Based on three years of study in the Serengeti National Park, George B. Schaller’s The Serengeti Lion describes the vast impact of the lion and other predators on the vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle for which the area is famous. The most comprehensive book available on the lion, this classic work includes the author’s findings on all aspects of lion behavior, including its social system, population dynamics, hunting behavior, and predation patterns. “If you have only enough time to read one book about field biology, this is the one I recommend.”—Edward O. Wilson, Science“This book conveys not only the fascination of its particular study of lion behavior but the drama and wonder and beauty of the intimate interdependence of all living things.”—Saturday Review“This is an important book, not just for its valuable information on lions, but for its broad, open, and intelligent approach to problems that cut across the fields of behavior, populations, ecology, wildlife management, evolution, anthropology, and comparative biology.”—Richard G. Van Gelder, Bioscience
Author(s): George B. Schaller
Year: 1976
Language: English
Pages: 504
Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 12
I. THE STUDY......Page 16
1. Introduction......Page 18
Physiography......Page 27
Vegetation......Page 29
Seasons......Page 33
General......Page 36
Tagging......Page 39
Food Habits......Page 41
Age Classes......Page 43
II. THE LION......Page 46
The Pride......Page 48
The Pride Area......Page 71
The Nomad......Page 79
Communication......Page 122
The Daily Activity Pattern......Page 158
Group Organization......Page 169
Mating Behavior......Page 176
Relations of Young to Pride......Page 181
Play......Page 194
Population Size......Page 206
Population Composition......Page 210
Reproduction......Page 212
Mortality......Page 222
Population Trend......Page 232
The Prey Population......Page 234
Food Habits......Page 247
Predation in Relation to Sex, Age, and Health of Prey......Page 260
Behavior of Prey......Page 272
Main Environmental Factors Affecting the Hunt......Page 275
Hunting Behavior......Page 279
Hunting Success......Page 290
Hunting Large Prey......Page 298
Relation of Prey Size to Sex of Lion Killing It......Page 301
Killing......Page 302
Behavior at the Kill......Page 306
III. OTHER PREDATORS......Page 320
Distribution and Numbers......Page 322
Movements......Page 323
Population Dynamics......Page 325
Social Structure......Page 326
Predation......Page 329
10. The Cheetah......Page 334
Distribution and Numbers......Page 335
Movements......Page 336
Population Dynamics......Page 337
Social Structure......Page 341
Predation......Page 350
Distribution and Numbers......Page 360
Movements......Page 361
Population Dynamics......Page 362
Social Structure......Page 367
Predation......Page 372
Spotted Hyena......Page 384
Man......Page 386
Jackals......Page 388
Reptiles and Birds......Page 389
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS......Page 392
Social System......Page 394
Social Structure......Page 398
Communication......Page 404
Land Tenure System......Page 407
Population Dynamics......Page 412
Hominid Behavior......Page 417
14. The Dynamics of Predation......Page 419
Ecological Separation of Predators......Page 421
Antipredator Behavior......Page 426
Sex, Age, and Health of Prey Killed by Predators......Page 430
The Impact of Predation on Prey Populations......Page 435
Conclusion......Page 444
Appendixes......Page 448
Appendix A. Common and scientific names of wild mammals, birds, and reptiles mentioned in the text......Page 450
Appendix B. Tables 1 to 79......Page 453
Appendix C. An estimate of animal numbers and biomass in the Serengeti Park made by Hendrichs (1970)......Page 499
References Cited......Page 500
Index......Page 512
Plates 1 to 43 follow p. 82......Page 98
