The Mountain Zebra Project
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Classification
Biology Classification Zebras have a distinctive striped pattern that makes them easily recognizable to most people, but they also display features common to many other animals. So how can we easily compare animals? This is a print version of an interactive online lesson. To sign up for the real thing or for curriculum details about the lesson go to www.cosmoslessons.com Introduction: Classication Why do zebras have stripes? It’s a question that scientists have been asking for more than 100 years but now new research may nally have an answer. Most animal species have developed distinctive colours and patterns to help disguise them in their natural environment. Like a soldier’s camouage, the colouring and patterns look like the background, so it's hard to tell the dierence between the animal and its surroundings. But zebras live on brown grassy plains and their stripes make them stand out, not disappear. They may as well be holding signs for the lions saying, “come and eat me”. Now we may have the answer. By studying where most zebras live, scientists have found that the animals share their home with lots of nasty biting tsetse ies and horse ies. They also discovered that these ies don’t like striped patterns and will stay away from them. So, it’s likely that the zebras developed stripes to act as an insect repellent. That may sound crazy – to make yourself a target for lions just to keep away the ies. But these aren’t ordinary irritating ies. Tsetse ies carry diseases that can kill, while horse ies tear the animals’ skins leaving them at risk of infections. -
Dheer, Arjun. 2016. Resource Partitioning Between Spotted Hyenas
University of Southampton 16th August 2016 FACULTY OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CENTRE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESOURCE PARTITIONING BETWEEN SPOTTED HYENAS (CROCUTA CROCUTA) AND LIONS (PANTHERA LEO) Arjun Dheer A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of M.Res. Wildlife Conservation. 1 As the nominated University supervisor of this M.Res. project by Arjun Dheer, I confirm that I have had the opportunity to comment on earlier drafts of the report prior to submission of the dissertation for consideration of the award of M.Res. Wildlife Conservation. Signed………………………………….. UoS Supervisor’s name: Prof. C. Patrick Doncaster As the nominated Marwell Wildlife supervisor of this M.Res. project by Arjun Dheer, I confirm that I have had the opportunity to comment on earlier drafts of the report prior to submission of the dissertation for consideration of the award of M.Res. Wildlife Conservation. Signed…………………………………… MW Supervisor’s name: Dr. Zeke Davidson 2 Abstract The negative impact of anthropogenic activities on wildlife has led to protected areas being set aside to prevent human-wildlife conflict. These protected areas are often small and fenced in order to meet the needs of expanding human communities and to conserve wildlife. This creates challenges for the management of wide-ranging animals such as large carnivores, especially those that compete with one another for limited resources. This study focused on resource partitioning between GPS-GSM collared spotted hyenas (hereafter referred to as hyenas) and lions in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) and Borana Conservancy (BC), Kenya. Scat analysis revealed that hyenas and lions show a high degree of dietary overlap, though hyenas have broader diets and feed on livestock species, which lions completely avoid. -
Conservation Goals for the Cape Mountain Zebra Equus Zebra Zebra—Security in Numbers?
