Termitaria are focal feeding sites for large ungulates in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

In constructing large vegetated mounds, Macrotermes termites play a key functional role in many African savanna systems. This study focuses on ungulate feeding on Macrotermes termitaria vegetation in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. With the exception of oribi Ourebia ourebi, all the species studie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of zoology (1987) 2005-09, Vol.267 (1), p.97-102
Main Authors: Mobæk, Ragnhild, Narmo, Anne Kjersti, Moe, Stein R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal reproduction
Ecosystems
feeding ecology
Macrotermes
sexual segregation
ungulates
Wildlife management
Zoology
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Summary:In constructing large vegetated mounds, Macrotermes termites play a key functional role in many African savanna systems. This study focuses on ungulate feeding on Macrotermes termitaria vegetation in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. With the exception of oribi Ourebia ourebi, all the species studied (i.e. impala Aepyceros melampus, Burchell's zebra Equus burchelli, Defassa waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus, topi Damaliscus lunatus, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus and warthog Phacochoerus africanus) grazed preferentially on mound areas compared to the adjacent savanna. Ruminant species grazed closer to termitaria than non-ruminants and female impala both browsed and grazed closer to mounds than males. No sexual difference in grazing distance to mounds was found for waterbuck.
ISSN:0952-8369
1469-7998
DOI:10.1017/S0952836905007272