Isotopic assessment of marine food consumption by natural-foraging chacma baboons on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 165 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Lewis ◽  
Adam G. West ◽  
M. Justin O'Riain
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Cape Peninsula ◽  
Marine Food ◽  
Chacma Baboons

scholarly journals Anthropogenic effects on the physiology and behaviour of chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrina Chowdhury ◽  
Janine Brown ◽  
Larissa Swedell
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Anthropogenic Landscapes ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Cape Peninsula ◽  
Chacma Baboons ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract As animals increasingly occupy habitats in proximity to humans, with home ranges a mosaic of natural and anthropogenic landscapes, it becomes imperative from a conservation perspective to understand the impacts of human activities on wildlife. Many non-human primates share habitats with humans, an ability stemming largely from shared ecological needs due to our close evolutionary relationship. Such proximity, however, is often accompanied by direct conflict between humans and wildlife, leading to higher stress levels, injuries, mortality and behavioural changes, with detrimental effects on long-term health and fitness. Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, which are released in response to ecological and social challenges, are increasingly employed to understand responses to anthropogenic disturbance. Here we investigate physiological and behavioural responses of female chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) to variation in spatial overlap and conflict with humans in their natural home range. The baboons resided in the Tokai Section of Table Mountain National Park in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, where their home range included four types of habitats: protected, suburban, agricultural and mosaic areas. We studied the largest group of baboons in Tokai (70 individuals) and examined the effects of ranging in these different habitats on the faecal GCs and behaviour of all adult females in the troop (N = 16). We found time spent ranging in more anthropogenic habitats to be associated with higher levels of GCs, more aggression, less time socializing and shorter grooming bouts. Self-directed behaviour, however, varied and did not necessarily reflect physiological measures of stress. Taken together, the results of this study highlight the risks associated with ranging in anthropogenic environments and point to the need for a multifaceted approach to studying the negative impacts of human activities on animals so as to better inform conservation practices.

scholarly journals Unusually High Predation on Chacma Baboons(Papio ursinus)by Female Leopards(Panthera pardus)in the Waterberg Mountains, South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 83 (3-6) ◽  
pp. 353-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jooste ◽  
R.T. Pitman ◽  
W. van Hoven ◽  
L.H. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Papio Ursinus ◽  
High Predation ◽  
Chacma Baboons

Modelling the susceptibility of pine stands to bark stripping by Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Germishuizen ◽  
Kabir Peerbhay ◽  
Riyad Ismail
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Random Forests ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Bark Stripping ◽  
Papio Ursinus ◽  
Mpumalanga Province ◽  
Chacma Baboons ◽  
Pinus Spp

Context Commercial pine (Pinus spp.) plantations in southern Africa have been subjected to bark stripping by Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) for many decades, resulting in severe financial losses to producers. The drivers of this behaviour are not fully understood and have been partially attributed to resource distribution and availability. Aims The study sought to develop a spatially explicit ecological-risk model for bark stripping by baboons to understand the environmental factors associated with the presence of damage in the pine plantations of the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Methods The model was developed in Random Forests, a machine learning algorithm. Baboon damage information was collected through systematic surveys of forest plantations conducted annually. Environmental predictors included aspects of climate, topography and compartment-specific attributes. The model was applied to the pine plantations of the study area for risk evaluation. Key results The Random Forests classifier was successful in predicting damage occurrence (F1 score=0.84, area under curve (AUC)=0.96). Variable predictors that contributed most to the model classification accuracy were related to pine-stand characteristics, with the age of trees being the most important predictor, followed by species, site index and altitude. Variables pertaining to the environment surrounding a pine stand did not contribute substantially to the model performance. Key conclusions (1) The study suggests that bark stripping is influenced by compartment attributes; (2) predicted risk of bark stripping is higher in stands above the age of 5 years planted on high-productivity forestry sites, where site index (SI) is above 25; (3) presence of damage is not related to the proximity to natural areas; (4) further studies are required to investigate ecological and behavioural patterns associated with bark stripping. Implications The model provides a tool for understanding the potential extent of the risk of bark stripping by baboons within this region and it can be applied to other forestry areas in South Africa for risk evaluation. It contributes towards the assessment of natural hazards potentially affecting pine plantations and supports the development of risk-management strategies by forest managers. The model highlights opportunities for cultural interventions that may be tested for damage control.

scholarly journals Soil nutrients influence the biogeography of legumes in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
M.N. Dludlu ◽  
S.B.M. Chimphango ◽  
C.H. Stirton ◽  
A.M. Muasya
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Cape Peninsula
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document