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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Wildlife In A Premier African Protected Area Do Not Perceive Ecotourists As Predators, Badru Mugerwa
Wildlife In A Premier African Protected Area Do Not Perceive Ecotourists As Predators, Badru Mugerwa
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Researchers have reported that the presence of ecotourists may displace or disturb wildlife with potentially adverse effects, and may be a more serious problem if wildlife perceive ecotourists as predators. I used a playback experiment to test if wildlife at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, perceive ecotourists as predators. I contrasted wildlife behavioural responses to vocalizations that simulate those of ecotourists to those of local predators (positive controls; dogs and the extirpated native apex predator, leopard) and a non-predator (negative control; insects). Using responses from 14 mammal species, I show that wildlife do not perceive ecotourists as predators, responding no …
Females In Control: Female Sensitivity To Predation Risk Affects Courtship And Reproductive Behaviours, Tin Nok Natalie Cheng
Females In Control: Female Sensitivity To Predation Risk Affects Courtship And Reproductive Behaviours, Tin Nok Natalie Cheng
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Even in the absence of direct killing, predators have a pervasive effect on prey populations through costly anti-predator behavioural responses. In high risk environments, animals can reduce conspicuous behaviours such as courtship displays decreasing exposure at the cost of reproduction. Previous studies typically looked at male behaviour immediately following a predator cue, thus, not considering temporal variations in risk or the impact of female receptivity on male courtship. I placed male and female brown-headed cowbirds under chronically elevated predation risk with periods of high and low risk. Under high predation risk, females performed fewer chatter calls and were more likely …
Fear Of Predators Compromises Parental Care And Juvenile Survival In A Songbird, Philip Blair Dudeck
Fear Of Predators Compromises Parental Care And Juvenile Survival In A Songbird, Philip Blair Dudeck
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Predators kill, but the risk of being killed is also a powerful force affecting survival because scared prey eat less, thereby increasing the likelihood of starvation. Young of most animals are extremely vulnerable to predators and may alter their behaviour to limit detection. I investigated the previously unexplored effects that predation risk has on the behaviour of newly fledged offspring and their parents, and the impact this has on offspring survival. I manipulated predation risk using sound and found that parent song sparrows reduced their feedings, providing 60% less food overall. Critically, not only did this parental response estimate survival …