RESOURCE PARTITIONING IN A VIVERRID ASSEMBLAGE by ANTHONY HAMILTON MADDOCK

279 Pages·2013·5.14 MB·English

RESOURCE PARTITIONING IN A VIVERRID
ASSEMBLAGE
by
ANTHONY HAMILTON MADDOCK
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy,
in the
Department of Zoology and Entomology,
University of Natal.
1988
Pietermaritzburg 1988
ii
PREFACE
This research was carried out while I was a student in the
Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Natal,
Pietermaritzburg, from January 1984 to April 1988. The project
was supervised by Professor M.R. Perrin and co-supervised by
Dr. D.A. Melton.
This research is my original work and has not been submitted
in any form to another university.
J!'
d;/rfr,:;/
, ,-4[;,
A.H. MADDOCK
iii
To my parents and Caroline
and in memory of all the animals
that died during this project
A
c
iv
o
E
FRONTISPIECE. The viverrid assemblage. Photographs taken of
anaesthetised viverrids prior to attachment of radio
transmitters. A =Genetta tigrina, B =Herpestes ichneumon, C
=Galerella sanguinea, 0 =Atilax paludinosus and E =Mungos
mungo.
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ABSTRACT
Viverrids are small carnivores that achieve high species
richness throughout their range. This study investigated the
ecology and resource partitioning of five members of this
fami ly (Genetta tigrina, Herpestes ichneumon, Ga lerella
sanguinea, Atilax paludinosus and Mungos mungo) that coexist
in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve on the south coast of Natal,
South Africa.
/ Emphasis was placed on differences and similarities within
this assemblage. Diets of the vi verrids were determined by
scat analysis and prey abundance was revealed by means of a
monthly trapping programme.
The spatial ecology of the assemblage was assessed using
radio-tracking and habitat utilisation was compared with
habitat availability. The activity regimens of these
viverrids were also determined from radio-tracking.
Consideration of all three major niche dimensions (food,
habitat and time) revealed important differences within this
assemblage. Each species used different resources, along at
least one niche axis, from other members in the assemblage.
Consequently, the three niche dimensions segregated all five
species. These differences may reduce interactions and
facilitate coexistence.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As with most scientific work, much of the research presented
in this thesis would not have been possible without
contributions from a variety of people. To everyone who has
helped with this thesis, I extend my appreciation and thanks.
Specifically:
Tony Bowland, who advised in the early stages of the project
and freely gave his help and time throughout the project; Hyde
Lotter for excellent technical assistance; Vic Noble for help
and for looking after captive mongooses; Willy Stock who gave
advice on vegetation analyses; Dave Ward, Rob Slotow and Dave
Lawson·, among others, for their stimulating discussions and
advice. Billy Boodhoo, George Cebukulu, Canan Zondi and
Charlie Nkubu helped with technical matters.
The departmental secretaries provided much help during the
project; Julie Cook and Anne Best.
Prof. G. Maclean identified feathers and translated
manuscripts; Prof. E. van Dijk helped with the frog
identifications; Prof. D. Brothers identified insect remains
and lent equipment while reptile identifications were done by
Mr. L. Raw who also advised on trapping. Mrs. N. Rayner
contributed to the identification of various invertebrates;
Dr. R.F. Lawrence identified the Myriapoda and Mr. P. Croeser
the Arachnida. Drs. R. Smithers and N. Rautenbach from the
Transvaal Museum and Prof. J. Meester from the University of
vii
Natal, Durban, identified the small mammals. Prof. M. Samways
gave advice and kindly criticised a draft of one of the
chapters. Mr. A. Lambiris supplied much of the amphibian mass
data and Mr . . G. Alexander supplied and helped with gathering
the reptile mass data. Mr. & Mrs. L. Alexander supplied
unpublished information on freshwater crabs.
I extend my sincere thanks to the Natal Parks Board for
allowing me to work in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve and
giving me access to their official reports and records. I
also appreciate the help and interest shown by the Senior
Rangers of Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve and their wives, John
and Jane Wyatt and George and Liz Zaloumis. Dr. D. Rowe-Rowe
was always available to help with small carnivore problems and
supplied material used in this study. Other NPB staff who
helped during the project included Dr. M. Brooks, Mr. P. Le
Roux and the officers of Section South.
Ms. M. Moberly of the University of Natal Press, is sincerely
thanked for allowing us to use Press equipment and space
during the paste-up stages of the project.
Dr. N. Zaloumis supplied some of the equipment used in the
project; the Electronics Workshop and the Science Workshop at
the University of Natal gave freely of their time and advice
in the use and maintenance of equipment.
Dr. R. Smithers
supplied unpublished data and gave advice on anaesthetics and
Mr. C. Saps ford gave up much of his time to deal with my
problems, lent two radio transmitters and gave hints on radio
tracking procedures. Mr. P. Johnson supplied two array traps
and instructions as to their use.
viii
The Life Sciences Library staff were always friendly and
willing to help. Members of the University of Natal Computer
Services helped with computation problems, in particular Val
Kryzaniak and Lil Price. Statistical help was provided by
Anthony Duckworth, Harvey Dicks, Linda Haynes, Peter Clarke
and Dave Morrey.
Numerous field assistants supplied companionship and helped
enthusiastically with mundane tasks as willingly as with the
more pleasant ones. These include Kay Hiscocks, AnnaMarie
Truchshurer, Alan Wood, Richard Heep, Jennie Plunkett, Roger
Bannatyne, Wi 11 Y Taylor, Adrian Snyman, Steve Germishui zen,
Kate Brown, Jeremy Arbuthnott, Jessica Hughes, Olaf
Wirminghaus, the Zoology III students in 1984, 1985 and 1986.
Particular thanks are due to my special assistants Lee Jones,
Adrianne Pinchen and Caroline Maddock.
Captive animals were provided by Dr. C. Baker and Mr. J.
Stretfield who allowed me the privilege of releasing these
animals back into the wild a joyful experience. The
following veterinary surgeons gave me advice and helped care
for captive viverrids; Drs~ C. Young, M. Keep and J.
Barrowman.
Financial support was provided by the FRD (CSIR) and the
University of Natal. The University of Natal also provided
funds for attendance at two Zoological Society of Southern
Africa conferences.
Carol Baker, is thanked for allowing me to use her captive
colony of water mongooses, for giving me much unpubl ished
information on water and slender mongooses and for her
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interest and stimulating discussions concerning viverrid
behaviour and ecology.
My co-supervisor, Dr. Derek Melton, gave help, advice and
encouragement throughout the project and greatly improved the
quality of the thesis with his criticisms of numerous early
drafts.
My supervisor, Prof. Mike Perrin, competently ensured the
smooth running of the project by helping with funding, access
to equipment and other logistics while his criticisms of
earlier drafts of the thesis also greatly improved the final
product. His interest stimulates my research.
My parents, Marge and Arthur, financed my early years at
uni vers i ty and encouraged and supported me throughout. My
father, competently corrected the grammar, proof read the
thesis and offered professional advice. To them I extend
special thanks.
And finally, I am indebted to Caroline, who for three years
spent two weeks of every month alone and for the last eight
months has put up with a closed study door and all the
aggrevations of being a Ph.D candidate's wife. She criticised
innumerable drafts of the thesis, typed and ·checked the
references, profess ionall y pasted-up all the figures , tables
and maps and did countless other tasks. To he~ I express my
deepest appreciation and thanks for her encouragement, love
and understanding.
Despite the help, advice and checking of the thesis by a
number of people, all errors are my own.