Space use and group living in the Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis Peters, 1852)

[摘要] Ten Cape porcupines were radiotracked for one year in a savanna ecosystemat Nylsvley Nature Reserve, Transvaal, South Africa. Social organisation wascharacterised by family groups comprising a monogamous adult pair and immatureoffspring. Pair members usually shared the same burrow and utilised similarhome range areas. Group size is probably determined by the time of offspringdispersal which is dependent upon population density and resourcedispersion and abundance. Total home ranges (100% locations) of neighbouringpairs often showed considerable overlap, although areas of intensive use (90%locations) were largely exclusive and are thought to be defended asterritories. Temporal space use patterns suggest that neighbours rarelyencounter one another, indicating territorial maintenance through scentmarking. Natural foragers had larger home ranges in winter than in summer,whereas range size of crop foragers was aseasonal, suggesting that range sizein natural environments is determined by seasonal food availability.

[发布机构] University of Pretoria