Management and Conservation Article Diet, Prey Selection, and Predation Impact of Black-Backed Jackals in South Africa UNN KLARE, University of Rostock, Weberstrasse 11, 18069 Rostock, Germany JAN F. KAMLER, 1 Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, United Kingdom UTE STENKEWITZ, Dahmestrasse 25, 12527 Berlin, Germany DAVID W. MACDONALD, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, United Kingdom ABSTRACT To investigate the role of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) as predators, we studied diet, prey selection, and predation impact of jackals on 2 game ranches in South Africa that differed in ungulate diversity and biomass. Results showed that large (.15 kg) ungulate species dominated jackal diets throughout the year on both the less diverse (range of ingested biomass across seasons 5 39–78%) and more diverse (26–69%) game ranch. Other important food items included medium-sized mammals (1–3 kg; 1–26%) and fruit (2–69%), whereas small mammals comprised 3–11% of ingested biomass across seasons on both sites. Jackals were not random in consumption of ungulates, and consumption patterns suggested jackals actively hunted certain species rather than consumed them as carrion. During ungulate birthing periods, jackals consumed almost exclusively those ungulate species that were hiders (i.e., fawns were hidden in tall vegetation away from herd) regardless of ungulate densities, suggesting that primarily fawns were preyed upon. Among hiders, there was a negative relationship (P 5 0.01) between body size and percent of population consumed by jackals, indicating smaller species were more susceptible than larger species to jackal predation. Consequently, springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) were always selected over other ungulate species on both sites, and this species was the most impacted by jackal predation. In contrast, ungulate species that were followers (i.e., fawns immediately followed mothers within protection of the herd) were scarcely or not at all consumed by jackals, regardless of body size or density. Medium-sized mammals were selectively consumed over ungulates, and there was a negative relationship (P , 0.01) between consumption of berries and ungulates, indicating alternative food resources influenced consumption of ungulates on our study sites. Our results will help wildlife managers in Africa identify ungulate species susceptible to jackal predation, and can be used to develop management strategies for reducing jackal predation in areas where it is problematic. KEY WORDS Antidorcas marsupialis, black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas, diet, game ranch, predation, scat analysis, South Africa, springbok. Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) occur in 2 disjunct populations in eastern Africa and in southern Africa (Loveridge and Nel 2004). There is some uncertainty regarding the role of black-backed jackals as major predators of large (.15 kg) ungulate species, with apparently different views between regions. For example, black-backed jackals in eastern Africa are considered to be major predators of some large ungulate species, primarily gazelles (Gazella spp.), including fawns and adults (van Lawick and van Lawick- Goodall 1970, Lamprecht 1978, Moehlman 1983). In fact, due to heavy predation on fawns, jackals were thought to have a significant negative impact on gazelle populations (Wyman 1967, Kruuk 1972, Schaller 1972), and were considered to be the most significant predator of gazelles (Estes 1967). In southern Africa, most conclusions are that black-backed jackals feed primarily on small-sized prey, ranging in size from insects and small rodents, up to small ( M 15 kg) antelope species (Stuart and Stuart 2001, Skinner and Chimimba 2005). If remains from larger (.15 kg) ungulate species were found in jackal diets, they were generally presumed to be from scavenging (Smithers 1971, Rowe-Rowe 1976, Stuart 1976, Loveridge and Macdonald 2003, Skinner and Chimimba 2005). However, some researchers in southern Africa reported that black-backed jackals can prey on a significant number of impala (Aepyceros melampus), including fawns and adults (Pienaar 1969, McKenzie 1990). Clearly, more information is needed about predation on large ungulates by jackals, especially in southern Africa. Despite widespread research on predator– prey relationships in Africa, no studies have determined prey selection or predation impact on ungulates by black-backed jackals. Although gazelles do not occur in southern Africa, this niche is filled by springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis). However, it is not known if jackals prey upon springbok to the same extent that jackals prey on gazelles in eastern Africa. Such information deserves attention, because results may have important ecological and management implica- tions for the region. Additionally, information regarding the role of jackals as predators is especially important in southern Africa because large (.15 kg) carnivores have been extirpated from most private lands in this region, which leaves black-backed jackals and caracals (Caracal caracal) as the largest predators in many ecosystems, yet their role in this niche is poorly understood. Understanding the role of jackals as top predators, and their impact on prey species, will be important not only to biologists, but also to managers of private game ranches, whose hunting-based industry is an important part of the economy of the region (Falkena 2000, van der Waal and Dekker 2000). 1 E-mail: jan.f.kamler@gmail.com Journal of Wildlife Management 74(5):1030–1042; 2010; DOI: 10.2193/2009-211 1030 The Journal of Wildlife Management N 74(5)