Research Articles (Mammal Research Institute)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/5233

A collection containing some of the full text peer-reviewed/ refereed articles published by researchers from the Mammal Research Institute

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A place-based assessment of biodiversity intactness in sub-Saharan Africa
Clements, Hayley S.; Biggs, Reinette; De Vos, Alta; Do Linh San, Emmanuel; Hempson, Gareth P.; Linden, Birthe; Maritz, Bryan; Monadjem, Ara; Reynolds, Chevonne; Siebert, Frances; Stevens, Nicola; Child, Matthew; Di Minin, Enrico; Esler, Karen J.; Hamann, Maike; Loft, Ty; Reyers, Belinda; Selomane, Odirilwe; Singh, Geethen; Skowno, Andrew L. (Nature Research, 2026-01-01)
Maintaining biodiversity is central to the sustainable development agenda. However, a lack of context-specific biodiversity information at policy-relevant scales has posed major limitations to decision-makers. To address this challenge, we undertook a comprehensive assessment of the biodiversity intactness of sub-Saharan Africa using place-based knowledge of 200 African biodiversity experts. We estimate that the region has on average lost 24% of its pre-colonial and pre-industrial faunal and floral population abundances, ranging from losses of <20% for disturbance-adapted herbaceous plants to 80% for some large mammals. Rwanda and Nigeria are the least intact (<55%), whereas Namibia and Botswana are the most intact (>85%). Notably, most remaining organisms occur in unprotected, relatively untransformed rangelands and natural forests. Losses in biodiversity intactness in the worst-affected biomes are driven by land transformation into cropland in grasslands and fynbos (Mediterranean-type ecosystems), by non-agricultural degradation in forests and by a combination of the two drivers in savannas. This assessment provides decision-makers with multifaceted, contextually appropriate and policy-relevant information on the state of biodiversity in an understudied region of the world. Our approach could be used in other regions, including better-studied localities, to integrate contextual, place-based knowledge into multiscale assessments of biodiversity status and impacts.
Intraspecific differentiation and phylogeography of the Damaraland mole-rat Fukomys damarensis reveals rapid colonization of arid savannahs during the late Pleistocene
Sumbera, Radim; Uhrova, Michaela; Bennett, Nigel Charles; Eiseb, Seth J.; Faulkes, Chris G.; Finn, Kyle T.; Lovy, Matej; Phiri, Ketty; Van Daele, Paul A.A.G.; Zikova, Barbora; Mikula, Ondrej (Springer, 2026-01)
The Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) is a cooperatively breeding rodent primarily inhabiting sandy soils of southern Africa. It has the largest distribution of all the species in the genus Fukomys, from northwestern South Africa to Zambia, and from central Namibia across to western Zimbabwe. To the north of the Zambezi River in Zambia, it is replaced by its sister species Micklem’s mole-rat (Fukomys micklemi). Despite a long history of studying the species, phylogeography of F. damarensis remains poorly understood. We analysed its intraspecific genetic structure and past population trends using mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences (published as well as acquired from museum and newly collected specimens). Also, we explored major axes of soil and climate variation among localities inhabited by this species. For comparison, we performed the same series of analyses also for F. micklemi. Within F. damarensis, we identified three major matrilineages. They were all found together in the Upper Zambezi – Okavango Delta region, where their habitat characteristics overlap widely with those of F. micklemi. However, one of the matrilineages likely underwent rapid expansion southwards to the sandy soils of Botswana, Namibia and northwestern South Africa. The expansion was tentatively dated to the second half of the last glacial, a period of increasing aridity and formation of sandy soils. This is in sharp contrast to F. micklemi, whose population had been much more stable over the last glacial cycle.
Ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing
Allen , Benjamin L.; Abraham, Andrew J.; Arlinghaus, Robert; Belant, Jerrold L.; Blumstein, Daniel T.; Bobier, Christopher; Bodenchuk, Michael J.; Clauss, Marcus; Dawson , Stuart J.; Derbyshire, Stuart W.G.; Ferreira, Sam M.; Fleming, Peter J.S.; Forssman, Tim; Gorecki, Vanessa; Gortazar, Christian; Griffin, Andrea S.; Hampton, Jordan O.; Haswell , Peter M.; Kerley, Graham I.H.; Lean, Christopher H.; Leroy, Frederic; Linnell , John D.C.; Lynch, Kate; Mare, Celeste; Melville, Haemish; Minnie, Liaan; Moodley, Yoshan; Nayeri, Danial; O’Riain , M. Justin; Parker, Dan; Periquet-Pearce , Stephanie; Proulx, Gilbert; Radloff, Frans G.T.; Schwab, Alexander; Selier, Sarah-Anne Jeanetta; Shephard, Samuel; Somers, Michael J.; Van Wart , T. Adam; Vercauteren, Kurt C.; Von Essen, Erica (Frontiers Media, 2025-10-09)
Killing animals is a ubiquitous human activity consistent with our predatory and competitive ecological roles within the global food web. However, this reality does not automatically justify the moral permissibility of the various ways and reasons why humans kill animals – additional ethical arguments are required. Multiple ethical theories or frameworks provide guidance on this subject, and here we explore the permissibility of intentional animal killing within (1) consequentialism, (2) natural law or deontology, (3) religious ethics or divine command theory, (4) virtue ethics, (5) care ethics, (6) contractarianism or social contract theory, (7) ethical particularism, and (8) environmental ethics. These frameworks are most often used to argue that intentional animal killing is morally impermissible, bad, incorrect, or wrong, yet here we show that these same ethical frameworks can be used to argue that many forms of intentional animal killing are morally permissible, good, correct, or right. Each of these ethical frameworks support constrained positions where intentional animal killing is morally permissible in a variety of common contexts, and we further address and dispel typical ethical objections to this view. Given the demonstrably widespread and consistent ways that intentional animal killing can be ethically supported across multiple frameworks, we show that it is incorrect to label such killing as categorically unethical. We encourage deeper consideration of the many ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing and the contexts in which they apply.
A non-invasive footprint technique for accurate identification of cryptic small mammal species : a sengi case study
Alibhai, Sk; Avenant, Nico; Oosthuizen, Maria Kathleen; Carlson, Lynn; Macfadyen, Duncan; Jewell, Zoe (Frontiers Media, 2026-01-27)
The acceleration of biodiversity loss highlights the need for practical, affordable species monitoring tools. A key requirement of monitoring is the accurate identification of species, a particular challenge with cryptic species. This study introduces a non-invasive footprint identification technology to classify two cryptic sengi species (Elephantulus myurus and Elephantulus intufi) - key bioindicators in the rapidly changing Southern African biomes. Front footprints were collected, using a custom Small Mammal Reference Track box, from live-captured individuals that were identified by experts in small mammal taxonomy and verified through genetic analyses. Morphometric features of the footprints (lengths, angles and areas) were extracted using JMP software. Linear Discriminant Analysis, based on nine key variables, achieved a mean classification accuracy of 94–96% across training, validation, and test datasets, robustly distinguishing the two species using a single footprint image. By integrating our field capture locations with data from the IUCN expert-defined ranges and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, we demonstrate that FIT empowers non-experts to contribute reliable, high-resolution occurrence data. This scalable approach has the potential to transform community-science efforts, improving the accuracy of species distribution maps and ultimately strengthening conservation outcomes. Planned advancements include open-ended track tunnels and expanded machine learning models to monitor more small mammals in at-risk ecosystems. This approach offers a scalable, low-impact alternative to traditional trapping and genetic methods, reduces animal stress, morbidity and mortality, and empowers local communities to enhance data quality and monitoring through integration with traditional ecological knowledge.
