodynamic techniques can reveal insights into the differential evolutionary pressures acting on virus subtypes, which can manifest into landscape-level effects.