Abstract:
Rest sites are key locations to many animals but their selection has been poorly
studied in large carnivores. We investigated seasonal diurnal rest site selection by
spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. We
assessed the effects on hyaena diurnal rest site selection of (1) distance to the nearest
waterhole, as waterholes can be considered prey hotspots in the study ecosystem,
(2) habitat type and vegetation characteristics, in particular visibility as it
influences detection risk and shade for thermoregulation, (3) location within the
core territory of their main competitor/predator, the African lion (Panthera leo),
where encounter risk would be higher, (4) distance to the closest lion and (5) distance
to the nearest road as they can facilitate travelling by carnivores. We defined
rest sites as midday locations of hyaenas equipped with GPS collars. Hyaenas preferred
to rest in woodland areas with low visibility, close to roads and far from a
lion. Distance to the nearest waterhole and location within lion core territory did
not affect hyaena rest site selection. Overall, our study points to the combined
importance of the structure of the vegetation (providing safety and shade), the
availability of roads (to move through and exploit this bushed environment) and
the avoidance of proximity to lions.
