Oikos
OIK-02222
Moleón, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Sebastián-González, E.
and Owen-Smith, N. 2015. Carcass size shapes the structure
and functioning of an African scavenging assemblage. – Oikos
doi: 10.1111/oik.02222
Appendix 1
Table A1. Weights of the ungulate species considered in this study.
Table A2. Scavenger species detected in this study, according to carcass size.
Figure A1. Species richness curves.
1 Table A1. Weights (kg) of the ungulate species considered in this study. All weights correspond to animals weighed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park or in a
near southern African area. Mean weights are provided, along with SD or range when available. References are also shown.
Common name
Impala
Nyala
Wildebeest
African buffalo
White rhinoceros
African elephant
Latin name
Aepyceros melampus
Tragelaphus angasi
Connochaetes taurinus
Syncerus caffer
Ceratotherium simum
Loxodonta africana
Male
44.2 (33.6-57.3)
107.5 (92.5-126.5)
249.8 (231.8-295.4)
590±21
2040-2260
4000-6300
Female
40.5 (34.5-47.0)
61.8 (54.9-68.1)
182.7 (164.1-215.9)
513±12
1600
2200-3500
Reference
Tello and van Gelder 1975
Attwell 1982
Pienaar 1969
Hitchins 1968
Owen-Smith 1973
Kingdon 2001
References
Attwell, C. A. M. 1982. Population ecology of the blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus taurinus in Zululand, South Africa. – Afr. J. Ecol. 20: 147–
168.
Hitchins, P. M. 1968. Liveweights of some mammals from Hluhluwe Game Reserve. – Lammergeyer 9: 42.
Kingdon, J. 2001. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals. – Academic Press.
Owen-Smith, N. 1973. The behavioral ecology of the white rhinoceros. – PhD thesis, Univ. of Wisconsin.
Pienaar, U. de V. 1969. Observations on developmental biology, growth and some aspects of the population ecology of African buffalo in the Kruger
National Park. – Koedoe 12: 29–52.
Tello, J. L. P. L. and van Gelder, R. G. 1975. The natural history of nyala, Tragelaphus angasi (Mammalia, Bovidae), in Mozambique. – Bull. Am.
Mus. Nat. Hist. 155: 323–385.
2 Table A2. Scavenger species detected in this study, according to carcass size.
Obligate scavenger
Large facultative scavenger
Avian meso-facultative scavenger
Mammalian meso-facultative scavenger
Small carcasses
white-backed vulture
Gyps africanus
lappet-faced vulture
Aegypius tracheliotos
spotted hyena
Crocuta crocuta
lion
Panthera leo
leopard
Panthera pardus
wild dog
Lycaon pictus
tawny eagle
Aquila rapax
bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
yellow-billed kite
Milvus aegyptius
Verreaux’s eagle owl
Bubo lacteus
pied crow
Corvus albus
large-spotted genet
Genetta tigrina
white-tailed mongoose
Ichneumia albicauda
slender mongoose
Galerella sanguinea
Medium-sized carcasses
white-backed vulture
Gyps africanus
lappet-faced vulture
Aegypius tracheliotos
white-headed vulture
Aegypius occipitalis
hooded vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
spotted hyena
Crocuta crocuta
lion
Panthera leo
tawny eagle
Aquila rapax
yellow-billed kite
Milvus aegyptius
pied crow
Corvus albus
3 Large carcasses
white-backed vulture
Gyps africanus
lappet-faced vulture
Aegypius tracheliotos
white-headed vulture
Aegypius occipitalis
spotted hyena
Crocuta crocuta
lion
Panthera leo
leopard
Panthera pardus
crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
tawny eagle
Aquila rapax
yellow-billed kite
Milvus aegyptius
pied crow
Corvus albus
white-necked raven
Corvus albicollis
Figure A1. Species richness curves showing how the inclusion of more carcasses (i.e.,
samples) affected the detection of new scavenger species in relation to the three carcass
size categories considered in this study (i.e. small, medium-sized and large carcasses).
When an asymptote is reached, all the species that exploit a given carcass size category
are assumed to have been detected and no further sampling is required (see main text for
further details).
16
Scavenger species
14
12
10
8
Small
6
Medium
4
Large
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Carcasses
4