The flexible social system of the golden jackal, Canis aureus

摘要: 1. The study provides information on the intra-specific variation in social behaviour found within carnivores terms of food supply. Jackals were chosen for because they live a variety habitats, several which had already been studied by others. 2. An area was selected where at least section jackal population obtained 92% its from one feeding site only 10 m2 (based analysis 2,120 faeces). The jackals observed day and night (with infra-red equipment) many them could be individually recognised. Other data gathered detailed field tracking. Examples jackals' interactions both between groups are described. 3. Some this organised into two (numbering about 20 individuals respectively); these stable composition occupied neighbouring ranges which, them, termed territory. limit territory delineated faeces arranged piles or middens. Food marking experiments subsequent faecal confirmed that middens marked genuine territorial boundary. 4. These findings compared with those other authors it is clear flexibility carnivore systems general, particular, considerable. limits to differ various species. description selection pressures have fashioned inter-specific differences possibilities communities an important task future.