African buffalo social dynamics: What is a buffalo herd?

Caron Alexandre, Bennitt Emily, Wielgus Elodie, Cornélis Daniel, Miguel Eve, De Garine-Wichatitsky Michel. 2023. African buffalo social dynamics: What is a buffalo herd?. In : Ecology and management of the African buffalo. Caron Alexandre (ed.), Cornélis Daniel (ed.), Chardonnet Philippe (ed.), Prins Herbert H.T. (ed.). Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 153-179. (Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation) ISBN 978-1-316-51874-8

Résumé : Some aspects of the well-described planet- and satellite-like framework of, respectively, mixed herds and bachelor groups of buffalo recently were challenged. Associations of female buffalo are now considered more fluid than the initial idea of a stable mixed herd defined by a home range. Within mixed herds, adult female associations are unstable and transient despite using largely overlapping home ranges. Mixed herds in most instances do not seem to overlap much in space. Between mixed herds exchanges exist, apparently dominated by juvenile females (but almost no information exists on juvenile males). The dynamics of fusion–fission events within mixed herds are largely driven by habitat heterogeneity, the quality and quantity of grazing and surface water, and the influence of predation, parasitism and fires. The influence of the human/buffalo interface on these dynamics is not yet well understood. Future studies will benefit from more advances in telemetry and new technologies, new information sources (e.g. sound recorders) and non-invasive genetic studies to enhance our knowledge of buffalo social dynamics. Knowledge of buffalo social dynamics would also benefit from studies more representative of the African distribution of the species and across its subspecies.

Agences de financement hors UE : Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Fondation François Sommer

Auteurs et affiliations

• Caron Alexandre, CIRAD-BIOS-UMR ASTRE (MOZ) ORCID: 0000-0002-5213-3273
• Bennitt Emily, University of Botswana (BWA)
• Wielgus Elodie, CIRAD-BIOS-UMR ASTRE (GBR)
• Cornélis Daniel, CIRAD-ES-UPR Forêts et sociétés (FRA)
• Miguel Eve, IRD (FRA)
• De Garine-Wichatitsky Michel, CIRAD-BIOS-UMR ASTRE (THA) ORCID: 0000-0002-5438-1473

Source : Cirad-Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/607170/)

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