Conservation goals for the Cape mountain zebra Equus zebra zebra—security in numbers? H ALSZKA H RABAR and G RAHAM I. H. KERLEY Abstract The target of the 2002 IUCN Action Plan for the required to achieve the conservation objectives. However, Cape mountain zebra Equus zebra zebra was for a popu- such compromised targets may also be influenced by a poor lation of 2,500 animals. We assessed the validity of this goal understanding of the needs of a species for survival, as well by reviewing the conservation status of the subspecies and as underestimation of the potential to achieve larger, more the prospects of achieving larger populations. All subpopu- reliable, conservation targets. An example of the former is lations were identified and data on each were collected by where conservation targets for many large mammal species means of a questionnaire survey. The total extant Cape have been set based on earlier estimates of minimum viable mountain zebra population was found to consist of at least populations with an effective population size of c. 500 (e.g. 2,790 individuals in 52 subpopulations. The target number Lande & Barrowclough, 1987; Armbruster & Lande, 1993). of 2,500 has therefore been exceeded and this success is This figure of 500 is, however, based on maintaining genetic largely attributable to the private sector, as there are at variation in leg hair patterns in fruit flies and is 30 years old present double the number of privately owned subpopu- (Franklin, 1980) and outdated. Recent estimates have been lations (35) compared to formally protected subpopulations consistently higher than this (Reed et al., 2003). -
Ecology and Habitat Suitability of Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus Zebra Zebra) in the Western Cape, South Africa
Ecology and habitat suitability of Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) in the Western Cape, South Africa by Adriaan Jacobus Olivier Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science at Stellenbosch University Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriScience Supervisor: Dr Alison J. Leslie Co-supervisor: Dr Jason I. Ransom December 2019 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Jaco Olivier December 2019 Copyright © 2019 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract Endemic to South Africa, the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) historically occurred throughout the Western Cape, and parts of the Northern and Eastern Cape. However, due to human impacts fewer than 50 individuals remained by the 1950’s. Conservation efforts over the past 50 years have resulted in the population increasing to over 4700 individuals and having moved on the IUCN red list, from Critically Endangered to Least Concern. As there are still many isolated meta-populations, CapeNature established a Biodiversity Management Plan for the conservation of Cape mountain zebra in the Western Cape. In 2001, 15 (six males and nine females) Cape mountain zebra was reintroduced into Bakkrans Nature Reserve, situated in the Cederberg Wilderness Area of South Africa. -
Mammal Species Richness at a Catena and Nearby Waterholes During a Drought, Kruger National Park, South Africa
diversity Article Mammal Species Richness at a Catena and Nearby Waterholes during a Drought, Kruger National Park, South Africa Beanélri B. Janecke Animal, Wildlife & Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Road, Park West, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa; [email protected]; Tel.: +27-51-401-9030 Abstract: Catenas are undulating hillslopes on a granite geology characterised by different soil types that create an environmental gradient from crest to bottom. The main aim was to determine mammal species (>mongoose) present on one catenal slope and its waterholes and group them by feeding guild and body size. Species richness was highest at waterholes (21 species), followed by midslope (19) and sodic patch (16) on the catena. Small differences observed in species presence between zones and waterholes and between survey periods were not significant (p = 0.5267 and p = 0.9139). In total, 33 species were observed with camera traps: 18 herbivore species, 10 carnivores, two insectivores and three omnivores. Eight small mammal species, two dwarf antelopes, 11 medium, six large and six mega-sized mammals were observed. Some species might not have been recorded because of drought, seasonal movement or because they travelled outside the view of cameras. Mammal presence is determined by food availability and accessibility, space, competition, distance to water, habitat preferences, predators, body size, social behaviour, bound to territories, etc. The variety in body size and feeding guilds possibly indicates a functioning catenal ecosystem. This knowledge can be beneficial in monitoring and conservation of species in the park. Keywords: catena ecosystem; ephemeral mud wallows; habitat use; mammal variety; Skukuza area; Citation: Janecke, B.B. -
Zebra and Quagga Mussels
