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The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases)--University of Pretoria, 1999.
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University of Pretoria
2013
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| _version_ | 1867613492834467840 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932- |
| author_browse | Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932- |
| author_facet | Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932- |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 1999, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases)--University of Pretoria, 1999. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29491 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:01.063Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publishDateRange | 2013 |
| publishDateSort | 2013 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29491 The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932- upetd@up.ac.za Lindsey, Peter Andrew Ecology Animals food Ecology Aardvark Habitat UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases)--University of Pretoria, 1999. The seasonal diet, feeding patterns, feeding selection and habitat selectivity of the aardvark were determined during summer and winter at Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve in the southern Free State. Pitfall trapping, dig sampling and quadrat sampling were used to determine the resource base of three habitats in the summer and winter of 1998. A total of 44 ant species of 5 sub families and 17 genera, and two termite species of two sub families were recorded. Pitfall trapping was the most successful technique, followed by quadrat sampling (51.1%) and finally, dig sampling (48.8%). Abundance and diversity was higher during summer than winter. Monomorium albopilosum was the most abundant species in all habitats in winter, whilst Anoplolepis custodiens was the most abundant in summer. The grassland habitat yielded the highest abundance and diversity, followed by the steep slope and riverine areas. Seasonal diet and foraging patterns were determined through faecal analysis and observation of four habituated aardvarks. The Formicidae were more important than the Isoptera in both seasons. The feeding of the aardvark was highly selective, only 28.8% of the available species having been utilised. Prey selection was found to be most highly correlated with prey size, prey abundance, prey mobility, and prey calorific value. Aardvarks were highly selective in their habitat utilisation. The vast majority of feeds were made in the grassland areas where prey abundance was greatest, compared to negligible numbers of prey in the rocky steep slopes and no prey in the riverine areas due to periodic flooding. Veterinary Tropical Diseases unrestricted 2013-09-07T15:45:47Z 2006-11-16 2013-09-07T15:45:47Z 1999-09-01 2007-11-16 2006-11-16 Dissertation Lindsey, PA 1999, The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer), MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29491 > H239/ag http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29491 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11162006-100552/ © 1999, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Ecology Animals food Ecology Aardvark Habitat UCTD The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) |
| title | The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) |
| title_full | The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) |
| title_fullStr | The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) |
| title_short | The feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) |
| title_sort | feeding ecology and habitat use of the aardvark orycteropus afer |
| topic | Ecology Animals food Ecology Aardvark Habitat UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29491 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11162006-100552/ |