Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Du Toit, J.T.

Titel

Sexual segregation in kudu : sex differences in competitive ability, predation risk or nutritional needs?

Ist Teil von

• South African journal of wildlife research, 1995, Vol.25 (4), p.127-132

Ort / Verlag

Southern African Wildlife Management Association (SAWMA)

Erscheinungsjahr

1995

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Seasonal patterns of social organization and habitat use were studied in the kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros population of the central Kruger National Park. The population was monitored continuously over three years with radio telemetry and regular road counts. Habitat use by kudu cows and bulls differed significantly during wet and dry seasons. Bulls maintained a strong preference for riverine / watercourse habitat throughout the year. Cows were distributed across savanna habitat and an ecotone between hills and savanna in the wet season. In the dry season they increased their use of riverine / watercourse habitat, which is a dry season forage reserve for the browsing guild. The greatest potential for intersexual competition would thus be expected in the dry season, but in fact this was when kudu bulls and cows were least segregated. Therefore sexual segregation in kudu cannot be explained by intersexual competition. Alternative hypotheses entail (i) sex differences in nutritional needs and (ii) predation avoidance behaviour that differs between cow groups and bull groups.