Resource selection, utilization and seasons influence spatial distribution of ungulates in the western Serengeti National Park

Herbivore habitat selection in the western Serengeti National Park varies significantly by species and season, challenging predictions based on competition or predation pressures. Research revealed that ungulates do not uniformly contract their habitat use during the dry season, nor does their selection remain static across seasons, contrary to expectations from either interspecific competition or predation-driven models. Instead, each species exhibits distinct seasonal shifts in resource utilization, reflecting nuanced behavioral adaptations. The study employed Chi-square analysis on occurrence frequencies in four vegetation types to quantify selection coefficients and test hypotheses, offering critical insights for constructing species-specific habitat suitability maps—a tool vital for targeted conservation efforts.

Bukombe, J., Kittle, A., Senzota, R., Mduma, S., Fryxell, J., & Sinclair, A. R. E. (2017). Resource selection, utilization and seasons influence spatial distribution of ungulates in the western Serengeti National Park. African Journal of Ecology, 56(1), 3–11. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12410