Spatio-temporal behaviour of the brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) in the Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Abstract

The brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is inherently challenging to study owing to its secretive nature and nocturnal activity. Available literature predominantly examines the dietary overlap with co-occurring predators, emphasising the species’ ecological role as a scavenger, whilst research focused on the species’ spatio-temporal behaviour remains limited. To address this gap, we used camera-trap data from a survey conducted in southern Namibia to investigate the effects of different biotic and abiotic factors on the species’ occupancy and detection probability, as well as the activity rhythm and temporal overlap between P. brunnea and other co-occurring species, including humans. Brown hyena’s occupancy and detection probability were mainly shaped by environmental factors. The species showed a preference for the upper plateau and was more easily detected in secondary canyons leading to the uplands. Human activity did not influence occupancy, although we detected a clear temporal partitioning. Brown hyenas were most active during the central hours of the night, with a single broad activity peak suggesting increased foraging effort, independent of leopard activity patterns. This study represents the first fine-scale investigation of brown hyenas’ spatio-temporal behaviour within the Fish River Canyon. Our findings effectively reduce the knowledge gap on brown hyenas’ spatial niche and activity within arid inland ecosystems of southern Namibia, characterised by the absence of larger predators, such as lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), and scarcely affected by human disturbance.
Significance:
As a near-threatened and understudied species, the brown hyena represents an ideal candidate for investigating the spatio-temporal activity of a large carnivorous species in a complex arid ecosystem. Findings from this study fill the knowledge gap on the species ecology in inland desert ecosystems with unstable food availability and highlight the importance of accounting for different abiotic and biotic factors when investigating highly adaptable elusive species. Moreover, we advise that conservation and management programmes account for both sympatric predator and prey species when planning conservation strategies, considering that the ecological role of brown hyenas may vary.