Spatial distribution of lion kills determined by the water dependency of prey species
Open accessAbstract
Predation risk from lions (Panthera leo) has been linked to habitat characteristics and availability and traits of prey. We separated the effects of vegetation density and the presence of drinking water by analyzing locations of lion kills in relation to rivers with dense vegetation, which offer good lion stalking opportunities, and artificial water points with low vegetation density. The spatial distribution of lion kills was studied at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, South Africa. The distance between 215 lion kills and the nearest water source was analyzed using generalized linear models. Lions selected medium-sized prey species. Lion kills were closer to rivers and to artificial water points than expected by random distribution of the kills. Water that attracted prey, and not the vegetation density in riverine areas, increased predation risk, with kills of buffalo (Syncerus caffer), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) as water-dependent prey species. Traits of prey species, including feeding type (food habits), digestion type (ruminant or nonruminant); or body size, did not explain locations of lion kills, and no seasonal patterns in lion kills were apparent. We argue that the cascading impact of lions on local mammal assemblages is spatially heterogeneous.
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Buffalo are a preferred prey species in several savanna ecosystems.
“Whereas buffalo are a preferred prey species in several savanna ecosystems [21,57,58], they constituted less than 5% of kills found during our study, and less than 1% of male kills (Table 5), despite male lions specifically targeting buffalo elsewhere [52].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [21]
Our recorded prey spectrum differs from other studies that employed similar methods.
“Nevertheless, our recorded prey spectrum differs from other studies that employed similar methods [21,22], and large carcasses (such as the species in focus here) are less likely influenced by these limitations [59].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [21]
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Coursing hyenas and stalking lions: The potential for inter- and intraspecific interactions
Barker, N. A., Joubert, F. G., Kasaona, M., Shatumbu, G., Stowbunenko, V., Alexander, K., Slotow, R., & Getz, W. (2022) · bioRxiv · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265054 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Leweri, C., Bartzke, G. S., Msuha, M. J., & Treydte, A. C. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0267082 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“We also expected that larger groups will be formed closer to the streams due to the higher availability of water and food compared with areas further away from streams [35].”
BackgroundFactors influencing lion movements and habitat use in the western Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania
Schooler, S. L., Finnegan, S. P., Fowler, N. L., Kellner, K. F., Lutto, A. L., Parchizadeh, J., van den Bosch, M., Perez, A. Z., Masinde, L. M., Mwampeta, S. B., et al. (2022) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22053-y · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Hopley, P. J., Cerling, T. E., Crété, L., Werdelin, L., Mwebi, O., Manthi, F. K., & Leakey, L. (2022) · Quaternary International · doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2022.04.004 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Trophic processes constrain seasonal ungulate distributions at two scales in an East African savanna
James, N. L., Bond, M. L., Özgül, A., & Lee, D. (2022) · Journal of Mammalogy · doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyac050 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Brubaker, A. S., & Coss, R. G. (2016) · Ethology · doi:10.1111/eth.12500 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Grevy’s zebras are adapted to arid grasslands (Faith et al. 2013), an environment with typically lower prey density that attracts lions (De Boer et al. 2010; Cain et al. 2011).”
BackgroundEcological drivers of female lion (Panthera leo) reproduction in the Kruger National Park
Maruping‐Mzileni, N., Ferreira, S. M., Young, K., & Funston, P. J. (2020) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.5935 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“De Boer et al. (2010) found that animal distribution is nonrandom and tend to congregate around water where lion hunts occur most frequently.”
BackgroundHall, L. K., Larsen, R. T., Knight, R. N., & McMillan, B. R. (2021) · Ecosphere · doi:10.1002/ecs2.3509 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“For example, the communal use of v www.esajournals.org 1 May 2021 v Volume 12(5) v Article e03509 water sources can lead to interspecific interactions, such as competition (Valeix et al. 2007, Atwood et al. 2011, Hall et al. 2018) and predation (Valeix et al. 2009, 2010, de Boer et al. 2010).”