A multi-scale environmental niche model for the endangered dhole Cuon alpinus
Khatiwada, Monsoon Pokharel; Kunkel, Kyran E.; Wright, Wendy; Acharya, B.; Aung, Saw Soe; Bhumpakphan, Naris; Cheng, T.C.; Davis, C.; Ean, Tan Poai; Ferraz, Katia M.P.M.B.; Ghaskadbi, P.; Ghimirey, Y.P.; Gilbert, M.; Gupta, B.K.; Habib, B.; Haidir, I.; Havmoller, L.; Havmoller, R.W.; Jenks, K.E.; Kamler, J.F.; Khatiwada, A.P.; Li, S.; Macdonald, D.W.; Machmudah, F.; Mekiln, Y.; Namgyal, C.; Nawangsari, V.A.; Ngoprasert, D.; Nurvianto, S.; Rahman, H.A.; Rahman, S.C.; Rasphone, A.; Roux, P.; Seuaturien, N.; Shwe, N.M.; Songsasen, N.; Steinmetz, R.; Sukmasuang, R.; Thinley, P.; Tipkantha, W.; Traylor-Holzer, K.; Wahyudi, H.; Dalerum, Fredrik (Cambridge University Press, 2026)
The dhole Cuon alpinus is a large canid that is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and at risk of global extinction. Information on the spatial distribution of suitable habitat is important for conservation planning but is largely unavailable. We quantified the spatial distribution of potential range as well as the relative probability of dhole occurrence across large parts of the species’ global range. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to produce a multi-scale environmental niche model based on 24 environmental variables and dhole occurrence data from 12 countries. We identified three regions where dhole conservation should be focused: western India, central India, and across the Himalayan foothills through Southeast Asia. Connectivity between suitable areas was poor, so coordinated action among these regions should be a priority. For instance, transboundary dhole conservation initiatives across the Himalayas from southern China, Myanmar, north-east India, Nepal and Bhutan need to be initiated. We also highlight the value of improving dhole population viability on unprotected land and increasing monitoring in the northern parts of its historic distribution, in particular in areas within mainland China.
Subterranean mammalian societies : identity and social architecture in eusocial mole-rats
Hart, Daniel William; Jacobs, Paul Juan; Bennett, Nigel Charles (Elsevier, 2026-01)
Societies are more than groups of animals coexisting; they are structured, enduring communities defined by stable membership, shared identity and relationships that persist across generations. Among mammals, such societies are uncommon but reach their most extreme form in the eusocial African mole-rats, namely the naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber, and the Damaraland mole-rat, Fukomys damarensis. Eusociality, well known from ants, bees and termites, is a social system loosely comparable to a monarchy, in which a single breeding queen and one or a few males monopolize the colony's reproduction, while other group members suppress their own reproductive potential to serve the needs of the colony. These mole-rats are among the only mammals to fully embody this system, forming long-lived, cooperative colonies with strict boundaries between colony members and outsiders. Yet their strategies for social cohesion diverge. Fukomys damarensis depends primarily on individual familiarity to maintain group identity, thereby limiting colony size. In contrast, H. glaber uses a shared colony scent and distinct colony-specific vocal dialect to support larger, scalable societies. By comparing these societal extremes, this review explores what makes societies stable, exclusive and resilient, while highlighting the gaps in our current knowledge. HIGHLIGHTS • We review eusocial African mole-rat society formation, maintenance and defence. • We compare diverging strategies of the naked and Damaraland mole-rat. • We explore what makes these societies stable, exclusive and resilient. • We also highlight gaps in the current knowledge on these two societies.
Release from captivity allows African savannah elephant movement patterns to converge with those of wild and rehabilitated conspecifics
Ganswindt, Andre; Tladi, Murphy; Murray-Hudson, Mike; Bennitt, Emily (Wiley, 2025-12)
Rewilding captive animals is an important strategy for rehabilitating individuals and ecosystems. Comparing the behaviors of released animals to their wild counterparts enables the evaluation of their adaptive response to new environments, assuming that wild animals are better suited to natural conditions. We examined how movement patterns of captive African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) before and after soft release compared with movement patterns of other elephant groups, rehabilitated and wild elephants, in the western Okavango Delta, Botswana. We monitored 12 adult female elephants using GPS collars: six captive elephants, subjected to a three-year phased soft release, two elephants released more than a decade earlier and four wild elephants. We quantified 30-min diurnal and nocturnal distances, cumulative daily distances, daily displacement, and monthly home range sizes across seasonal flood cycles. We analyzed the effects of release, season, time of day, and elephant group on movement metrics, comparing captive elephants before and after release, and with rehabilitated and wild elephants. Before release, captive elephants moved longer diurnal and shorter nocturnal 30-min distances, covered longer cumulative daily distances, and occupied smaller home ranges. After release, these metrics shifted, reducing differences with rehabilitated and wild elephants, although captive elephant home ranges remained significantly smaller. This suggests that captive elephants changed their movement patterns post-release in response to environmental cues. However, even the movement patterns of rehabilitated elephants were not completely similar to those of wild elephants, likely due to sample size, individual variation, or effects of prior taming. These results highlight the critical importance of long-term monitoring of animals since the movement patterns of released animals may take several years to converge with those of wild counterparts.
