Abstract
As one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat. Little is known about long-term patterns of body temperature and activity (including hunting) in cheetahs because long-term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs, or, indeed, for any free-living felid. We report here body temperature and locomotor activity measured with implanted data loggers over 7 months in 5 free-living cheetahs in Namibia. Air temperature ranged from a maximum of 39 degrees C in summer to -2 degrees C in winter. Cheetahs had higher (similar to 0.4 degrees C) maximum 24-h body temperatures, later acrophase (similar to 1 h), with larger fluctuations in the range of the 24-h body temperature rhythm (approximately 0.4 degrees C) during a hot-dry period than during a cool-dry period, but maintained homeothermy irrespective of the climatic conditions. As ambient temperatures increased, the cheetahs shifted from a diurnal to a crepuscular activity pattern, with reduced activity between 900 and 1500 hours and increased nocturnal activity. The timing of hunts followed the general pattern of activity; the cheetahs hunted when they were on the move. Cheetahs hunted if an opportunity presented itself; on occasion they hunted in the midday heat or in total darkness (new moon). Biologging revealed insights into cheetah biology that are not accessible by traditional observer-based techniques.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 30-47 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Integrative Zoology |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2019 |
Cite this
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Body temperature, activity patterns and hunting in free-living cheetah : biologging reveals new insights. / Hetem, Robyn S.; Mitchell, Duncan; De Witt, Brenda A.; Fick, Linda G.; Maloney, Shane K.; Meyer, Leith C. R.; Fuller, Andrea.
In: Integrative Zoology, Vol. 14, No. 1, 01.2019, p. 30-47.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Body temperature, activity patterns and hunting in free-living cheetah
T2 - biologging reveals new insights
AU - Hetem, Robyn S.
AU - Mitchell, Duncan
AU - De Witt, Brenda A.
AU - Fick, Linda G.
AU - Maloney, Shane K.
AU - Meyer, Leith C. R.
AU - Fuller, Andrea
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - As one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat. Little is known about long-term patterns of body temperature and activity (including hunting) in cheetahs because long-term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs, or, indeed, for any free-living felid. We report here body temperature and locomotor activity measured with implanted data loggers over 7 months in 5 free-living cheetahs in Namibia. Air temperature ranged from a maximum of 39 degrees C in summer to -2 degrees C in winter. Cheetahs had higher (similar to 0.4 degrees C) maximum 24-h body temperatures, later acrophase (similar to 1 h), with larger fluctuations in the range of the 24-h body temperature rhythm (approximately 0.4 degrees C) during a hot-dry period than during a cool-dry period, but maintained homeothermy irrespective of the climatic conditions. As ambient temperatures increased, the cheetahs shifted from a diurnal to a crepuscular activity pattern, with reduced activity between 900 and 1500 hours and increased nocturnal activity. The timing of hunts followed the general pattern of activity; the cheetahs hunted when they were on the move. Cheetahs hunted if an opportunity presented itself; on occasion they hunted in the midday heat or in total darkness (new moon). Biologging revealed insights into cheetah biology that are not accessible by traditional observer-based techniques.
AB - As one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat. Little is known about long-term patterns of body temperature and activity (including hunting) in cheetahs because long-term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs, or, indeed, for any free-living felid. We report here body temperature and locomotor activity measured with implanted data loggers over 7 months in 5 free-living cheetahs in Namibia. Air temperature ranged from a maximum of 39 degrees C in summer to -2 degrees C in winter. Cheetahs had higher (similar to 0.4 degrees C) maximum 24-h body temperatures, later acrophase (similar to 1 h), with larger fluctuations in the range of the 24-h body temperature rhythm (approximately 0.4 degrees C) during a hot-dry period than during a cool-dry period, but maintained homeothermy irrespective of the climatic conditions. As ambient temperatures increased, the cheetahs shifted from a diurnal to a crepuscular activity pattern, with reduced activity between 900 and 1500 hours and increased nocturnal activity. The timing of hunts followed the general pattern of activity; the cheetahs hunted when they were on the move. Cheetahs hunted if an opportunity presented itself; on occasion they hunted in the midday heat or in total darkness (new moon). Biologging revealed insights into cheetah biology that are not accessible by traditional observer-based techniques.
KW - Acinonyx jubatus
KW - heat stress
KW - nocturnal
KW - intraguild predators
KW - moonlight
KW - ACINONYX-JUBATUS
KW - NATIONAL-PARK
KW - REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS
KW - PREDATOR AVOIDANCE
KW - HABITAT SELECTION
KW - CROCUTA-CROCUTA
KW - FEEDING ECOLOGY
KW - HOME-RANGE
KW - BEHAVIOR
KW - FELIDAE
U2 - 10.1111/1749-4877.12341
DO - 10.1111/1749-4877.12341
M3 - Article
VL - 14
SP - 30
EP - 47
JO - Integrative Zoology
JF - Integrative Zoology
SN - 1749-4869
IS - 1
ER -