Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Age and sex determination of 101 lower jaws from drought-driven savanna elephant mortalities was done in Hwange National Park (HNP) using the Age Reference Line (ARL) method. We recorded an overall higher number of female elephant death compared to males. The age at death was skewed towards the youn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific African |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227622003647 |
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| author | Mukululi Ndlovu Tinaapi H. Madiri Daphine Madhlamoto Kundai M. Tadyanehondo Amanda Vambe Ezekiel Mungoni |
| author_facet | Mukululi Ndlovu Tinaapi H. Madiri Daphine Madhlamoto Kundai M. Tadyanehondo Amanda Vambe Ezekiel Mungoni |
| author_sort | Mukululi Ndlovu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Age and sex determination of 101 lower jaws from drought-driven savanna elephant mortalities was done in Hwange National Park (HNP) using the Age Reference Line (ARL) method. We recorded an overall higher number of female elephant death compared to males. The age at death was skewed towards the young and very old individuals, with an overall gradual decrease in frequency into prime cohorts. Female elephant mortalities were more prevalent in young animals, nursing, and very old individuals. A similar mortality trend was observed for male elephants below the age of 22 years. We did not record any elephant between the age of 45–52.5 years for both sexes. We support the notion that the overall distribution of the female's mortality prevalence compared to males is aligned to and influenced by the social and developmental behaviour of savanna elephants. Our findings suggest a natural selection process at play, facilitated by resource limitation during the period of drought. This study provides evidence for the need to get back to the basic ecological principles and understanding of natural ecological processes in the conservation of key species. Although elephant mortalities due to drought represent a small proportion of the entire population in the study area, more work needs to be done to investigate the influence of drought, novel infections and anthropogenic drivers as they have potential to affect savanna elephant populations in the long term. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:43:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1811cee761ae41eaa7d71c2fcb6add12 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2468-2276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:43:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific African |
| spelling | doaj.art-1811cee761ae41eaa7d71c2fcb6add122023-03-06T04:16:18ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762023-03-0119e01459Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, ZimbabweMukululi Ndlovu0Tinaapi H. Madiri1Daphine Madhlamoto2Kundai M. Tadyanehondo3Amanda Vambe4Ezekiel Mungoni5Scientific Services, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Matetsi Safari Area, P Bag 5926, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Corresponding author.Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hwange National Park P Bag 5779 Dete, ZimbabweZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hwange National Park P Bag 5779 Dete, ZimbabweZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hwange National Park P Bag 5779 Dete, ZimbabweZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hwange National Park P Bag 5779 Dete, ZimbabweZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hwange National Park P Bag 5779 Dete, ZimbabweAge and sex determination of 101 lower jaws from drought-driven savanna elephant mortalities was done in Hwange National Park (HNP) using the Age Reference Line (ARL) method. We recorded an overall higher number of female elephant death compared to males. The age at death was skewed towards the young and very old individuals, with an overall gradual decrease in frequency into prime cohorts. Female elephant mortalities were more prevalent in young animals, nursing, and very old individuals. A similar mortality trend was observed for male elephants below the age of 22 years. We did not record any elephant between the age of 45–52.5 years for both sexes. We support the notion that the overall distribution of the female's mortality prevalence compared to males is aligned to and influenced by the social and developmental behaviour of savanna elephants. Our findings suggest a natural selection process at play, facilitated by resource limitation during the period of drought. This study provides evidence for the need to get back to the basic ecological principles and understanding of natural ecological processes in the conservation of key species. Although elephant mortalities due to drought represent a small proportion of the entire population in the study area, more work needs to be done to investigate the influence of drought, novel infections and anthropogenic drivers as they have potential to affect savanna elephant populations in the long term.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227622003647Drought-mortalityMolar progressionAge Reference LineCohort |
| spellingShingle | Mukululi Ndlovu Tinaapi H. Madiri Daphine Madhlamoto Kundai M. Tadyanehondo Amanda Vambe Ezekiel Mungoni Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe Scientific African Drought-mortality Molar progression Age Reference Line Cohort |
| title | Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Age-sex structure of drought-driven African elephant (Loxodonta africana) mortality in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | age sex structure of drought driven african elephant loxodonta africana mortality in hwange national park zimbabwe |
| topic | Drought-mortality Molar progression Age Reference Line Cohort |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227622003647 |
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