Though causes

of Lycaon mortality have been well documented, with anthropogenic mortality being recorded as a significant factor depressing populations in some systems (Woodroffe et al., 2007), the relationship between diel activity, how it could increase their conspicuousness and hence vulnerability to anthropogenic impact (Rasmussen, 1999), has not. This article investigates the hypothesis that the optimal foraging conditions for Lycaon impose high temporal niche overlap with humans, thereby putting them at greater risk than some other sympatric carnivores. To date, on the assumption that moonlight hunting does not occur, the activity Protease Inhibitor Library solubility dmso of Lycaon has been described as crepuscular to diurnal (Saleni et al., 2007). Lycaon hunt small to large ungulates (Childes, 1988; Creel & Creel, 2002; Rasmussen et al., 2008), and occasionally livestock (Rasmussen, 1999). Lycaon select for sick and weak individuals (Pole, Gordon check details & Gorman, 2003), which considering the extreme energetic cost of chasing may be a crucial life strategy (Rasmussen et al., 2008). Hyaenas Crocuta crocuta and lions Panthera leo kleptoparasitize Lycaon, with this impact being particularly significant in packs of less than six individuals (2009), so with lions also killing adults and pups, any changes in encounter with these predators is likely to have major

implications. It is plausible that changing pack dynamics will also affect diel activity, time windows utilized and encounters with competitors to include humans, which as a consequence of shooting, cars and snares, contribute selleck chemicals to 93% of all Lycaon mortality in Zimbabwean ranch land (Rasmussen, 1997). This high figure is not unusual for canids, for which anthropogenic mortality is often the greatest threat. For example, human-induced mortality in wolves ranges from 80% in America (Ballard, Whitman & Gardner,

1987; Fuller, 1989) to 92% in parts of Europe (Smietana & Wajda, 1997). Similarly, humans are responsible for most coyote, Canis latrans mortalities (Windberg, Anderson & Engeman, 1985; Gese, Rongstad & Mytton, 1989). As predators are known to respond behaviourally to levels of anthropogenic disturbance (Vila, Urios & Castroviejo, 1995; Ciucci et al., 1997; Sillero-Zubiri & Macdonald, 1997; Kitchen, Gese & Schauster, 2000; Boydston et al., 2003), it is likely that Lycaon will too. In such cases, while behavioural plasticity can facilitate survival, it will come at energetic cost. Fieldwork was conducted in two parapatric study sites separated by 150 km: Hwange National Park in the north-west of Zimbabwe, and adjacent areas, totalling 5500 km2 (April 1994 and December 2002); and the Nyamandlovu farming region totalling 1000 km2 (April 1994 until June 1997), with Lycaon densities being 0.93/100 km2 and 0.84/100 km2, respectively (Rasmussen, 1997).