BackgroundDoan-Crider, D. L., Tri, A. N., & Hewitt, D. G. (2017) · Ursus · doi:10.2192/ursu-d-17-00014.1 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Currently, we know little about the influence of water on bear–cattle interactions in arid areas; other predator– prey relationships at waterholes are also somewhat unclear (Hopcraft et al. 2005, de Boer et al. 2010, Simpson et al. 2011).”
BackgroundDo vegetation, disturbances, and water influence large mammal distribution?
Gunda, D. M., Chambi, D., & Eustace, A. (2020) · Geology Ecology and Landscapes · doi:10.1080/24749508.2020.1809060 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Additionally, being far from the water sources could be one of the strategies to avoid predation as it has been observed that lions do hunt their prey close to the water sources (De Boer et al., 2010).”
BackgroundSandoval‐Serés, E., Mbizah, M. M., Phiri, S., Chatikobo, S. P., Valeix, M., van der Meer, E., Dröge, E., Madhlamoto, D., Madzikanda, H., Blinston, P., et al. (2024) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.11141 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“We categorised prey species by level of water dependency (high, medium, low) and diet (mixed feeder [browser and grazer], browser, grassland grazer, woodland grazer, omnivorous, carnivore, other) (based on Redfern et al., 2003 ; De Boer et al., 2010 ; Hayward & Hayward, 2012; Table S1).”
MethodPredictions & perceptions: A social-ecological analysis of human-carnivore conflict in Botswana
Feldmeier, D. E., Schmitz, O. J., Carter, N., Masunga, G. S., & Orrick, K. D. (2024) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110615 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Román, J. (2014) · Management of Biological Invasions · doi:10.3391/mbi.2014.5.4.04 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Dryland communities find little refuge from grazing due to long-term changes in water availability
Healy, A., TULLOCH, A. I. T., & Fensham, R. J. (2020) · Journal of Arid Environments · doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.104098 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Chung, O.-S., & Lee, J. K. (2024) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani14050759 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Epps, C. W., Weldy, M. J., Crowhurst, R. S., & Spaan, R. S. (2021) · African Journal of Ecology · doi:10.1111/aje.12916 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Risk of predation and disease transmission at artificial water stations
Webb, E. B., McArthur, C., Woolfenden, L., Higgins, D. P., Krockenberger, M. B., & Mella, V. S. A. (2022) · Wildlife Research · doi:10.1071/wr21044 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Predators can be attracted to stations because of the potentially increased prey encounter rate (de Boer et al. 2010; Ndaimani et al. 2016).”
BackgroundSpatial and temporal niche overlap of aardwolves and aardvarks in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
van den Bosch, M., Kellner, K. F., Mkasanga, I. J., Mwampeta, S. B., Fyumagwa, R., Gantchoff, M. G., Patterson, B. R., & Belant, J. L. (2023) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.10718 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Many herbivores depend on surface water, thus large carni - vores preying on herbivores often hunt in close proximity to water (Constant et al., 2015 ; De Boer et al., 2010 ; Tagwireyi et al., 2020).”
BackgroundState-shifts of lion prey selection in the Kruger National Park
Maruping‐Mzileni, N., Funston, P. J., & Ferreira, S. M. (2017) · Wildlife Research · doi:10.1071/wr16090 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
African Lion (Panthera leo) Space Use in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Snyman, A., Raynor, E. J., Chizinski, C. J., Powell, L. A., & Carroll, J. P. (2018) · African Journal of Wildlife Research · doi:10.3957/056.048.023001 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“The linear features also offer greater opportunities for encountering prey seeking water and suitable food resources (Hopcraft et al., 2005; Mosser & Packer, 2009; De Boer et al., 2010).”
BackgroundRainfall driven changes in behavioural responses confound measuring trends in lion population size
Young‐Overton, K., Funston, P. J., & Ferreira, S. M. (2014) · Wildlife Biology · doi:10.2981/wlb.00015 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Environmental Correlates of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Space-Use in a Savanna Landscape
Tagwireyi, P., Wenga, T., Ndaimani, H., & Mpakairi, K. S. (2020) · African Journal of Wildlife Research · doi:10.3957/056.050.0157 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“In African savannas, habitat use by the African lion (Panthera leo) is constrained largely by proximity to surface water sources (de Boer et al., 2010; Valeix et al., 2010).”
