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Primate & Predator Project
Russell Hill is involved with the Primate & Predator Project based in a site called Laguma, within the Southpansberg Montiains, South Africa.
The project focuses on predator-prey interactions, in particular on diurnal primates as prey species and their interaction with their associated predator guild.
Predation risk effects on prey dynamics can be as large, or larger, than direct predation effects. However, they are also one of the most difficult effects to quantify. Russell expressed though, that this does not mean we should not look into it as it can have enormous effects on prey population structure.
The most classic example of predator risk effecting prey dynamics, is the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park. Prior to the presense of wolves, around 50% of female Elk gave birth to calves each year, with the majority of them surviving the first 6 months and into the winter season. Once the wolf population was reestablished, the proportion of female Elk giving birth each year dropped remarkably. However, this was not due to direct mortality effects, it was due to risk effect as females began to feed in safer areas and the stress of predator presence lowered reproductive rates.
Landscapes of Fear
When it came to measuring the importance of predation risk on prey population dynamics Russell and his researchers took a landscape approach, assuming that spatial variation in predation risk is a key driver in risk effects.
It is important to acknowledge that not all predation risk is the same across all locations. Risk is dependent upon various factors such as; predator distribution and a predators ability to hunt in certain environments.
The idea of landscapes of fear basically comes down to the notion that in the same way vegetation structure and food availability within an area can be mapped, so too should we be able to map out landscapes of fear.
Brown & Kotler during their studies suggested that fear is the most important landscape for an animal, which is why it is important to test this theory.
Specific predator alarm call maps for Vervet Monkeys, taken from the seminar presentation.
Vervets & Samangos
When it comes to accessing landscapes of fear, primates are particularly good models as they have a diverse range of alarm calls.
Russell looked specifically at Vervet mokeys and Samango monkeys and their interaction with the local predator guild:
– Leopards,
– Crowned Eagles,
– Black Eagles,
– Chacma Baboons,
– Predatory Snakes.
As a starting point he needed to understand the utilisation distribution of primates and see to what extent these differences in utilisation can be explained by landscapes of fear.
Mapping out where alarm calls occurred they were able to establish predator specific landscapes of fear.
Vervet Monkeys
Found that the fear of some predators but not all effected their range use.
Fear of leopards was the most significant, there was no spatial effect seen for eagles and snakes, and most importantly it was found that fear effects exceeded resource availability effects in determining range location.
Samango Monkeys
Found that fear of eagles was the strongest, leopards had no significant influence over spatial use, and once again the effect of fear exceeded the effects of resources.
Leopards & Baboons
Using tracking colars to replicate the previous study, in order to monitor the spatial use of leopards and baboons, Russell was at the time of the seminar in the process of analysing data they had collected.
The information gained from the study is also being used to create leopard lanscape maps and establish what aspects they value when choosing where they go.
In undertaking these studies it has also lead to an understanding of the fate awaiting these leopards.
75% of the leopards they monitored did not survive the full 14 month study period, due, in one way or another, to human activity.
Working with the Limpopo Leopard Project run by Panthera, they have generated habitat suitability maps for leopards and as a result of their research findings, a year long ban was put in place in 2016 for the hunting of leopards.
Personal Thoughts
I very much enjoyed this seminar, prior to attending I was concerned that my interests would only lie in the predator aspects that would be presented, as I am not overly Primate orientated. However, this was one of my favourite seminars.
It was perhaps the best for future career possibilities as Russell mentioned that there are real opportunities available to students wishing to aid them in research as well as undertaking field-courses that the organisation provide.
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