Foraging behaviour and health status of Red-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorNdlovu, Mduduzi
dc.contributor.advisorPerez-Rodriguea, Anton
dc.contributor.authorBotes, Mariska
dc.date.accessioned2019-07-02T07:03:01Z
dc.date.available2019-07-02T07:03:01Z
dc.date.issued2019-01
dc.description.abstractRed-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) are tick feeding birds that reduce ectoparasite loads on African ungulates. However, little is known about their feeding ecology, seasonal abundance and health wellbeing. All these attributes contribute towards their conservation. I studied the Red-billed Oxpecker feeding ecology and health status in the southern regions of Kruger National Park by documenting their seasonal abundance, infection prevalence, body condition and foraging behaviour (host preference and foraging location on host). No significant difference in Oxpecker abundance was observed between the three seasons. Nine potential ungulate host species were recorded and birds were observed feeding on eight of the present species. White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) were the most preferred hosts whereas waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) were the least preferred host. Birds preferred sitting and foraging from the back, head and neck of the host ungulate – where they appeared more tolerated by the host. No wound feeding activity was recorded during this study. In total, 30 Red-billed Oxpeckers were caught and blood and feather samples from them were screened for parasites. Ectoparasite prevalence on birds was highest during the summer months, with the majority found on the flight wing feathers. It was found that birds with ectoparasites seemed to have a lower body condition index compared to those with no ectoparasites. The most common Haemoparasites found in the Oxpeckers were Leucocytozoon. It was also the only haemoparasite found during the dry season.en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Research Foundation (NRF)en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipFoundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP)en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11660/9964
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertation (M.Sc. (Zoology and Entomology))--University of the Free State, 2019en_ZA
dc.subjectRed-billed Oxpeckersen_ZA
dc.subjectBuphagus erythrorhynchusen_ZA
dc.subjectKruger National Parken_ZA
dc.subjectFeeding ecologyen_ZA
dc.subjectHealth statusen_ZA
dc.subjectSeasonal abundanceen_ZA
dc.subjectInfection prevalenceen_ZA
dc.subjectBody conditionen_ZA
dc.subjectForaging behaviouren_ZA
dc.titleForaging behaviour and health status of Red-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) in the Kruger National Park, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeDissertationen_ZA
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