Spotted hyenas adjust their foraging behavior in response to climate change:
It is crucial to understand the mechanisms and extent to which animals in diverse ecosystems are resilient to climate change. Changes in the timing or amount of precipitation can alter vegetation growth and hence the distribution of migratory herbivores, such as the blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania, East Africa. Climate change may thus ultimately influence the location of profitable feeding areas for predators, such as spotted hyenas, who feed on these herbivores. A recent paper reveals that spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) can adjust their foraging behaviour to shifts in migratory prey presence in their territories that are linked to recent changes in pattern and amount of rainfall.
Scientists from the Leibniz-IZW and CEFE analysed data from a long-term project on three clans of spotted hyenas in the centre of the Serengeti National Park. The three clans have been monitored continuously from 1990 to 2019, on a near-daily basis. Weather data show that total annual rainfall substantially increased in the Serengeti over these three decades. Simultaneously, the presence of migratory herds in hyena clan territories essentially halved. "To assess how the hyenas responded to these changes in rainfall patterns and prey abundance in their territories, we focused on maternal den attendance -- the presence of lactating hyenas with entirely milk-dependent offspring at communal dens," says Morgane Gicquel, first author of the paper and doctoral student at the Leibniz-IZW.
The research team found that, over the course of a year, the probability of migratory herd presence in hyena clan territories increased with the amount of rainfall two months earlier, and that the probability of maternal den presence in clan territories also increased with that of migratory herd presence. As rainfall volume increased over the years, the presence of migratory herds in hyena clans decreased because the association between rainfall and herd presence became weaker. Surprisingly, maternal den attendance did not decrease throughout the entire study period and still matched periods of high prey abundance.
Journal Reference:Morgane Gicquel, Marion L. East, Heribert Hofer, Sarah Cubaynes, Sarah Benhaiem. Climate change does not decouple interactions between a central‐place‐foraging predator and its migratory prey. Ecosphere, 2022; 13 (4)(DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4012)
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Snotnose on Wednesday April 06 2022, @10:51PM (5 children)
When the food source ($$$) changes they change their eating habits. Personal convictions, what the voters voted them in for, table scraps.
There is no way you and I can fight against the huge special interests that are giving these spineless assholes who are taking in huge sums of $$$. Most voters don't even see the problem.
I'm glad I'm old and will probably be dead in 20 years according to the acturial tables.
I just passed a drug test. My dealer has some explaining to do.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Snotnose on Wednesday April 06 2022, @10:55PM (3 children)
Dumass me focused on syntax in the message, and missed "they're" in the headline.
*will smith much deserved slap*
I just passed a drug test. My dealer has some explaining to do.
(Score: 4, Funny) by bzipitidoo on Thursday April 07 2022, @01:51AM (1 child)
Syntax error? Well, the study is only about the hyenas that have been spotted. What about the unseen ones?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 07 2022, @10:57AM
What about hyenas with no spots?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday April 07 2022, @01:24PM
Your not the only one who would do something like that.[1]
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[1]accidentally, on porpoise
How often should I have my memory checked? I used to know but...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 07 2022, @03:20AM
How can they? It's on the inside
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 06 2022, @11:27PM
Unspotted hyenas went about the business grunting (in hyena speak) "fuck you and fuck your climate wowow."
Some noted that these beasts seem to sport a red baseball cap on their heads, but not by a reliable source.