Ecology and social organization of the maned wolf (chrysocyon brachyurus)
East Lansing, Mich., Michigan State Univ., Diss., 1981
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| Sprache: | eng |
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Tag hinzufügen | Zusammenfassung: | East Lansing, Mich., Michigan State Univ., Diss., 1981 The objectives of the present study included quantification and description of the following aspects of the ecology and social organization of the maned wolf: relative use of available habitat types, circadian and seasonal activity patterns, group size and cohesion, reproduction, mortality, and relations with humans. The results of this study are based on two years of field work conducted in the Serra da Canastra National Park in southeastern Brazil. Nine adult maned wolves were captured in wooden box-traps, immobilized, weighed and measured, examined for ectoparasites and fitted with radio-telemetric collars. Blood, urine and fecal specimens were collected for laboratory determinations. Individuals were located daily on a scheduled basis. Availability of trophic resources was estimated by monthly censuses of small mammals and fruits. Scat analysis was used to determine food habits of resident maned wolves. Results suggest than maned wolves used grassland significantly less than the proportion of occurrence of that habitat. Cerrado habitat was used most commonly during hours of daylight; forest habitat was most often used at night. Wolves were nocturnal with most activity occurring from dusk to midnight. Males were significantly more active than females. The fruit Solanum lycocarpum, small mammals and miscellaneous fruits were the most important food items as determined by relative volume occurrence in scats. Consumption of these items was consistent with their seasonal availability suggesting that wolves foraged opportunistically. Wolves were monogamous and maintained long-term pair bonds. Each male-female pair maintained a mutual territory averaging 27 km('2), but were located in close association only during the breeding season. Territorial boundaries were mutually exclusive and inflexible except following the death of a resident wolf. Mortality of wolves was often the result of reprisals by ranchers for depredation on domestic fowl. Six of eight wolves tested positive for cystinuria, an inherited metabolic disease occasionally fatal in captive wolves. Suggestions concerning the management and conservation of this endangered species are presented. |
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| Beschreibung: | 201 S. |