SPECIES AT A GLANCE Zebra and Quagga Mussels Two tiny mussels, the zebra mussel (Dreissena poly- morpha) and the quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis), are causing big problems for the economy and the environment in the west. Colonies of millions of mussels can clog underwater infrastructure, costing Zebra mussel (Actual size is 1.5 cm) taxpayers millions of dollars, and can strip nutrients from nearly all the water in a lake in a single day, turning entire ecosystems upside down. Zebra and quagga mussels are already well established in the Great Lakes and Missis- sippi Basin and are beginning to invade Western states. It Quagga mussel takes only one contaminated boat to introduce zebra and (Actual size is 2 cm) quagga mussels into a new watershed; once they have Amy Benson, U.S. Geological Survey Geological Benson, U.S. Amy been introduced, they are virtually impossible to control. REPORT THIS SPECIES! Oregon: 1-866-INVADER or Oregon InvasivesHotline.org; Washington: 1-888-WDFW-AIS; California: 1-916- 651-8797 or email [email protected]; Other states: 1-877-STOP-ANS. Species in the news Learning extensions Resources Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Like a Mussel out of Water Invasion of the Quagga Mussels! slide coverage of quagga mussels: www. show: waterbase.uwm.edu/media/ opb.org/programs/ofg/episodes/ cruise/invasion_files/frame.html view/1901 (Only viewable with Microsoft Internet Explorer) Why you should care How they got here and spread These tiny invaders have dramatically changed Zebra and quagga mussels were introduced to the entire ecosystems, and they cost taxpayers billions Great Lakes from the Caspian and Black Sea region of dollars every year. -
Plains Zebra (<I>Equus Quagga</I>)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers National Park Service 1-7-2020 Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) Behaviour in a Restored Population Reveals Seasonal Resource Limitations Charli de Vos Stellenbosch University, [email protected] Alison J. Leslie Stellenbosch University, [email protected] Jason I. Ransom United States National Park Service, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark Part of the Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Fire Science and Firefighting Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Natural Resource Economics Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons Vos, Charli de; Leslie, Alison J.; and Ransom, Jason I., "Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) Behaviour in a Restored Population Reveals Seasonal Resource Limitations" (2020). U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers. 200. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/200 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the National Park Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 224 (2020) 104936 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Applied Animal Behaviour Science journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/applanim Plains zebra (Equus quagga) behaviour in a restored population reveals seasonal resource limitations T Charli de Vosa, Alison J. Leslieb, Jason I. -
Landman Etal. Habitat Suitability Assessements for Namaqualand
A habitat suitability assessment for the introduction of Black Rhinoceros and Mountain Zebra to the Namaqua National Park and Upland priority region in the Succulent Karoo Biome M. Landman, A.M. Shrader and G.I.H. Kerley Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Port Elizabeth Report No. C110 6031 May 2006 A habitat suitability assessment for the introduction of Black Rhinoceros and Mountain Zebra to the Namaqua National Park and Upland priority region in the Succulent Karoo Biome M. Landman, A.M. Shrader and G.I.H. Kerley Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit PO Box 77000 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Port Elizabeth, 6031 Report No. C110 May 2006 Report to: Conservation International Foundation - South Africa Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens Cape Town, 7735 CONTENTS Page 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE 2 3. INTRODUCTION 3 4. PROPOSED AREAS 4 5. APPROACH 5 6. MOUNTAIN ZEBRA Equus zebra 6.1 Historical occurrence 9 6.2 Ecological requirements and general biology 10 6.3 Habitat suitability assessment 6.3.1 Platbakkies 11 6.3.2 Spoegriver 13 6.3.3 Rooiberg catchment 14 6.3.4 Namaqua National Park 17 6.4 Summary & Recommendations 20 6.4.1 Reintroduction strategy 21 6.4.2 Potential carrying capacity 22 7. BLACK RHINOCEROS Diceros bicornis 7.1 Historical occurrence 24 2.2 Ecological requirements and general biology 25 7.3 Habitat suitability assessment 7.3.1 Namaqua National Park 26 7.4 Summary & Recommendations 28 8. POTENTIAL FOR OTHER HERBIVORE RE-INTRODUCTIONS 28 9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 29 10. REFERENCES 29 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The aim of the study was to determine the potential suitability of areas in Namaqualand for the introduction of mountain zebra and black rhinoceros. -
Equus Zebra Zebra) T
IJP: Parasites and Wildlife 9 (2019) 130–133 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect IJP: Parasites and Wildlife journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijppaw Translocation a potential corridor for equine piroplasms in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) T Rae Marvin Smitha,b, Raksha Vasantrai Bhoorac, Antoinette Kotzéa,b, J. Paul Groblerb, ∗ Desiré Lee Daltona,b, a Research and Scientific Services, National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa b Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa c Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Translocation of animals in fragmented habitats is an important means of dispersal and gene flow, however, the Cape mountain zebra movement of animals has led to the spread of various diseases globally and wildlife are often the reservoirs of Equus zebra zebra these diseases. Currently, Cape mountain zebra are translocated within South Africa as a management method Translocation for augmentation of isolated and fragmented populations. The movement of pathogens due to translocations in Piroplasm local regions have gone largely unchecked, particularly where there may still be isolated regions that can be Babesia caballi negatively affected. Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Theilaria equi and/or Babesia caballi Theilaria equi reported to occur in equids (Bhoora et al., 2010; Zweygarth et al., 2002). Here, the presence of T. equi and B. caballi was detected in 137 clinically healthy Cape mountain zebra from three South African reserves, Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP), De Hoop Nature Reserve (DHNR) and Karoo National Park (KNP) using the multiplex EP real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. -
