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Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas
Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
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University of Pretoria
2013
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| _version_ | 1867613512600125440 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Du Toit, J.T. |
| author_browse | Du Toit, J.T. |
| author_facet | Du Toit, J.T. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2002, 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 (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29648 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:19.710Z |
| 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:2263/29648 Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas Du Toit, J.T. upetd@ais.up.ac.za Broomhall, Lynne Susan Ecology Environmental aspects UCTD Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Kruger National Park (South Africa) Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. The objectives of this study were(1) to analyse a data-set on cheetah home range size, habitat utilisation, prey selection and hunting behaviour in the Kruger National Park (KNP), and (2) conduct a comparative study on the above aspects of cheetah ecology across a variety of African savanna ecosystems. Cheetah home range sizes in the KNP for territorial male cheetahs were 173 km2, 438 km2 for a nomadic male cheetah coalition, and 193 km2 and 179 km2 for two female cheetahs. Cheetahs preferred open savanna habitat, although females used areas with thicker bush such as drainage lines) more than males, probably because this is the preferred habitat of their main prey. Analysis showed that while females were closely associated with drainage lines, males were closely associated with roads. A male cheetah coalition preferred scent marking along roads rather than in the bush. Impala occurred most frequently in the cheetahs’ diet, although males took larger prey than females. Cheetahs hunted and killed more frequently in open savanna, even though impala densities were higher in adjacent habitats. Mean chase distance for successful hunts was 18l9 m and unsuccessful hunts was 96 m. Cheetah hunting success was 20.7%, kleptoparasitism was 11.8%, mean kill retention time was 165 min, kill rated averaged 1 kill per 4.61 days, and consumption rate of a three-male cheetah coalition was 1,4 kg meat/cheetah/day. Across African savanna ecosystems, female cheetah home range size was determined by the dispersion patterns and biomass of medium-sized prey. Female home range size was larger in areas with migratory (833 km2) than sedentary prey (105 km2) and increase as prey biomass decreased in areas with sedentary prey only. Conversely, male cheetah territory size was smaller in areas with migratory (37 km2) than sedentary prey (108 km2). Although it was predicted that male cheetah territory size would be determined by female cheetah density, no relationship was found here. Across a range of African savannas, cheetahs showed distinct preferences for open habitats that provided some woody cover. Adults (40%) and juveniles (20%) of medium-sized prey made up the largest proportion in the cheetahs’ diet. There were, however, significant variations in the size and age groups of prey taken by cheetahs in different areas. Areas with the least amount of cover appeared to have the longest mean chase distance, and the greatest percentage hunting success and incidents of kleptoparasitism (%). A population viability analysis, using VORTEX, found that cheetah population viability was greater in a woodland savanna than a grassland savanna, particularly at small population sizes. While the grassland savanna population was most affected by changes in juvenile mortality the woodland savanna population with exceptionally high cub mortality may be a sink for cheetahs while the woodland population with lower cub mortality and predicted high dispersal rates may be a source. Maximum annual litter size and female mortality rates had large impacts on population persistence. Zoology and Entomology unrestricted 2013-09-07T16:10:57Z 2005-11-22 2013-09-07T16:10:57Z 2002-04-01 2006-11-22 2005-11-21 Dissertation Broomhall, L 2002, Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29648 > http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29648 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11212005-160215/ © 2002, 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 application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Ecology Environmental aspects UCTD Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Kruger National Park (South Africa) Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas |
| title | Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas |
| title_full | Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas |
| title_fullStr | Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas |
| title_short | Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ecology in the Kruger National Park : a comparison with other studies across the grassland-woodland gradient in African savannas |
| title_sort | cheetah acinonyx jubatus ecology in the kruger national park a comparison with other studies across the grassland woodland gradient in african savannas |
| topic | Ecology Environmental aspects UCTD Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Kruger National Park (South Africa) |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29648 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11212005-160215/ |