Restoring multi-carnivore systemsIn South Africa, restoring any single large predator like the cheetah is complicated by the interactive effects of needing to manage the impact of other large carnivores, the availability of herbivore prey and habitat conditions that influence those top-down and bottom-up pressures. Fortunately, modern monitoring technology and statistical approaches, combined with experimental releases and boots on the ground field observations, have allowed us to shed light on these often complicated relationships and provide guidance on how to restore these complex multi-predator systems.
Project Collaborators: University of KwaZulua-Natal, Phinda Game Reserve |
Related Scientific Papers:
Gigliotti, L., R. Slotow, C. Sholto-Douglas, C. de Vos and D.S. Jachowski. 2022. Community-level responses of African carnivores to prescribed burning. Journal of Applied Ecology. 59:251-262. Gigliotti, L., R. Slotow, C. Sholto-Douglas, C. de Vos and D.S. Jachowski. 2021. Short-term predation risk and habitat complexity influence cheetah anti-predator behaviors. Animal Behaviour 178:175-184. Gigliotti, L.C., R. Slotow, L.T.B. Hunter, J. Fattebert, C. Sholto-Douglas, and D.S. Jachowski. 2020. Habitat complexity and duration of predation risk influence mesopredator survival in a multi-predator system. Scientific Reports 10:17841 Gigliotti, L.C., R. Slotow, L.T.B. Hunter, J. Fattebert, C. Sholto-Douglas, and D.S. Jachowski. 2020. Context-dependency of top-down and bottom-up influence on cheetah demography. Journal of Animal Ecology 89:449-459 |
African elephantsOur first work in Africa focused on the behavior and stress physiology of elephants that were being reintroduced to South Africa. We combined non-invasive sampling of stress hormones with fine-scale GPS collar data to gain new insights into how physiological stress likely influences movement behavior. All in an effort to better inform how to restore the important megaherbivores to South Africa and throughout their historical range.
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Related Scientific Papers:
Jachowski, D.S., R. Slotow and J.J. Millspaugh. 2014. Good virtual fences make good neighbors: Opportunities for conservation. Animal Conservation 17:187-196. Jachowski, D.S., R. Slotow and J.J. Millspaugh. 2013. Delayed physiological acclimatization by African elephants following reintroduction. Animal Conservation 16:575-583. Jachowski, D.S., R.A. Montgomery, R. Slotow and J.J. Millspaugh. 2013. Unraveling complex associations between physiological state and movement in African elephants. Functional Ecology 27:1166-1175. Jachowski, D.S., R. Slotow and J.J. Millspaugh. 2013. Corridor use and streaking behavior by African elephants in relation to physiological state. Biological Conservation 167: 276-282. |