Speciation with Gene Flow in Equids Despite Extensive Chromosomal Plasticity
Speciation with gene flow in equids despite extensive chromosomal plasticity Hákon Jónssona,1, Mikkel Schuberta,1, Andaine Seguin-Orlandoa,b,1, Aurélien Ginolhaca, Lillian Petersenb, Matteo Fumagallic,d, Anders Albrechtsene, Bent Petersenf, Thorfinn S. Korneliussena, Julia T. Vilstrupa, Teri Learg, Jennifer Leigh Mykag, Judith Lundquistg, Donald C. Millerh, Ahmed H. Alfarhani, Saleh A. Alquraishii, Khaled A. S. Al-Rasheidi, Julia Stagegaardj, Günter Straussk, Mads Frost Bertelsenl, Thomas Sicheritz-Pontenf, Douglas F. Antczakh, Ernest Baileyg, Rasmus Nielsenc, Eske Willersleva, and Ludovic Orlandoa,2 aCentre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark; bNational High-Throughput DNA Sequencing Center, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark; cDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; dUCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; eThe Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; fCentre for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark; gMaxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Veterinary Science Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546; hBaker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; iZoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; jRee Park, Ebeltoft Safari, DK-8400 Ebeltoft, Denmark; kTierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, 10319 Berlin, Germany; and lCentre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark Edited by Andrew G. Clark, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and approved October 27, 2014 (received for review July 3, 2014) Horses, asses, and zebras belong to a single genus, Equus,which Conservation of Nature. -
Zebra Fact Sheet
ZEBRA FACT SHEET STATUS: The Plains Zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchelli) is the most common, and has or had about five subspecies distributed across much of southern and eastern Africa. It, or particular subspecies of it, have also been known as the Common Zebra, the Dauw, Burchell's Zebra (actually the extinct subspecies, Equus quagga burchelli), and the Quagga (another extinct subspecies, Equus quagga quagga). The Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) of southwest Africa tends to have a sleek coat with a white belly and narrower stripes than the Plains Zebra. It has two subspecies and is classified as endangered. Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest type, with an erect mane, and a long, narrow head making it appear rather mule like. It is a creature of the semi arid grasslands of Ethiopia, Somalia, and northern Kenya. It is endangered too. There are two subspecies of mountain zebra. Equus zebra is endangered and Equus zebra hartmannae is threatened. DESCRIPTION: Zebras have black and white stripes all over their bodies except their stomachs, which are white. They have four one-toed hoofs. Their slender, pointed ears reach up to eight inches in length. Zebras have manes of short hair that stick straight up from their necks. The stripes on their bodies continue to the mane. They also have a tuft of hair at the end of their tails. The Grevy's Zebra differs from all other zebras in its primitive characteristics and different behavior. SIZE: Zebras reach six to eight-and-a-half feet in length. Their tails are an additional one-and-a-half feet long. -
Stripes Faded, Barking Silenced: Remembering Quagga Rick De Vos Curtin University
Animal Studies Journal Volume 3 | Issue 1 Article 4 5-2014 Stripes Faded, Barking Silenced: Remembering Quagga Rick De Vos Curtin University Follow this and additional works at: http://ro.uow.edu.au/asj Recommended Citation De Vos, Rick, Stripes Faded, Barking Silenced: Remembering Quagga, Animal Studies Journal, 3(1), 2014, 29-45. Available at:http://ro.uow.edu.au/asj/vol3/iss1/4 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Stripes Faded, Barking Silenced: Remembering Quagga Abstract The death of the last quagga on August 12, 1889 represented the loss of a long-term resident of the Artis Magistra Zoo in Amsterdam, at the time a private institution accessible only to members. The am re’s death was not recognised at the time as signifying the extinction of the quagga, largely due to the vague and general usage of the term ‘quagga’. The delay in understanding the significance of this death, and the way in which quaggas rapidly disappeared in the wild in southern Africa in the nineteenth century, have been overshadowed in scientific nda historical accounts by debates concerning the classification of the quagga and its re-creation by elective breeding from plains zebra stock. This paper examines quaggas in terms of their relationships with each other and with other animals on the southern African plains, considering how they have been remembered in different contexts and reflecting on what has been lost in the light of attempts to erase and redeem their extinction.