Abstract
Dorcas gazelles are believed to use middens to mark their territories and transmit information. Given the commitment to maintaining a midden, it is believed that middens are not placed randomly. We examined how the habitat (tree height and maximum canopy) and anthropogenic disturbance (camel and human presence) influenced the selection of midden sites by Dorcas gazelles in South Sinai, Egypt. Our results showed that Dorcas gazelles did not place middens at larger trees, while favoring relatively smaller trees and shrubs where the anthropogenic disturbance and perceived hunting risk are less. Our results, in light of the previous findings, suggest that selection of midden sites is species context‐dependent behavior. In areas with less anthropogenic disturbance and hunting, Dorcas gazelles have been shown to select the largest trees of the same species as midden sites. In contract, in our study site with high anthropogenic disturbance and no protection from hunting, gazelles did not utilize the presumably optimum landmarks for midden sites. Our study showed that Dorcas gazelles instead utilized smaller trees and some shrubs that are less conspicuous and presumably less effective as advertisement sites, but safer.
Highlights
Using olfactory signals for communication is a very common practice among mammalian species (Marneweck et al, 2017)
This study investigated how Dorcas gazelles select their midden sites in highly disturbed habitats and whether larger landmarks are selected for midden deposition
We examined the presence of middens in relation to tree size and anthropogenic disturbance in the Qaa plain of South Sinai, Egypt
Summary
Using olfactory signals for communication is a very common practice among mammalian species (Marneweck et al, 2017). The distribution and population size of Dorcas gazelle in the Qaa plain have declined tremendously and have largely disappeared from the vehicle-accessible areas that consist of open plains and sandy substrates (El Alqamy & Baha El Din, 2006) This decline is believed to be a result of illegal poaching, habitat fragmentation, and human disturbance, including vehicular traffic, rock quarrying, and cutting of Acacia trees (El Alqamy & Baha El Din, 2006). This study investigated how Dorcas gazelles select their midden sites in highly disturbed habitats and whether larger landmarks are selected for midden deposition To this end, we examined the presence of middens in relation to tree size (tree height and maximum canopy) and anthropogenic disturbance (camel and human presence) in the Qaa plain of South Sinai, Egypt. The survey and data collection were conducted between May 27, 2012, and June 1, 2013
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