Social dynamics in the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
Date
2016-09
Authors
Cornélis, Daniel, author
Caron, Alexandre, author
Miguel, Eve, author
Grosbois, Vladimir, author
de Garine, Michel, author
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
Journal Title
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Abstract
This is a PhD proposal that will be implemented beginning of 2017. The project aims at understanding the social organisation of the African buffalo and its eco-epidemiological implications. Approaches from several scientific disciplines will be used to build a comprehensive study: the patterns of association between individuals will be studied using concepts and tools from behavioral and movement ecology: it will be based on a large GPS-tracking database and will relate inter-individual interactions to environmental factors (e.g. distribution of key resources, human disturbances, predation risk); the epidemiological processes and the influence of association patterns on pathogens transmission will be studied using a generic modelling approach which could be parameterized for various diseases. Here, we will present the preliminary research questions addressed by this project.
Description
Presented at the 9th international wildlife ranching symposium: wildlife - the key to prosperity for rural communities, held on 12-16 September 2016 at Hotel Safari & the Safari Court, Windhoek, Namibia in conjuction with the IUCN 2nd African Buffalo Symposium.