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Planning for success: Serengeti lions seek prey accessibility rather than abundance

  1. J. GRANT C. HOPCRAFT1,*,
  2. A. R. E. SINCLAIR1,
  3. CRAIG PACKER2

Article first published online: 23 MAY 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.00955.x

Issue

Journal of Animal Ecology

Journal of Animal Ecology

Volume 74, Issue 3, pages 559–566, May 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

HOPCRAFT, J. G. C., SINCLAIR, A. R. E. and PACKER, C. (2005), Planning for success: Serengeti lions seek prey accessibility rather than abundance. Journal of Animal Ecology, 74: 559–566. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.00955.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for Biodiversity Research, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada; and

  2. 2

    University of Minnesota, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, 100 Ecology Building, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA

* and present address: Grant C. Hopcraft, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Box 14935, Arusha, Tanzania. E-mail: granthopcraft@fzs.org

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 MAY 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 MAY 2005
  3. Received 18 June 2004; accepted 6 December 2004

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Keywords:

  •  ambush predator;
  • habitat selection;
  • predator-sensitive foraging;
  • predator–prey interaction;
  • prey abundance;
  • resource selection

Summary

  • 1
    We used long-term radio-telemetry data to investigate how Serengeti lions (Panthera leo) distribute themselves with respect to hunting opportunities. Specifically, we investigate whether lions hunt in areas where prey are easy to capture or where prey are locally abundant.
  • 2
    We used resource-selection functions (logistic regressions) to measure the location of kills/carcasses with respect to five different habitats: the view-sheds from large rocky outcrops, river confluences, woodland vegetation, erosion embankments and water sources.
  • 3
    As expected for a sit-and-wait predator, resting lions spent more time in areas with good cover. On a broad-scale, lions shifted their ranges according to the seasonal movement of prey, but at a finer scale (< 100 m) lions fed in areas with high prey ‘catchability’ rather than high prey density. Plains lions selected erosion embankments, view-sheds from rocky outcrops, and access to free water. Woodland lions tended to use erosion embankments, and woody vegetation.
  • 4
    The results emphasize the importance of fine-scale landscape and habitat features when assessing predator–prey theory and conservation.
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