M.G.L. Mills and M.E.J. Mills
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- June 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198712145
- eISBN:
- 9780191780639
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198712145.003.0008
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
Measurements of daily energy expenditure and water turnover showed that energy expenditure in cheetahs was not significantly greater than expected, but water turnover was low. There were no sex ...
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Measurements of daily energy expenditure and water turnover showed that energy expenditure in cheetahs was not significantly greater than expected, but water turnover was low. There were no sex differences in daily energy expenditure, but when hunting along riverbeds cheetahs used more energy than when hunting in the dunes, probably because they moved further in the riverbeds. There were no differences in daily energy expenditure between females in different stages of reproduction. Energy expended chasing prey differed; small prey being least costly and large species most costly. Analyses of prey chases using both GPS and accelerometer loggers revealed that there were two phases; an initial rapid acceleration to catch up with the prey, followed by a slowing phase as cheetahs followed twists and turns of the prey as the distance between them closed. A visualization of five phases recorded from accelerometer data during a successful steenbok hunt is presented.Less
Measurements of daily energy expenditure and water turnover showed that energy expenditure in cheetahs was not significantly greater than expected, but water turnover was low. There were no sex differences in daily energy expenditure, but when hunting along riverbeds cheetahs used more energy than when hunting in the dunes, probably because they moved further in the riverbeds. There were no differences in daily energy expenditure between females in different stages of reproduction. Energy expended chasing prey differed; small prey being least costly and large species most costly. Analyses of prey chases using both GPS and accelerometer loggers revealed that there were two phases; an initial rapid acceleration to catch up with the prey, followed by a slowing phase as cheetahs followed twists and turns of the prey as the distance between them closed. A visualization of five phases recorded from accelerometer data during a successful steenbok hunt is presented.
Timothy G. Barraclough
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- August 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780198749745
- eISBN:
- 9780191814020
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198749745.003.0010
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
Species are units for understanding the evolution of diversity over large geographical scales and long timescales. This chapter investigates the processes causing proliferation and demise of species ...
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Species are units for understanding the evolution of diversity over large geographical scales and long timescales. This chapter investigates the processes causing proliferation and demise of species diversity within lineages and regions. Phylogenetic approaches have focused on documenting speciation and extinction rates, but mechanistic theory explaining variation in rates is scarce. Diversity patterns are better explained by geographical and ecological opportunity than by correlates of speciation and extinction rates per se. The neutral theory of biodiversity provides a framework that can be adapted to predict diversity patterns in terms of limits due to competition for space and resources, and species turnover (which cannot be detected directly from phylogenetic trees). These theories bring macroevolutionary and microevolutionary theories closer together. In particular, diversity patterns are the outcome of individual selection and dispersal playing out over long timescales. Some of the processes influencing species patterns can also structure diversity at higher taxonomic levels.Less
Species are units for understanding the evolution of diversity over large geographical scales and long timescales. This chapter investigates the processes causing proliferation and demise of species diversity within lineages and regions. Phylogenetic approaches have focused on documenting speciation and extinction rates, but mechanistic theory explaining variation in rates is scarce. Diversity patterns are better explained by geographical and ecological opportunity than by correlates of speciation and extinction rates per se. The neutral theory of biodiversity provides a framework that can be adapted to predict diversity patterns in terms of limits due to competition for space and resources, and species turnover (which cannot be detected directly from phylogenetic trees). These theories bring macroevolutionary and microevolutionary theories closer together. In particular, diversity patterns are the outcome of individual selection and dispersal playing out over long timescales. Some of the processes influencing species patterns can also structure diversity at higher taxonomic levels.
