Wolves in space: locations of individuals and their effect on pup survival in groups of a cooperatively breeding canid

摘要: In some cooperatively breeding species, and nonbreeding individuals within a group care for young through provisioning guarding, commonly referred to as alloparental care. The question of why nonbreeders contribute the is at centre research on evolution cooperative societies, mechanisms that drive behaviour are topic debate. We employed novel approach examine grey wolf, Canis lupus, space use pup-rearing sites by using genotyped scats measure distance between wolves evaluate influence genetic relatedness other characteristics this use. Specifically, we evaluated how composition individual influenced whether adults pups pup survival. 3093 wolf collected during June–August 2008–2016 calculated scats. found did not also nonbreeders, especially yearlings, remained closer than breeders, more genetically related were them, suggesting kin-directed attendance behaviour. Finally, evidence direct fitness benefits, such gaining access food, may well help explain yearling closest pups. This first study provide indirect in it contributes methodology investigating helping breeders reproductive sites.