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
Acknowledgments
I. The Study
1. Introduction
2. The Serengeti Region Physiography Vegetation Seasons
3. Study Methods General Tagging Radio Telemetry Food Habits Age Classes
II. The Lion
4. Group Structure and Movement The Pride The Pride Area The Nomad
5. Behavior Within the Group Communication The Daily Activity Pattern Group Organization Mating Behavior Relations of Young to Pride Play
6. Population Dynamics Population Size Population Composition Reproduction Mortality Population Trend
7. Food Habits The Prey Population Food Habits Predation in Relation to Sex, Age, and Health of Prey
8. The Hunt Behavior of Prey Main Environmental Factors Affecting the Hunt Hunting Behavior Hunting Success Hunting for Large Prey Relation of Prey Size to Sex of Lion Killing It Learning to Hunt Killing Behavior at the Kill
III. Other Predators
The Leopard Distribution and Numbers Movement Population Dynamics Social Structure Predation
10. The Cheetah Distribution and Numbers Movements Population Dynamics Social Structure Predation
11. The Wild Dog Distribution and Numbers Movements Population Dynamics Social Structure Predation
12. Other Predators Spotted Hyena Man Jackals Other Mammals Reptiles and Birds
IV. Summary and Conclusions
13. Dynamics of Predator Social Systems Social System Social Structure Communication Land Tenure System Population Dynamics Hominid Behavior
14. The Dynamics of Predation Ecological Separation of Predators Antipredator Behavior Sex, Age, and Health of Prey Killed by Predators The Impact of Predation on Prey Populations Conclusion Appendixes Appendix A. Common and scientific names of wild mammals, birds, and reptiles mentioned in the text Appendix B. Tables 1 to 79
Appendix C. An estimate of animal numbers and biomass in the Serengeti Park made by Hendrichs (1970)
References Cited Index
Anonymous
Posted February 9, 2001
This Book is a 'CLASSIC' which was published about 25-yrs ago It covers all aspects of the 'LIONS' Life which is Accurate, & Informative. If you are interested in Lion Behavior this is a book for you. ( It is hard to put down ) A book that still is in print all these years is proof enough of it's contents. I recommend this Book to anyone who is interested in Lions (THIS IS THE ONE TO OWN.)
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Overview
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 ...