The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

The common warthog (Phachocoerus africanus) is a relatively long-legged pig with noticeable curved tusks, a short neck and three pairs of facial warts. It has four recognized subspecies. The common warthog is a non-migratory ungulate living on the African savannah. It is a hindgut fermenter and pred...

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Autor principal: Thorp, Pärerik
Formato: M3
Lenguaje:Inglés
sueco
Publicado: SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231) 2012
Materias:
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author Thorp, Pärerik
author_browse Thorp, Pärerik
author_facet Thorp, Pärerik
author_sort Thorp, Pärerik
collection Epsilon Archive for Student Projects
description The common warthog (Phachocoerus africanus) is a relatively long-legged pig with noticeable curved tusks, a short neck and three pairs of facial warts. It has four recognized subspecies. The common warthog is a non-migratory ungulate living on the African savannah. It is a hindgut fermenter and predominantly dependent on high-quality foods. It prefers open areas for grazing but use bushes for cover. Warthogs prefer former bomas because of the nutrient enrichment that has occurred there and they also distribute their faeces close to their feeding grounds. Warthogs are a pioneer species when it comes to recolonizing abandoned bomas. Warthogs are bearers of several diseases harmful to livestock and are therefore often chased from active bomas. The aim of this study was to investigate how active bomas influence the habitat choice of warthogs. The study was carried out in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the adjoining Koyake group ranch, in august 2003 and May-June 2004, using well defined study areas; transects. Results showed that warthogs favour the transects farthest away from the bomas. Warthogs probably favour the security of grazing among other species in order to avoid being caught by predators. Other herbivores might also feed on plant species less attractive to warthogs and thereby allowing plant species that warthogs favour to grow.
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institution Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
language Inglés
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publishDate 2012
publishDateSort 2012
publisher SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231)
publisherStr SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231)
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spelling RepoSLU40072012-04-20T14:25:48Z The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) Aktiv bomas inverkan på vårtsvins habitatval Thorp, Pärerik common warthog behaviour active bomas habitat choice The common warthog (Phachocoerus africanus) is a relatively long-legged pig with noticeable curved tusks, a short neck and three pairs of facial warts. It has four recognized subspecies. The common warthog is a non-migratory ungulate living on the African savannah. It is a hindgut fermenter and predominantly dependent on high-quality foods. It prefers open areas for grazing but use bushes for cover. Warthogs prefer former bomas because of the nutrient enrichment that has occurred there and they also distribute their faeces close to their feeding grounds. Warthogs are a pioneer species when it comes to recolonizing abandoned bomas. Warthogs are bearers of several diseases harmful to livestock and are therefore often chased from active bomas. The aim of this study was to investigate how active bomas influence the habitat choice of warthogs. The study was carried out in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the adjoining Koyake group ranch, in august 2003 and May-June 2004, using well defined study areas; transects. Results showed that warthogs favour the transects farthest away from the bomas. Warthogs probably favour the security of grazing among other species in order to avoid being caught by predators. Other herbivores might also feed on plant species less attractive to warthogs and thereby allowing plant species that warthogs favour to grow. SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231) 2012 M3 eng swe https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/4007/
spellingShingle common warthog
behaviour
active bomas
habitat choice
Thorp, Pärerik
The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
title The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
title_full The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
title_fullStr The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
title_full_unstemmed The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
title_short The influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
title_sort influence of active bomas on habitat choice of the common warthog (phacochoerus africanus)
topic common warthog
behaviour
active bomas
habitat choice