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Home‐range overlap and spatial organization as indicators for territoriality among male bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus )
Author(s) -
Wronski Torsten
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1017/s0952836905006825
Subject(s) - territoriality , home range , adult male , biology , demography , range (aeronautics) , young adult , zoology , geography , ecology , gerontology , medicine , sociology , materials science , habitat , composite material , endocrinology
Abstract Many studies have concluded that territoriality is absent in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus but a minority has suggested that some exclusive mechanisms act between adult males. This study provides indirect evidence for the existence of territorial structures between adult male bushbuck by comparing home‐range overlap between adult and sub‐adult males. The spatial organization of individuals in relation to each other was established by using numerical classification. Location fixes of 52 males, each individual distinguished by a characteristic coat pattern, were taken over a period of 3 years. Home ranges were estimated using the fixed kernel density estimator. Two indices (coefficient of overlap, index of overlap) were applied to compare home‐range overlap between the different male age classes. There was a strong home‐range overlap up to the 30% home‐range core between sub‐adult as well as between adult and sub‐adult males, while adult male home ranges overlapped up to the 50% home‐range core only. It could be shown that home ranges of adult males overlapped significantly less than those of sub‐adult males and those between sub‐adult and adult males indicating an exclusive use of central core areas (home sites). Sub‐adult males form bachelor pools without being permanently associated. With increasing age, sub‐adult males challenge territory holders and replace them in order to take over their exclusive areas. These maturing sub‐adult males (young adults), often focused on a particular territory holder denoting the young adults as prospects or candidates.