BackgroundHow lions move at night when they hunt?
Yiu, S. W., Owen‐Smith, N., & Cain, J. W. (2022) · Journal of Mammalogy · doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyac025 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Blanco, R. E. (2023) · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac104 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Impact of the morphology of logged areas on medium and large mammal communities in forests
Kim, M., Kim, H. G., Fath, B. D., Park, H., & Hong, S. (2025) · Landscape Ecology · doi:10.1007/s10980-025-02140-x · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Similarly, if the patch structure around water sources increases exposure to predators or facilitates human access, water-dependent species tend to avoid those areas (De Boer et al. 2010; Slater et al. 2024).”
Ram, M., Sahu, A., Srivastava, N., Chaudhary, R., Jhala, L. S., & Zala, Y. (2025) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.71811 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“The habitat surrounding these water sources supports their requirements for hunting, resting, and movement (Cozzi et al. 2013; De Boer et al. 2010).”
Estimates of Density and Population Size of African Lions in the Katavi National Park, Tanzania
Massawe, S., Mrosso, H. T., & Kimaro, M. H. (2022) · Open Journal of Ecology · doi:10.4236/oje.2022.129035 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Coursing hyenas and stalking lions: the potential for inter- and intraspecific interactionsPreprint
Barker, N. A., Joubert, F. G., Kasaona, M., Shatumbu, G., Stowbunenko, V., Alexander, K. A., Slotow, R., & Getz, W. M. (2022) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2022.02.23.481665 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Water dependence structures predation risk for large herbivores in insular protected areas
Louw, C. J., Ferreira, S. M., & Marshal, J. P. (2022) · Mammalian Biology · doi:10.1007/s42991-022-00278-8 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Bartzke, G. S., Ogutu, J. O., Piepho, H., Bedelian, C., Rainy, M. E., Kruska, R. L., Worden, J. S., Kimani, K., McCartney, M. J., Ng’ang’a, L. M., et al. (2026) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.73501 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Increased predation risk near water (de Boer et al. 2010) could further depress ungulate species richness and biomass near water.”
The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
Owen‐Smith, N. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108961646.016 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Tarugara, A., Clegg, B. W., & Clegg, S. B. (2024) · PeerJ · doi:10.7717/peerj.16749 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“The introduction of permanent water in previously waterless environments favours population growth of water-dependent animal species thereby improving conditions for lion success ( de Boer et al., 2010 ; Kittle et al., 2022 ).”
BackgroundTarugara, A., Clegg, B. W., & Clegg, S. B. (2024) · African Journal of Ecology · doi:10.1111/aje.13260 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Hall, L. K. (2013) · ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University) · doi:10.13140/rg.2.1.3233.0402 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Capon, S. D. (2012) · SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Abundância e distribuição espaço-temporal de mesopredadores na Caatinga do Piauí
de Oliveira, G. P. (2016) · doi:10.26512/2016.09.t.22317
Effect of species richness on disease risk: dilution effect and underlying mechanisms
Huang, Z. (2014) · doi:10.18174/314093
“We assume that a lower mean precipitation in the driest month might be correlated with a higher probability for animals to assemble at water resources or under tree shaded areas [92,93], which can increase BTB transmission.”
BackgroundBig Fierce Carnivores: Hunting Versus Scavenging
Owen‐Smith, N. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108961646.018
- Authors
- de Boer, W. F., Vis, M. J. P., de Knegt, H. J., Rowles, C., Kohi, E. M., van Langevelde, F., Peel, M., Pretorius, Y., Skidmore, A. K., Slotow, R., van Wieren, S. E., & Prins, H. H. T.
- Affiliations
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Mammalogy
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-10-15
- Volume
- 91
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1280-1286
- ISSN
- 0022-2372 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-1542
- OpenAlex
- W2135576707
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- edepot.wur.nl
- Locations
- Journal of Mammalogy (publishedVersion)
- University of Twente Research Information (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- University of Twente Research Information (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- American Society of Mammalogists
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Keywords
- lion predation, lion, water dependency, rivers, vegetation density, prey selection, predation risk, buffalo, Kudus, wildebeest, ruminants, cascading effects, spatial distribution
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