Diet and traffic : anthropogenic factors that influence stress-related hormone levels in African clawless otters
Burger, Marli; Ganswindt, Andre; Webster, Andrea B.; Scheun, Juan; Majelantle, Tshepiso L. (Oxford University Press, 2025-12)
Environmental and anthropogenic factors significantly drive adrenocortical activity of animals, affecting their behaviour, distribution and survival. Understanding how animals respond to such drivers is essential for effective conservation. Spraint samples from free-ranging African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) and camera trap data were collected from study sites categorized as natural or artificially transformed based on differences in anthropogenic disturbance levels. To determine if there were significant differences in faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations between the Natural (Kalkfontein Nature Reserve) and Transformed (Millstream Farm) sites, we ran a linear model that included sex, season, habitat type and their interaction. fGCM concentrations differed significantly between the sexes (df = 1; F1,106 = 11.180; P = 0.001); with males (n = 32; 0.608 ± 0.367 μg/g DW) having significantly higher fGCM concentrations compared to females (n = 79; 0.414 ± 0.399 μg/g DW, P = 0.006). The fGCM concentrations differed significantly between seasons (df = 1; F1,106 = 45.268; P < 0.001), with those in the dry winter season significantly higher (n = 66; 0.631 ± 0.420 μg/g DW), compared to the wet summer season (n = 45; 0.234 ± 0.199 μg/g DW). The fGCM concentrations differed significantly between habitat type (df = 1; F1,106 = 6.026; P = 0.016) with fGCM concentrations of individuals from the KNR natural site (n = 34; 0.285 ± 0.199 μg/g DW) being significantly lower compared to those measured in individuals at the MF transformed site (n = 77; 0.552 ± 0.436 μg/g DW). Finally, the difference in fGCM concentrations between locations however were not dependent on season (df = 1; F1,106 = 0.369; P = 0.544). Anthropogenic disturbance and alterations to the natural and varied prey-base of African clawless otters in an anthropogenically transformed site significantly affect their adrenocortical activity. Future research should focus on how these animals respond to anthropogenic disturbance, and what effects disturbance has on their behaviour, distribution and fitness. Mitigating human–otter conflict requires incorporating such behavioural responses into management strategies.
Light sensitivity and diel activity rhythms in the Angoni vlei rat (Otomys angoniensis) under natural and artificial conditions
Oosthuizen, Tasha; Pillay, Neville; Oosthuizen, Maria Kathleen (Taylor and Francis, 2025-10-16)
Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt daily rhythms of wildlife, yet little is known about its effects on African rodents. We investigated the diel activity rhythms of the Angoni vlei rat (Otomys angoniensis), a species with an inconclusive temporal niche. We exposed wild-caught vlei rats to three treatments: (1) standard laboratory light–dark cycle; (2) laboratory light–dark cycle with low-intensity ALAN (2 Lux); and (3) natural ambient light and temperature fluctuations. Activity was recorded via infrared sensors, and the activity rhythm was quantified using Cosinor analysis. Activity was predominantly nocturnal across all treatments. However, rhythm amplitude, MESOR and robustness were nearly three-times higher under natural conditions than in both laboratory treatments. ALAN did not significantly suppress activity, suggesting minimal masking effects (unlike strictly nocturnal animals) and possible flexibility in the temporal niche. In nature, O. angoniensis occupies dense grass habitats, and therefore, its predominantly nocturnal activity in captivity could be due to the lack of adequate cover during experiments. Moreover, the greater activity under natural conditions could be a consequence of brighter daytime light and natural temperature cycles. We suggest that although O. angoniensis displays nocturnal activity in the laboratory, it may be more diurnal in its natural habitat. Our findings demonstrate that the temporal activity of O. angoniensis is shaped by environmental context, with implications for contextualising circadian flexibility in species inhabiting human-altered landscapes.
