Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 1990. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Bushpig sociology, energetics, reproduction and population dynamics were
studied over an 8-year period in the Cape Province, South Africa. The
social organization was found to be strikingly different from that known
from other suid species. The basic social unit is a unimaternal family
group, occupying a resource-based territority, with a monogamous mating
system. This form of social organisation is related to the dispersed
nature of food resources, to which it provides exclusive access. It is
reminiscent of canid social systems. Agonistic behaviour, communication
and maternal behaviour were studied as the opportunity arose. The
average home range size was 7,2 kmª, ranging from 3,8 to 10.1 kmª. Home
ranges were often traversed within 1-4 days, as part of territory
patrolling. The average diel ranging distance was 3 km. Bushpig were
active during both night and day and exhibited a basic bimodal rhythm.
The main phase of intensive foraging occurred from before dusk to
midnight, with a secondary activity peak after dawn. Activity schedules
were geared to avoid extreme ambient temperatures. Temperature
regulation and water use were investigated, with particular reference to
thermoregulatory behaviour (nest building). pelage characteristics, body
core temperature dynamics, thermoneutral zones and resting metabolic
rates. The thermoneutral zone for 10 kg bushpig juveniles was estimated
to lie between 13° and 30°C and that for adults between 8° and 25°C.
Foraging behaviour, diet and its nutritient content were investigated.
Regional differences in the nutritional quality of bushpig diets in the
Eastern and Southern Cape were associated with the predominance of
nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor substrates respectively. These in turn
were reflected by divergent life history features in the populations
from the two regions. Patterns of growth and energy storage were
described and the value of various parameters (e.g. mass to size ratio,
fat depositions, blood composition) to evaluate condition was
investigated. In studying reproductive biology, sexual maturation,
female reproductive cycles, prenatal litter statistics, foetal
development, 1actation, breeding seasonality and reproductive turnover
were the main aspects addressed. The role of food quality, body
condition and social status in determining reproductive success was
discussed. Bushpig population density estimates in the Southern Cape
ranged between 0,3 and 0,5 animals/kmª• The dynamics of Southern and
Eastern Cape populations were found to differ. The differences are
consistent with the hypothesis that social organisation is determined by
the distribution and availability of food while diet quality shapes
life history tactics. A life history model was developed which links
edaphoclimatic environmental conditions with diet quality, metabolic
turnover rate and, ultimately, life history features. In the concluding
chapter some of the managerial implications of the research findings are
discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die sosiologie, fasette van die energiebalans (temperatuurregulasie,
voeding). voortplanting en bevolkingsdinamika van bosvarke is in die
Kaapprovinsie (Suid-Afrika) oor 'n tydperk van 8 jaar bestudeer. Dit
kon bewys word dat die sosiale organisasie van die bosvark van die van
ander varksoorte verskil. Die basiese sosiale eenheid bestaan uit 'n
familiegroep wat slegs 'n enkele telende moederdier bevat. Ruimtelike
organisasie is gebaseer op 'n stelstel van voedingsterritoriums. 'n
Monogamiese paringstelsel kom voor. Die yl verspreiding van voedsel
word as die onderliggende rede vir die sosiale organisasie beskou.
Gedragspatrone (kommunikasie, aggressie, grootmaak van kleintjies) is
bestudeer soos die geleentheid voorgekom het. Heelwat ooreenkomste is
gevind tussen die sosiale organisasie van die bosvark en lede van die
hondefamilie. Die gemiddelde woongebiedgrootte is 7,2 kmª (tussen 3,8
en 10,1 kmª). Woongebiede word gewoonlik binne 1-4 dae deurkruis en dus
soos territoria gepatroleer. Die gemiddelde daaglike bewegingsafstand
was 3 km. Bosvarke was beide gedurende die nag en die dag aktief en het
'n bimodale aktiwiteitsritme gevolg. Die hoofaktiwiteitsfase van
intensiewe voeding het tussen sononder en middernag plaasgevind, met 'n
sekondere fase na sonop. Soedoende is temperatuuruiterstes vermy.
Temperatuurregulasie en watergebruikpatrone is bestudeer, insluitend
temperatuurreguleringsgedrag, haarkleedeienskappe, liggaamskerntemperature,
termoneutraliteit en metabolise omset. Voedingsgedrag, voedsel en
die voedingswaarde daarvan is ondersoek. Verskille tussen die Oos- en
Suid-Kaap in die kwaliteit van voedsel hang saam met die laer vlak van
voedingsstowwe in die gronde van die Suid-Kaap. Bosvarkbevolkings in
die twee streke toon verskille in populasiedinamika wat hieraan
toegeskryf kan word. Groei- en energiestoorpatrone is beskryf. Die
moontlikhede is ondersoek om kondisie te evalueer met behulp van
parameters soos massa tot grootte-verhoudings, vetneerleggings en
bloedwaardes. Aspekte van voortplantingsbiologie, soos geslagsrypheid,
vroulike voortplantingssiklusse, voorgeboortelike werpselgroottes,
foetale ontwikkeling, laktasie, seisoenaliteit en voortplantingsomset is
behandel. Die rol van voedselkwaliteit, kondisie en sosiale status by
die bepaling van voortplantingsukses word bespreek. Skattings van die
bevolkingsdigtheid van bosvarke in die Suid-Kaap het gewissel tussen 0,3
en 0,5 diere per kmª• Op grond van die verskille in bevolkingsdinamika
tussen bosvarke in die Suid- en Oos-Kaap is 'n model ontwikkel om die
verband tussen bevolkingsregulering en lewensstrategieeë (life history
tactics) te verklaar. Hiervolgens het voedselbeskikbaarheid die tipe
sosiale organisasie bepaal terwyl die lewensstrategieë van bevolkings
die gevolg is van voedselkwaliteit. Die model stel vaar 'n verband
tussen groeipleksomstandighede, voedselkwaliteit, metaboliese omset en
bevolkingsdinamika. In die laaste hoofstuk word sommige van die
bestuursimplikasies van die navorsingsbevindinge bespreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/19406 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Seydack, Armin H. W. |
| Contributors | Bigalke, R. C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science, Jacobs, Ivan |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 729 p., 13 leaves of plates : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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