Life-history patterns in lions Panthera leo living in savanna woodlands of the Kruger National Park, South Africa,
were investigated and compared with those of the Tanzanian ‘plains-like’ ecosystems (e.g. Serengeti Plains and
Ngorongoro Crater). First, lower levels of mortality in the juvenile age classes were found in Kruger lions, which
in turn, extend the inter-birth period. A further difference was a prolonged period of association of sub-adult males
with their natal pride, either directly or in a land tenure system that has not been described previously. Most (80%)
of young male coalitions rather than becoming nomadic, remained close to their natal territory after leaving the
pride, either as non-territorial sub-adults or adults and even as territorial adults. Only 20% of coalitions did not stay
close to their natal range, one of which acquired a territory 20 km away from its natal pride. The pattern of territory
acquisition, in fact, was one in which the majority of holders acquired territories close to their natal ranges. These
behaviour patterns contrast markedly with those from ‘plains-like’ ecosystems where dispersing males usually
move far away from their natal pride’s range (>200) km and often remain nomadic for extended periods of time.
Dense bush and access to sufficient prey resources in the form of resident buffalo Syncerus caffer herds may be
important factors allowing extended residence near the natal pride’s territory. Buffalo were more available in our
study area habitat than in neighbouring habitats, and comprised the majority of male lion kills. Extended male
residence contrasts markedly with current theory on dispersal in polygynous mammals, which holds that only one
sex (females for lions) gain an advantage by staying close to the territory of their natal pride. In Kruger it seems
that both sexes gain an advantage by not dispersing far, and use currently undocumented mechanisms to avoid
inbreeding.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:tut/oai:encore.tut.ac.za:d1000875 |
| Date | 16 January 2003 |
| Creators | Funston, PJ, Mills, MGL, Richardson, PRK, Van Jaarsveld, AS |
| Publisher | Journal of Zoology |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Rights | C 2003 The Zoological Society of London |
| Relation | The Zoological Society of London |
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