Consumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in a low-nutrient environment

dc.contributor.authorAbraham, Andrew J.
dc.contributor.authorLouw, Mattheus L.H.
dc.contributor.authorVan Dijk, Laurene M.
dc.contributor.authorWebster, Andrea B.
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-30T09:43:38Z
dc.date.available2024-07-30T09:43:38Z
dc.date.issued2024-09
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABITY STATEMENT: Select videos captured during fieldwork are available to watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxktyA1W6MQ.en_US
dc.description.abstractHyaena faeces and mineral licks represent highly concentrated nutrient resources for leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) living in nutrient-poor environments. Here, we provide direct evidence for the consumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises in the Kalahari Desert. Tortoises aggregated at hyaena latrines and lick sites during the wet season between 10 AM and 6 PM in groups of 1–5 individuals. Where both salt and mineral licks were available, tortoises displayed a preference for salt. We suggest that calcium, phosphorus and sodium deficits are likely driving coprophagy and geophagy behaviours by tortoises in the Kalahari.en_US
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Instituteen_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-02:Zero Hungeren_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-15:Life on landen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipHORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ajeen_US
dc.identifier.citationAbraham, A.J., Louw, M.L.H., Van Dijk, L.M., & Webster, A.B. (2024). Consumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in a low-nutrient environment. African Journal of Ecology, 62, e13308. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13308.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0141-6707 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1365-2028 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1111/aje.13308
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/97324
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWileyen_US
dc.rights© 2024 The Author(s). African Journal of Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_US
dc.subjectKalaharien_US
dc.subjectMineral licken_US
dc.subjectNutritionen_US
dc.subjectTortoiseen_US
dc.subjectLeopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis)en_US
dc.subjectHyaena faecesen_US
dc.subjectArtificial mineral licksen_US
dc.subjectSDG-02: Zero hungeren_US
dc.subjectSDG-15: Life on landen_US
dc.titleConsumption of hyaena faeces and artificial mineral licks by leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) in a low-nutrient environmenten_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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