INQUA PROJECT 2014 #
African Large Carnivores: impacts on ecosystems and humans interactions
[PI: Dr Ogeto Mwebi NMK, Kenya. co-PI: Dr Jean-Philip Brugal, CNRS, France]
Primary aim of the project: To bring together young and senior researchers involved in different fields
of large carnivore studies to share existing data and to improve skills and results in the analysis of
bone assemblages related to ecology in order to explore questions related to past and recent humancarnivore interactions and conservation.
Large carnivores are major components of the ecosystems that regulate herbivore populations and
have cascading influences on the functioning of the biosphere. By analysis of their prey bone
accumulations and modifications patterns, carnivores can also bring important issues in reconstruction
of past, present and even predict future ecosystem dynamics. However, negative attitudes and
competition for limited space/resources has led to rapid elimination of these carnivores from most of
their natural ranges; the consequence of their ecological role and their current elimination is little
known. In Africa, the large carnivores belong to three families: Felidae (lion, leopard, cheetah),
Hyenidae (spotted, striped and brown hyenas) and Canidae (wild dogs) are facing great conservation
challenges.
Hence carnivore ecology and conservation is a complex affair touching on the socio-economic/cultural
values of the pastoralists as well as reconstruction on past and present ecological dynamics within
various ecosystems. To address these issues will require multi-disciplinary expertise and the main goal
of the project will be to develop knowledge on the ‘ecology of the predation’ through modern and
fossil taphonomical studies. Neotaphonomical studies can aid in the interpretation of paleontological
and archaeological sites formation processes; they can also infer environmental changes through time
and understand intra- and inter-specific competitions (especially with prehistoric humans). Such
studies need development of a robust methodology to analyze bone assemblages made by carnivores,
at dens or lairs, kill-sites or specific landscape where predation commonly occurred (around
waterholes for example).
The long term goal of this project will be to form an international carnivore researchers’ focus group
that will bring together young and senior researchers working on diverse aspects of the carnivore
studies both in modern and fossil record that include: taphonomy, ethology, ecology, paleontology,
biochemical, morphofunction, genetics and conservation with a scientific purpose of linking
pleistocenist and holocenist. The project will:
* build a network about large carnivore researchers working on modern and fossil (quaternary)
carnivores, starting on African continent but possibly enlarge to other continents;
* favor a common methodology and create a database on bone assemblages made by carnivores (data
on biodiversity, biological structure, marks and skeletal representation, etc.) with implication on range
and type of predatory actions ;
* explore the relationship between various data sets (especially environmental data) with the aim to
provide advice and information on large carnivores’ conservation, in connection with human activities.
The objective of the focus group is to create a better understanding about the role and effects of
carnivores both in the wild and within human-occupied zones, with implications on potential preys
(especially ungulates – as well as to appreciate importance of livestock -, mesopredators).
Activities will begin with a meeting in Kenya in summer 2014 (two days, end of June) followed by
special training seminar (two days).