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Zebra diel migrations reduce encounter risk with lions at night
Nicolas Courbin1,2, Andrew J Loveridge2, Hervé Fritz3,4
1CEFE, CNRS, Univ. Montpellier, Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France.
The Journal of Animal Ecology
|October 4, 2018
Summary
Plains zebras use diel migrations to avoid lions near waterholes at night. This movement significantly reduces predator encounters, unlike changes in vegetation cover, highlighting a key anti-predator strategy.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Zoology
Background:
- Diel migrations (DM) are common in aquatic prey for predator avoidance.
- Terrestrial prey may use vegetation cover to reduce vulnerability.
- Predator behavior and habitat characteristics influence terrestrial DM effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if plains zebras exhibit diel migrations (DM) as an anti-predator strategy.
- To quantify the impact of DM on predator encounter risk in terrestrial ecosystems.
- To differentiate the effects of DM from vegetation selection on predation risk.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of plains zebras (Equus quagga) in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
- Analysis of zebra movements in relation to waterholes and lion (Panthera leo) activity.
- Quantification of encounter risk and vegetation cover use.
Main Results:
- Zebras perform diel migrations, moving away from waterholes at sunset when lions are active.
- DM significantly reduced zebras' night-time risk of encountering lions.
- Changes in vegetation cover had a lesser effect on reducing encounter risk compared to DM.
Conclusions:
- Plains zebras utilize DM as a primary anti-predator strategy against lions.
- DM effectively reduces predator encounter risk, while vegetation selection may mitigate vulnerability.
- Understanding the interplay between encounter risk and habitat vulnerability is crucial for comprehending anti-predator behaviors.
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