Reflections on editorial leadership : looking back…moving forward
Den Hond, Frank; Painter, Mollie (Cambridge University Press, 2025-10)
We take the opportunity in this editorial that marks the end of our tenure, to offer some reflections on our experiences. It is an occasion for looking back, for reflection on the scholarship and practice of business ethics, and for celebrating some of the outstanding work that is being done in and for the journal.
Hyaena-mediated landscapes of fear : the influence of active spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) den sites on the detection probability and occupancy probability of a mammal community
Jansen Van Vuuren, Amauree; Curveira-Santos, Gonçalo; Swanepoel, Lourens; Valeix, Marion; Fritz, Herve; Venter, Jan A. (Southern African Wildlife Management Association, 2025-11)
African ecosystems support a diverse variety of predator species and have the highest diversity of large carnivores on earth. Apex predators play a crucial role in these ecosystems. Through hunting and creating a landscape of fear, apex predators influence the populations and behaviours of smaller predators and prey. According to the mesopredator release hypothesis, the absence of an apex predator leads to an increase in mesopredator populations, resulting in higher predation pressure on their prey and a subsequent decline in prey populations. The spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) is a key apex predator with several activity hotspots, the largest being the den, where landscapes of fear may be most pronounced. While there is substantial literature on factors influencing hyaena den site selection, the impact of these dens on the presence of potential prey and competitively inferior species remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the influence of perceived risk associated with hyaena dens on the occupancy and detection probabilities of prey species within the ecosystem. We used camera traps set up around dens to assess these probabilities, providing a detailed analysis of mesopredator and prey species' responses to hyaena activity. Our results indicate a correlation between increased hyaena activity and reduced occupancy and detection probabilities in mesopredator and prey species. These findings suggest that hyaena dens create landscapes of fear, influencing mesopredator and prey species' distribution and behaviour.
Efficient statistical inference of turning points in animal movement data
Alharbi, Abdulmajeed F.; Blackwell, Paul G.; Alagaili, Abdulaziz; Bennett, Nigel Charles; Scantlebury, David Michael; Potts, Jonathan R. (Wiley, 2026)
Recent years have seen a proliferation of high-frequency animal movement data, often at greater than 1 Hz, allowing us to gain much greater insight into behaviour than with lower frequency data. In particular, it is becoming possible to detect the precise points at which animals are making decisions to turn, thus placing the idea that the animals move in ‘steps and turns’ onto rigorous grounding. 2. Despite this, current efforts to ascertain the points at which animals turn tend to rely on the user making pre-determined choices of certain model parameter values. Furthermore, whilst they may give good results, there is often no theory explaining why the inferred turning points are most likely to be correct, for example by maximising a likelihood function. 3. Here, we propose a theoretically grounded statistical technique to find turning points in high-frequency movement data that does not require any a priori choices of parameter values. By testing our algorithm on simulated data, we show that our technique is both fast (e.g. 3 s to parse data points) and accurate. For example, when the standard deviation of the noise is less than around radians then our algorithm correctly identifies nearly of the turning points, providing the noise is not heavily autocorrelated. Additionally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique on magnetometer data from free-ranging Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). 4. Overall, our work gives a fast, accurate and statistically grounded algorithm for turning point detection in high-frequency data. The resulting model of straight-line steps and turns provides a biologically meaningful summary of the animal's movement behaviour, which has potential to be used as an input to the wide range of step-and-turn techniques used in movement ecology, such as step selection analysis and hidden Markov models of behavioural states.
A systematic revision of Equatorial Guinea's bats confirms a biodiversity hotspot in Central Africa
Torrent, Laura; Garin, Inazio; Aihartza, Joxerra; Nguema Alene, Esther Abeme; Monadjem, Ara; Juste, Javier (Oxford University Press, 2025-12)
The bat fauna of Equatorial Guinea (EG), on the western edge of the Lower Guinea rainforest, a predicted African bat diversity hotspot, remained poorly documented. We collated data from literature, natural history collections and recent fieldwork to compile a comprehensive biodiversity assessment of the bats of mainland EG. This yielded 58 taxa from 29 genera and eight families: 11 species within Pteropodidae, three within Emballonuridae, two within Rhinolophidae, six within Hipposideridae, eight within Molossidae, one within Miniopteridae, five within Nycteridae, and 22 within Vespertilionidae. We report 33 new national records and three additional taxa that require further taxonomic confirmation. Notable additions include Casinycteris campomaanensis, Coleura afra, Glauconycteris superba, Hipposideros curtus and Mops petersoni. This study provides the first detailed documentation of bat diversity for mainland EG, enhancing our understanding of species richness and distributions in this biodiversity hotspot, and offering insights to guide future ecological research and conservation efforts. The bat species richness documented in our study exceeds that of any other forest site in tropical Africa with comparable size and habitat, with additional forest-dwelling species likely yet to be found. This biodiversity assessment highlights the importance of protecting bat assemblages in EG and the broader Lower Guinea rainforest region.
