The hunt for small game

Camp Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park

          

Today we saw some big game in the Park, but our focus was on the smaller game.  Gary Alpert, Piotr Naskrecki, Fernandino (a young Gorongosi biologist), and I joined Bob Poole and his wife Gina who took us out in their heavily modified Land Rover – set up for filming elephants.   Bob used this vehicle to film “War Elephants” which is out on National Geographic.  His vehicle has survived intense attacks by charging elephants.   It is believed the elephants remember the intense shooting and hunting that occurred during the Civil War and see vehicles in the park as threats.  The film is actually about recent efforts to calm these elephants – this work is led by Bob’s sister who studies the behavior of elephants.

Bob Poole's elephant-ready rig. 

Today we began our survey work to determine the species richness of ants and orthoptera in the Park.   Piotr sampled with his sweep net through the tall grass.  The technique uses a net resembling a butterfly net but the handle and frame are stronger than a tennis racket. The netting material is similar to strong cloth canvas. The net is quickly passed back and forth through the grass to collect small insects living in this habitat.  He was able to collect many specimens at each locale we surveyed.  The most dramatic aspect of the survey were the incredible number of praying mantids in the yellow fever tree forest.  He commented that with this top predator (of insects) in such numbers means the insect prey items for these abundant mantids must be very high in abundance. This is what we came for -- wetter spring that would have a greater diversity and overall number of insects.

Piotr sorting through sweep net sample. 

I assisted Gary in his collection of ants.  He sampled directly off mounds and trees with Fernandino. I also filmed ants and their behavior and habitat.  While trying to take out some carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.) out of nest on a fallen branch I came upon an ant I hadn’t seen here before.  I informed Gary and discovered this is likely a species of subterranean driver ant (Dorylus sp.) that has not been described in Mozambique.  They are blind and are known to create an ant mill when disturbed or their path gets redirected.  Interestingly they began this behavior when placed in a collecting and sorting tray.  Supposedly if caught in such an ant mill, blind ants will follow each around and around until they die. 

Subterranean drivers which may represent a new find for Mozambique.

Ed Wilson arrived this afternoon and we reviewed our plans for the next 3 weeks working on E.O. Wilson‘s Life on Earth and the Digital Gorongosa Project.  He was very happy to be back and we are all excited to have him join our group.

What a day.  Jet lag is slowly leaving us and we are slipping into the routine of Chitengo.   Lots to see, discover, photograph and write about.  A bush baby is calling out into the night.  This signals the day’s end.