WOLF HOWLING AND ITS ROLE IN TERRITORY MAINTENANCE

摘要: An experimental study of the role howling in wolf territory maintenance was conducted Superior National Forest, Minnesota. Vocal replies and behaviour radio-collared wolves response to human howls were analyzed for eight packs 10 lone during a 2-year period. Reply rate varied significantly throughout year. A mid-winter increase correlated with breeding season, especially groups containing animals (alpha male or alpha female). second, longer reply started midsummer, peaked about August, declined low early winter. The decline autumn occurred sooner pack whose pups developed faster. Through year, higher among all attending prey kills. more food remaining at kill, was. For separated from their pack, dependent on age social role. Among adults, only males ever replied alone, rate, number per session, exceeded those other animals. Alpha sometimes approached sessions, whereas adults usually retreated. Younger often as than yearlings, then first 7 months, after which they little most adults. Finally, larger smaller packs. Specific behaviours noted including movements away howler, indicated that related interpack agonism. In addition, three major factors influencing also affect level agonism toward strangers : size, role, season. two factors, kills pups, are both important resources necessitating exclusive occupancy site. high rates sites constitute strong circumstantial evidence is maintenance. During remained near original site replying, retreated if silent. This difference apparently problem avoiding accidental deliberate encounters, cost/benefit considerations wolves' location. Howling considered effective mediating avoidance situations when common area overlap, returned an used weeks, scent posts would have lost effectiveness deterring strangers. Both scent-marking spacing. However, differ roles complementary, being long-term site-specific, immediate long-range. do not possess territories, rarely replied, sharing "low-profile" expected surplus territorial population.