Ecology and Population Status of the Puku Antelope (Kobus vardonii LIVINGSTONE, 1857) in Zambia Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr. rer. nat.) der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn vorgelegt von Vera Rduch aus Kleve Bonn, September 2013 Angefertigt mit der Genehmigung der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Science (Dr. rer. nat.) in Zoology at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. This thesis was compiled with the permission of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität at Bonn. 1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhme 2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Horst Bleckmann Tag der Promotion: 16. Dezember 2013 Erscheinungsjahr: 2014 Erklärung Hiermit erkläre ich, dass ich diese Dissertation persönlich, selbstständig und unter Offenlegung der erhaltenen Hilfen angefertigt habe und dass diese Arbeit noch nicht anderweitig als Dissertation eingereicht wurde. Stellen der Arbeit, die anderen Werken in Wortlaut oder Sinn entnommen wurden, sind unter Angabe der Quellen als Entlehnung kenntlich gemacht. Vera Rduch Bonn, im September 2013 Declaration I declare that the research described within this thesis is my own work and that this thesis is my own composition. I certify that this thesis has never been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. Vera Rduch Bonn, September 2013 Diese Dissertation wurde innerhalb des ZamBio-Projektes des Zoologischen Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn in Zusammenarbeit mit der Zambian Wildlife Authority durchgeführt. This thesis was conducted within the ZamBio Project of the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig at Bonn in cooperation with the Zambian Wildlife Authority. Ecology and population status of the puku antelope (Kobus vardonii) in Zambia Contents Abstract: “Ecology and population status of the puku antelope (Kobus vardonii LIVINGSTONE, 1857) in Zambia” ............................................................................................................... i Zusammenfassung: “Ökologie und Populationsstatus der Puku Antilope (Kobus vardonii LIVINGSTONE, 1857) in Sambia“ ........................................................................................... iii Résumé: “L’écologie et l’état des populations de l’antilope puku (Kobus vardonii LIVINGSTONE, 1857) en Zambie“ ........................................................................................... v 1 General Introduction .................................................................................. 1 1.1 General conception ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The puku – an outline ........................................................................................................... 5 1.3 The study region ................................................................................................................... 9 2 Population status, distribution patterns and habitat choice ...................... 16 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 17 2.2 Material and Methods ........................................................................................................ 22 2.2.1 Data collection on the transect line ......................................................................................... 22 2.2.2 Location and short description of the transect lines ................................................................ 25 2.2.3 Setting camera-traps ................................................................................................................ 28 2.2.4 Data analyses ............................................................................................................................ 30 2.3 Results ................................................................................................................................ 36 2.3.1 Sightings on the transect lines .................................................................................................. 36 2.3.2 Habitat choice of antelopes ...................................................................................................... 40 2.3.3 Population estimates with DISTANCE ....................................................................................... 46 2.3.4 Results of the camera-trap survey............................................................................................ 53 2.3.5 Social organisation of the puku ................................................................................................ 55 2.3.6 Body condition of puku ............................................................................................................ 62 2.4 Discussion ........................................................................................................................... 64 2.4.1 General remarks to line transects and DISTANCE analyses ...................................................... 64 2.4.2 Distribution patterns of puku in the dry season ....................................................................... 66 2.4.3 The puku’s distribution in the late rainy season ...................................................................... 75 2.4.4 The development of the puku’s population in Kasanka NP...................................................... 75 2.4.5 The camera-trap survey ............................................................................................................ 77 2.4.6 Spatial overlap between puku and other antelopes ................................................................ 80 2.4.7 Looking inside the puku’s populations ..................................................................................... 85 2.4.8 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 92 3 Diet and dietary overlap of puku and other bovids .................................... 95 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 96 3.2 Material & Methods ......................................................................................................... 100 3.2.1 Assessment and collection of grass species ........................................................................... 100 3.2.2 The reference collection of grasses ........................................................................................ 102 3.2.3 Collection of faecal samples of bovid species ........................................................................ 105 3.2.4 Analysis of faecal samples ...................................................................................................... 108 3.2.5 Data analyses .......................................................................................................................... 109 Ecology and population status of the puku antelope (Kobus vardonii) in Zambia 3.3 Results .............................................................................................................................. 111 3.3.1 Grass species in the study regions .......................................................................................... 111 3.3.2 Diet of puku and other bovid species ..................................................................................... 112 3.3.3 Food preferences in Kasanka NP ............................................................................................ 122 3.3.4 Measurements of diet breadth .............................................................................................. 127 3.3.5 Evaluation of dietary overlap ................................................................................................. 129 3.4 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 138 3.4.1 General remarks about the methods ..................................................................................... 138 3.4.2 General classification of the puku’s diet ................................................................................ 139 3.4.3 Grasses in the puku’s diet ....................................................................................................... 140 3.4.4 Variation in the puku’s diet .................................................................................................... 146 3.4.5 Dietary competition between bovid species .......................................................................... 150 3.4.6 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 153 4 Predation on the puku antelope .............................................................. 156 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 157 4.2 Methods ........................................................................................................................... 159 4.2.1 Searching for signs of carnivore species ................................................................................