Interspecific association in ungulates of the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

A study on the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, reveals that ungulates form interspecific associations at frequencies significantly different from expected, with each species showing preferences for certain partners. The research found 444 instances of such associations among five species—bohor reedbuck, common warthog, grey duiker, Menelik's bushbuck, and mountain nyala—accounting for 26.8% of the total 1657 groups observed in forest patches and open grasslands between 2009 and 2011. These associations likely serve antipredator or mutual grazing purposes, benefiting one or all species involved. Notably, group sizes increased for bohor reedbuck and mountain nyala when in interspecific associations, with larger mean group sizes also observed in open habitats compared to forests.

Asefa, A. (2016). Interspecific association in ungulates of the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. African Journal of Ecology, 54(2), 217–224. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12290