Low genetic diversity and regional isolation of South Africa’s inshore Bryde’s whales
Paynee, Dominique Kelsi; Vermeulen, Els; Penry, Gwenith S.; Elwen, Simon; Matthee, Conrad; Andreotti, Sara; Bloomer, Paulette (Springer, 2026-02-03)
Effective conservation of cryptic marine species depends on a sound understanding of genetic diversity, population structure and connectivity. These data allow for the delineation of conservation units and assessment of extinction risk and are especially valuable for species with fragmented distributions or suspected regional endemism. The Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) exemplifies a challenge, being a poorly understood baleen whale species globally, with a complex of resident inshore and migratory offshore populations across temperate and sub-tropical waters. One such is the inshore population that inhabits South African coastal waters, where it is classified nationally as Vulnerable (D1) due to its small population size. This study uses a panel of 14 microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA control region sequences to advance our understanding of the genetic isolation and extinction risk of this population, informing the delineation of conservation units and guiding population-specific management actions. Results indicate that this population is characterized by moderate nuclear microsatellite and low mitochondrial DNA diversity and preliminarily indicate genetic differentiation between populations in the southern African region. On a global scale the findings show differentiation between broad ocean regions and the SAi while supporting the difference in evolutionary origin of SAi and SEA. These findings underscore the need for active conservation management for this isolated coastal population since they provide genetic evidence for the recognition of a discrete management unit. It is recommended that further refinement in understanding of the population’s evolutionary distinctiveness will strengthen conservation assessments, support listing decisions, and guide targeted management interventions.
An update on the occurrence of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) super-groups on the West Coast of South Africa
Seyboth, Elisa; Findlay, Ken; Vogel, Alex; Abras, Daniela; Hurwitz, David; Vermeulen, Els; Tresfon, Jean; Gridley, Tess; Elwen, Simon (Wiley, 2025-10)
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) super-groups, comprising 20+, tightly aggregated, feeding individuals, form during the austral summer in the southern Benguela ecosystem off the west coast of South Africa. This phenomenon, observed since 2011, is thought to be linked to increased productivity from positive chlorophyll-a anomalies associated with reduced water export in the area, and possible changes in associated trophic structures. Oceanographic conditions vary over time and space, so that super-groups occurrence can also be highly spatially variable. In this study, we investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of super-groups by compiling records from scientific surveys, whale-watching operators, and citizen science reports between July 2015 and June 2022. In total, sightings of 239 humpback whale super-groups were collated for this period, considering sighting with best estimate group size of 20 individuals or more. Super-groups appeared from August to April, peaking between October and January, and the seasonality of their occurrence seems to have expanded in comparison to previously published data. Although the effect of inconsistent effort throughout the study is unknown, results identify the overall regularity and spatiotemporal patterns of super-group formations, while highlighting the need for improved, collaborative and systematic data collection to gain deeper insights into this mid-latitude feeding phenomenon.
