Large carnivore menus: factors affecting hunting decisions by cheetahs in the Serengeti

摘要: Predation plays a key role in shaping mammalian communities through prey killed and the decisions choices of both predators prey. We used an extensive data set from observed hunts diurnal large African carnivore, cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, combination with analysis techniques originally developed field economics (discrete choice models) to examine predation within context immediate environment reproductive hunger status individuals. This is one first attempts at integrated understanding suite ecological behavioural factors that influence hunting carnivore. The decision cheetah hunt or not was influenced by abundance their main prey, presence competitors predators, but level cheetah. Given taken, then driven time year, sex predator, competitors. believe discrete models may provide new step forward our ability understand animals make natural environment. 2007 Association for Study Animal Behaviour. Published Elsevier Ltd.