摘要:

SummaryThe range movements of a small population of giraffe in the Luangwa Valley in eastern Zambia were studied over a period of 44 years. The majority of the adults of both sexes were found to move over distances in excess of 40 km though only two, both males, moved farther than 50 km. The average home range size was 82 km2for males and 68 km2for females respectively though these figures are regarded as conservative. Twelve crossings of the Luangwa River by adult males only were recorded during the study.RésuméLes mouvements étendus d'une petite population des girafes étaient étudiés pendant 44 anntes dans la Vallée Luangwa en Zambia d'est. La majorité des adultes, mâles et femelles, était trouvée aller une distance linéaire plusque 40 km quoique deux seule‐ment des mâles s'éloigmaient plus que 50 km. La moyenne grandeur de l'étendue domestique était 82 km2dans les mâles et 68 km2dans les femelles respectivement bienque ces chiffres sont considerés plus près des minimums. Douze traversées de la rivière Luangwa par des mâles seulement étaient ra

ISSN:0141-6707    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00429.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1978

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryFood habits, growth rate, reproductive performance, carcass characteristics and nutritive value of the giant snail were investigated in the field and with captive snails.Food consumed included fresh plant material, livestock faeces and dead animals. Clutch sizes varied from six to twelve and incubation periods from 30 to 45 days. Weight gains of young snails of average weight 20 g fed on diets of single plant species ranged from 18% onTalinum triangulareleaves to 200% on pawpaw fruit. Best growth was shown on leaves of cassava and cocoyam, grain chaff of maize and fruit of pawpaw.Dressing‐out percentage of snails of 200 g weight was 37.8%. Nutrient composition of the edible portion compared closely with that of domestic livestock. Nitrogen‐free extractive content was high at 5% and fat low at 1.3%. Mineral analysis revealed a high iron content of 12.2 mg/100 g in the edible carcass.The experiments showed that the snail could thrive in captivity on a variety of locally produced feeds, many of them rejected as waste products. It shows great promise as a domestic animal capable of being reared with negligible capital out

ISSN:0141-6707    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00430.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1978

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThis paper presents the effects of seasonal variation on the protein contents of four grass species examined in the experimental fire plots at Kainji Lake National Park in the Northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Also reported is the proportion of grass utilized on year‐long basis.Tropical savanna grasses generally have higher protein contents at the beginning of the growing season than at the end when they become tall, coarse and unpalatable. It is also shown that the percentage of grass species utilized by game follow the seasonal changes in their protein contents; utilization being highest when the protein content of grass is optimum. It is stressed that trees, shrubs and forbs should not be totally eliminated from grazing lands because of the great contribution they make to animal feeding during the dry season when the grasses become dry and coarse with low nutritive valu

ISSN:0141-6707    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00431.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1978

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryA study was made of soil characteristics in giant rat habitat in order to examine the possibility that the location of their burrows is related to soil texture and minerals. Physical and mineral analysis of soils from giant rat burrows have been carried out. Significant chemical differences were observed between soils from occupied or vacated burrows and from locations without burrows. Striking differences in correlation coefficients of different minerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and manganese) were observed in vacated and occupied burrows. The implication of these findings are discussed in relation to present knowledge of the animal's nutritional requirements.

ISSN:0141-6707    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00432.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1978

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Summary(1) Observations are presented on the diet, feeding habits, hunting and foraging behaviour of Brown hyaenas of the Central Kalahari.(2) The remains of kills left by other predators are the single most important food item in the Brown hyaena's diet. The diet also consists of small scavenged items, small prey such as rodents which the hyaena itself kills, and wild fruits.(3) Brown hyaenas hunt and scavenge small items solitarily, but congregate for communal scavenging of the large kills left by other predators.(4) Individual hyaenas are not territorial and there is great overlap in home ranges. They use common pathways and frequently meet to socialize while foraging.(5) Resident adults form a group with a social hierarchy maintained through neck‐biting, muzzle‐wrestling, chasing, and other social interactions. Subadult hyaenas often leave the group when approximately 22 months old.(6) Brown hyaenas have a complex system of communication including visual displays, social interactions, vocalizations, and extensive pasting. These are described.(7) Since carrion is an important source of food, Brown hyaenas have developed distinct relationships with other predators and these are described.(8) In conclusion, the Brown hyaena exhibits a highly flexible social system, foraging and hunting small items solitarily and congregating for the common utilization of a large carcass. The social organization is therefore influenced by the feeding ecol

ISSN:0141-6707    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00433.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1978

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryA gradient of behavioural patterns was observed among the wild and the first four generations of the African giant rat. Escape reactions and agonistic behaviour were completely lost as from the second generation. Wild rats were easily tamed and those born in captivity were very social. However, being a burrowing rodent, preferring a cool environment in nature, they had a low tolerance to heat. Cannibalism was an important management problem which persisted to the fourth generation resulting in the mortality of 40% of the newly born. From the fifth generation onwards, rats became completely tame and docile. Cannibalism was reduced to less than 10% of the newly born at the fifteenth generation. At this stage, for all practical purposes the giant rat can be regarded as a domestic animal.

ISSN:0141-6707    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1978.tb00434.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1978

数据来源: WILEY