The Serengeti lion: a study of predator-prey relations

520 Pages·2009·11.128 MB·English

by  Schaller, George B

THE SERENGETI LION
WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY
George B. Schaller, Editor
THE SERENGETI
LION
of
A Study Predator
Prey Relations
George B. Schaller
Drawings by Richard Keane
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
Chicago and London
The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London
. © 1972 by The University of Chicago
All rights reserved. Published 1972
Paperback edition 1976
Printed in the United States of America
0201 009998 89 10 11
LCN: 78-180043
ISBN: 0-226-73640-7 (paper)
This book is printed on acid-free paper
To the memory of
Fairfield Osborn
President of the N ew York Zoological Society
His concern with the preservation of our natural
heritage was a stimulus for this study and many others.

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi
I. THE STUDY
1. INTRODUCTION 3
2. THE SERENGETI REGION 12
Physiography 12
Vegetation 15
Seasons 18
3. STUDY METHODS 21
General 21
Tagging 24
Radio Telemetry 26
Food Habits 26
Age Classes 28
II. THE LION
4. GROUP STRUCTURE AND MOVEMENTS 33
The Pride 33
The Pride Area 56
The Nomad 64
5. BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE GROUP 83
Communication 83
The Daily Activity Pattern 119
Group Organization 130
Mating Behavior 137
Relations of Young to Pride 142
Play 155
vii
vIn Contents
6. POPULATION DYNAMICS 167
Population Size 167
Population Composition 171
Reproduction 173
Mortality)83
Population Trend 193
7. FOOD HABITS 195
The Prey. . Population 195
Food Habits 208
Predation in Relation to Sex, Age, and Health of Prey 221
8. THE HUNT 233
Behavior of Prey 233
Main Environmental Factors Affecting the Hunt 236
Hunting Behavior 240
Hunting Success 251
Hunting Large Prey 259
Relation of Prey Size to Sex of Lion Killing It 262
Learning to Hunt 263
Killing 263
Behavior at the Kill 267
III. OTHER PREDATORS
9. THE LEOPARD 283
Distribution and Numbers 283
Movements 284
Population Dynamics 286
Social Structure 287
Predation 290
10. THE CHEETAH 295
Distribution and Numbers 296
Movements 297
Population Dynamics 298
Social Structure 302
Predation 311
11. THE WILD DOG 321
Distribution and Numbers 321
CONTENTS IX
Movements 322
Population Dynamics 323
Social Structure 328
Predation 333
12. OTHER PREDATORS 345
Spotted Hyena 345
Man 347
Jackals 349
Other Mammals 350
Reptiles and Birds 350
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
13. DYNAMICS OF PREDATOR SOCI~L SYSTEMS 355
Social System 355
Social Structure 359
Communication 365
Land Tenure System 368
Population Dynamics 373
Hominid Behavior 378
14. THE DYNAMICS OF PREDATION 380
Ecological Separation of Predators 382
Antipredator Behavior 387
Sex, Age, and Health of Prey Killed by Predators 391
The Impact of Predation on Prey Populations 396
Conclusion 405
ApPENDIXES
Appendix A. Common "and scientific names of wild mammals,
birds, and reptiles mentioned in the text 411
Appendix B. Tables 1 to 79 414
Appendix C. An estimate of animal numbers and biomass in the
Serengeti Park made by Hendrichs (1970) 460
REFERENCES CITED 461
INDEX 473
Plates 1 to 43follow p. 82