Book contents
- Only in Africa
- Only in Africa
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Part I The Physical Cradle: Land Forms, Geology, Climate, Hydrology and Soils
- Part II The Savanna Garden: Grassy Vegetation and Plant Dynamics
- Part III The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
- Chapter 10 Niche Distinctions: Resources Versus Risks
- Chapter 11 Big Fierce Carnivores: Hunting Versus Scavenging
- Chapter 12 Herbivore Abundance: Bottom-up and Top-down Influences
- Chapter 13 How Large Herbivores Transform Savanna Ecosystems
- Chapter 14 Paleo-faunas: Rise and Fall of the Biggest Grazers
- Part III Synthesis: Movers of Savanna Dynamics: Grazers, Elephants and Fires
- Part IV Evolutionary Transitions: From Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans
- Appendix Scientific Names of Extant Animal and Plant Species Mentioned in the Book Chapters (Ecologically Conservative with Regard to Species Recognition)
- Index
- References
Chapter 11 - Big Fierce Carnivores: Hunting Versus Scavenging
from Part III - The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 September 2021
Book contents
- Only in Africa
- Only in Africa
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Part I The Physical Cradle: Land Forms, Geology, Climate, Hydrology and Soils
- Part II The Savanna Garden: Grassy Vegetation and Plant Dynamics
- Part III The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
- Chapter 10 Niche Distinctions: Resources Versus Risks
- Chapter 11 Big Fierce Carnivores: Hunting Versus Scavenging
- Chapter 12 Herbivore Abundance: Bottom-up and Top-down Influences
- Chapter 13 How Large Herbivores Transform Savanna Ecosystems
- Chapter 14 Paleo-faunas: Rise and Fall of the Biggest Grazers
- Part III Synthesis: Movers of Savanna Dynamics: Grazers, Elephants and Fires
- Part IV Evolutionary Transitions: From Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans
- Appendix Scientific Names of Extant Animal and Plant Species Mentioned in the Book Chapters (Ecologically Conservative with Regard to Species Recognition)
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter describes how most large carnivores shift facultatively between hunting and scavenging. Stalking and coursing hunters differ in how strongly they select for weakened prey. Lions are dominant and their impact on prey demography affects food availability for other carnivores. Prey species selection by lions varies seasonally and annually depending on how rainfall affects prey vulnerability. Only Africa retains a full suite of stalking, coursing and scavenging carnivores.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Only in AfricaThe Ecology of Human Evolution, pp. 170 - 180Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021
References
Suggested Further Reading
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