Unlocking opportunities for meaningful participation of land reform beneficiaries in the wildlife economy
Shwababa, Siviwe; Child, Matthew F.; De Vos, Alta; Mneno, Naledi; Clements, Hayley S. (Elsevier, 2025-07)
Land reform is a key social justice movement across the world, typically focused on agricultural land uses. However, in many parts of the world, land reform properties exist in regions that have high biodiversity value, where options exist for integrating land reform with wildlife-based land uses to promote both conservation and socio-economic development. To effectively design and implement policies aimed at unlocking this under-explored pathway towards inclusive wildlife economies, we need information on the opportunities and barriers confronting the establishment and operation of viable wildlife enterprises on redistributed land. We conducted a survey of 19 landholders awarded land through reform in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. We aimed to understand the state of wildlife economy development and assess investment needs for these market entrants. Their characteristics were contrasted with data on 74 established wildlife ranches and 21 conventional livestock farms. Despite all land reform properties listing wildlife-based economic activities in their business plans and most (84 %) having wildlife, only 42 % were generating (very limited) income from their wildlife. Common barriers to upscaling revenues from wildlife were a lack of infrastructure (particularly fencing, water, accommodation) and wildlife stocks. Engagement in the wildlife economy is further hindered by lack of decision-support on viable wildlife business models and subsequent lack of access to skills development and market information. Our results show mismatches between activities that are supported by government and property business plans, and those that are context-appropriate and viable. We suggest that South Africa’s land reform programmes need to develop targeted infrastructure and skills development that consider the most appropriate business model for a given site. The barriers and opportunities outlined here could inform strategies that leverage state and private investment to more effectively create viable wildlife-based business models and achieve the dual goals of social justice and biodiversity conservation in South Africa.
Reproductive females of a cooperatively breeding rodent are in better body condition when living in large groups
Finn, K.T.; Janse van Vuuren, Andries Koch; Suess, Tobias; Hart, Daniel William; Bennett, Nigel Charles; Zottl, M. (Wiley, 2025-07)
Cooperation and group living have been suggested to facilitate survival in varying environments and under challenging conditions. However, group living may also be associated with costs, particularly in species where individuals within groups may compete for limited resources. The costs and benefits of cooperative group living on cooperatively breeding mammals in varying environments remain unclear. Here, we use data collected from wild, cooperatively breeding Natal mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) inhabiting a seasonally varying environment to assess whether body condition changes between seasons and whether these changes are contingent upon group size. We demonstrate that the body condition of reproductive females improved with increasing helper number during both the benign summer and the harsher winter seasons. However, the body condition of other group members showed little dependency on group size or season. Only when including one extremely large group did the body condition of non-breeders weakly, albeit significantly, change depending on group size and seasonality. These results suggest that larger group sizes may yield some benefits for non-breeding group members during winter and may invoke some costs during summer. Group living in Natal mole-rats is likely promoted by a combination of collective foraging, thermoregulatory benefits, and potentially some indirect fitness benefits through improved body condition of the breeding female.
Fertility up in flames : reduced fertility indices as a consequence of a simulated heatwave on small African mammals
Jacobs, Paul Juan; Bennett, Nigel Charles; Du Plessis, L.; Hart, Daniel William (Wiley, 2025-03)
With the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change, the survival and reproductive success of mammals could be under significant threat. However, the specific effects of these environmental stressors on mammalian reproductive fitness remain insufficiently explored. This study investigates the impact of a simulated heatwave on male fertility indices in two African rodent species: the mesic four-striped field mouse (Rhabdomys dilectus) and the Namaqua rock mouse (Micaelamys namaquensis) during the breeding season. We measured key indicators of male fertility, including testes mass, testes volume, seminiferous tubule diameter, the presence of sperm, and plasma testosterone levels. Our findings reveal that both species experienced significant effects on male fertility indices, with the smaller R. dilectus showing a decline in all fertility indices following a simulated heatwave. These results suggest that the projected increase in heatwave events may compromise the reproductive success of small mammals, potentially leading to population declines. Finally, this study highlights the need for focused studies on the effect of heatwaves on long-term reproductive success in both males and females.
