Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity
Abstract Southern Africa is expected to experience increased frequency and intensity of droughts through climate change, which will adversely affect mammalian herbivores. Using bio-loggers, we tested the expectation that wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), a grazer with high water-dependence, would...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83732-w |
| _version_ | 1818683816790720512 |
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| author | Melinda Boyers Francesca Parrini Norman Owen-Smith Barend F. N. Erasmus Robyn S. Hetem |
| author_facet | Melinda Boyers Francesca Parrini Norman Owen-Smith Barend F. N. Erasmus Robyn S. Hetem |
| author_sort | Melinda Boyers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Southern Africa is expected to experience increased frequency and intensity of droughts through climate change, which will adversely affect mammalian herbivores. Using bio-loggers, we tested the expectation that wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), a grazer with high water-dependence, would be more sensitive to drought conditions than the arid-adapted gemsbok (Oryx gazella gazella). The study, conducted in the Kalahari, encompassed two hot-dry seasons with similar ambient temperatures but differing rainfall patterns during the preceding wet season. In the drier year both ungulates selected similar cooler microclimates, but wildebeest travelled larger distances than gemsbok, presumably in search of water. Body temperatures in both species reached lower daily minimums and higher daily maximums in the drier season but daily fluctuations were wider in wildebeest than in gemsbok. Lower daily minimum body temperatures displayed by wildebeest suggest that wildebeest were under greater nutritional stress than gemsbok. Moving large distances when water is scarce may have compromised the energy balance of the water dependent wildebeest, a trade-off likely to be exacerbated with future climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:40:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f5d88c9114c46dcbd47e473cb166675 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:40:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f5d88c9114c46dcbd47e473cb1666752022-12-21T21:52:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-02-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-83732-wContrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridityMelinda Boyers0Francesca Parrini1Norman Owen-Smith2Barend F. N. Erasmus3Robyn S. Hetem4Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the WitwatersrandCentre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the WitwatersrandCentre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the WitwatersrandGlobal Change Institute, University of the WitwatersrandBrain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the WitwatersrandAbstract Southern Africa is expected to experience increased frequency and intensity of droughts through climate change, which will adversely affect mammalian herbivores. Using bio-loggers, we tested the expectation that wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), a grazer with high water-dependence, would be more sensitive to drought conditions than the arid-adapted gemsbok (Oryx gazella gazella). The study, conducted in the Kalahari, encompassed two hot-dry seasons with similar ambient temperatures but differing rainfall patterns during the preceding wet season. In the drier year both ungulates selected similar cooler microclimates, but wildebeest travelled larger distances than gemsbok, presumably in search of water. Body temperatures in both species reached lower daily minimums and higher daily maximums in the drier season but daily fluctuations were wider in wildebeest than in gemsbok. Lower daily minimum body temperatures displayed by wildebeest suggest that wildebeest were under greater nutritional stress than gemsbok. Moving large distances when water is scarce may have compromised the energy balance of the water dependent wildebeest, a trade-off likely to be exacerbated with future climate change.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83732-w |
| spellingShingle | Melinda Boyers Francesca Parrini Norman Owen-Smith Barend F. N. Erasmus Robyn S. Hetem Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity Scientific Reports |
| title | Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity |
| title_full | Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity |
| title_fullStr | Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity |
| title_short | Contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity |
| title_sort | contrasting capabilities of two ungulate species to cope with extremes of aridity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83732-w |
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