Lions (Panthera leo) are a keystone species of many wildlife areas and, as such, understanding their dietary ecology is important for holistic wildlife management. Knowledge of lion feeding ecology enables researchers and wildlife managers to better understand predator–prey dynamics and ecological limits governing their local contexts. Where kill sites can be physically located in the field, they can provide important baseline information on lion diet. In this study, Global Positioning System (GPS) collar data were used together with field observations to investigate the dietary breadth of lions at Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, Zimbabwe. Results showed that lions in our study had a moderately specialised diet with zebra (Equus quagga) constituting the largest proportion of prey species consumed. A massive anthrax outbreak occurred during the study, drastically reducing numbers of several prey species, and this provided an opportunity to test possible shifts in lion diet in response to changes in prey abundance. Prey species selection before the anthrax outbreak was significantly different to the period after the outbreak, indicating a shift in diet post‐outbreak. Notable increases were observed in kill rates of species that were not severely affected by anthrax, namely warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), zebra, wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and eland (Taurotragus oryx). Quantifying lion dietary requirements is important for assessing the ecological and economic impacts they have on prey populations. In addition to space‐use ecology, this study shows that GPS collar data can facilitate diet investigation in large carnivores thereby providing useful information for ecological management.

中文翻译：

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全球定位系统项圈在盘点狮子的饮食及其炭疽病爆发后的变化方面的用途

狮子（狮子座豹）是许多野生动物地区的关键物种，因此，了解它们的饮食生态对于整体野生动物管理非常重要。了解狮子进食生态学使研究人员和野生动物管理者能够更好地了解捕食者与猎物的动态以及控制当地环境的生态限制。如果捕杀地点位于野外，它们可以提供有关狮子饮食的重要基线信息。在这项研究中，全球定位系统 (GPS) 项圈数据与实地观察相结合，调查了津巴布韦马利兰圭野生动物保护区狮子的饮食范围。结果表明，我们研究中的狮子与斑马有着中等程度的专业化饮食（斑驴）构成了所消耗的猎物种类的最大比例。研究期间发生了大规模炭疽病爆发，导致几种猎物物种的数量急剧减少，这提供了一个机会来测试狮子饮食因猎物丰度变化而可能发生的变化。炭疽病爆发前和爆发后的猎物种类选择明显不同，表明炭疽病爆发后饮食发生了变化。未受炭疽严重影响的物种（即疣猪）的死亡率显着增加（非洲白骨藻）、斑马、角马（金牛壳毛壳菌）和大羚羊（羚羊）。量化狮子的饮食需求对于评估它们对猎物种群的生态和经济影响非常重要。除了空间利用生态学之外，这项研究还表明，GPS 项圈数据可以促进大型食肉动物的饮食调查，从而为生态管理提供有用的信息。