Examining alterations in fGCM concentrations post-defaecation across three animal feeding classes (ruminants, hindgut fermenters and carnivores)
Osburn, Kayla Rae; Crossey, Bruce Gareth; Majelantle, Tshepiso Lesedi; Ganswindt, Andre (Wiley, 2025-05)
Quantification of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) is a popular non-invasive technique for monitoring wildlife's response to stressors, demanding an understanding of the stability of fGCM concentrations post-defaecation to ensure comparability of determined fGCM values across samples. To provide species-specific recommendations for the duration within which sampling can take place, we measured the rate at which the fGCM concentrations of nine different species changed throughout a 7-day period post-defaecation. In this study, we explored the temporal dynamics of fGCM concentrations in nine species across three feeding classes (ruminants, hindgut fermenters and carnivores): impala (Aepyceros melampus), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), plains zebra (Equus quagga), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and leopard (Panthera pardus). Utilizing enzyme immunoassays already established for each of the focal species, we identified broader feeding class-specific patterns. All herbivores exhibited a significant decrease in fGCM concentrations over time, starting from 6 h (impala) to 48 h (giraffe, blue wildebeest, white rhino and African elephant) post-defaecation. For carnivores, concentrations remained fairly comparable for 12–24 h, after which fGCM concentrations either decreased (spotted hyena), increased (leopard) or remained stable (cheetah), with notable variation in triplicate concentrations (cheetah and leopard). These findings offer insights into scheduling faecal sampling for endocrine monitoring, particularly from free-roaming wildlife, to ensure comparability of determined hormone metabolite concentrations. Furthermore, the species-specific variation in fGCM concentration post-defaecation demonstrated in this study underlines the necessity to investigate every new species to ensure accurate and comparable results. Future studies ought to investigate how the mass of collected material, sex and drying methodologies affect the measurement of fGCMs post-defaecation.
Endemic plants and animals are susceptible to extinction in an imperilled alpine hotspot in southern Africa
Taylor, Peter J.; Bredenhand, Emile; Monadjem, Ara; Armstrong, Adrian J.; Rakotoarivelo, Andrinajoro R.; Mdluli, Veli Monday; Howard, Alexandra; Modise, Serero; Motitsoe, Samuel N.; Ntloko, Pindiwe; Kirkaldy, Abigail P.; Kleynhans, Dewald J.; Jankielsohn, Astrid; Mosikidi, Toka; Oosthuizen, Maria Kathleen; Payne, Stephanie; Munyai, Thinandavha C.; Carbutt, Clinton; Ramoejane, Mpho; Bereng, Mosiuoa; Stiller, Michael; Haddad, Charles R.; Steenhuisen, Sandy-Lynn; Mlambo, Musa C.; Moyo, Sibusisiwe; Nyembe, Nthatisi I.; Mofokeng, Lehlohonolo; Van As, Johann; Malekana, Lesego; Daniel, Gimo M.; Gwate, Onalenna; Van As, Michelle; Harrison, James Du Guesclin; Thabethe, Nokubonga F.; Kheswa, Nozipho; Moloi, Karabo; Sishange, Nkanyiso; Clark, V. Ralph (South African National Biodiversity Institute, 2025-11)
BACKGROUND : As global temperatures rise, alpine species at the upper limit of their distribution are at risk of decline and extinction due to shrinking habitats downslope. The alpine (> 2 800 m a.s.l.) biodiversity of the Maloti-Drakensberg is poorly known but may be threatened by climate change. OBJECTIVES : Using expert BioBlitzes, we documented species richness and elevational patterns of distribution in 14 plant and animal higher taxa from alpine and upper-montane zones in an unexplored corner of the Maloti-Drakensberg. METHODS : Using standardised methods such as Sherman traps, acoustic monitoring, bird timed counts, pitfall traps, sweep nets, aquatic SASS5 kick-nets, timed searches and herbarium collections, we assessed elevational zonation of flowering plant and selected invertebrate and vertebrate diversity in the Witsieshoek Community Conservation Area (WCCA). RESULTS : GBIF records complemented expert BioBlitz data, together enumerating 1 216 plant, vertebrate and invertebrate species along an elevation gradient from 1 760 m to 3 145 m at WCCA. Birds, insects and plants showed concordant beta diversity patterns from BioBlitz and GBIF data: high turnover compared to nestedness in more sedentary insects and plants, and the opposite in more mobile birds (GBIF data not available for bats). Although identifications are ongoing, 17% of species or morphospecies were exclusively recorded in the alpine zone, including 82 species of plants and 92 of animals. CONCLUSION : Alpine endemics are vulnerable to the ‘escalator to extinction’ process due to climate change. Surveys of under-explored alpine hotspots should be prioritised, drawing on mountain tourism-based citizen science. We advocate an ecotourism- and community-centred, restoration and rewilding approach for this strategic and biodiverse community conservation area.

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