Abstract
AbstractEstimating habitat occupancy is one of the methods used in assessing how large carnivores utilise their environment, thereby enabling conservationists to make informed decisions for conservation management. We modelled spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta habitat occupancy in western Zimbabwe using sixty camera stations in a national park, a hunting area and a private ranch. Mean occupancy of the spotted hyaena was ψ = 0.617, SE = 0.147 and ψ = 0.502, SE = 0.107 during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Occupancy was high in clayey soils and grasslands in the national park and the safari area, a behaviour attributed to denning site preferences and possibly prey movement. Therefore, with changing land‐use, spotted hyaenas are likely to inhabit areas outside the national park as they search for food while restricting their dens to areas along grasslands that have clayey soils.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
