The social organisation and mating system of an Australian subalpine rodent, the broad-toothed rat, Mastacomys fuscus Thomas

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Bubela ◽  
DCD Happold
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Spatial Organisation ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The World ◽  
Males And Females

Mastacomys fuscus is a grass-eating rodent of south-eastern Australia that lives mainly in subalpine habitats where snow covers the ground for about four months of the year. Radiotelemetry revealed that in summer the females were territorial. Home ranges of males were larger than those of females and overlapped extensively with the home ranges of other males and with the home ranges of up to three females. In winter, males and females huddled together in communal nests. The locations of nest sites, cover, water and grass also determined the spatial organisation of individuals. The evidence suggests that M. fuscus is not monogamous, but there were insufficient data to determine whether polygyny or promiscuity is the preferred mating system. The social organisation of this species, solitary in summer and communal in winter, is a response to the cold snowy winters and the limited time for reproduction in summer. The social organisation of M, fuscus is different from that of the other conilurine rodents of Australia, but similar to that of rodents that live in other alpine regions of the world.

An Ecological Study of Sminthopsis crassicaudata (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae) II.* Behaviour and Social Organization

1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
SR Morton
Keyword(s):  
Social System ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Sminthopsis Crassicaudata ◽  
The Social ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Nest Sharing

The behaviour of Sminthopsis crassicaudata was studied by mark-recapture techniques at Werribee, Vic., from 1972 to 1976. Observations of nocturnal behaviour were also made at Fowlers Gap Station, N.S.W. S. crassicaudata usually nest solitarily in the breeding period (August–March), but up to 70% of individuals share nests in groups of from two to eight during the non-breeding period (April–July). These nest-sharing groups are impermanent and appear to be random aggregations of individuals. Most nest-sharing in the breeding period involves pairs of a male with an oestrous female. Both males and females inhabit large overlapping ranges in the breeding and non-breeding periods. Males seem to move their nest sites more frequently than females; this supposition is supported by observations of nocturnal behaviour. The ranges of individuals are unstable in space and are best described as 'drifting home ranges'. The only animals that may become territorial are breeding females, and these probably defend only a small area around the nest. Males do not appear to defend their range at any time. The adaptive significance of the social system is discussed. * Part I, Aust. Wildl. Res., 1978, 5, 151–62.

Dispersal patterns in a regional koala population in south-east Queensland

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Dique ◽  
Jim Thompson ◽  
Harriet J. Preece ◽  
Deidré L. de Villiers ◽  
Frank N. Carrick
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Dispersal Patterns ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
The Social ◽  
Straight Line Distance ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Natal Home

Koala dispersal was investigated as part of a detailed ecological study of a nationally significant koala population located 20 km south-east of Brisbane, Queensland. From 1996 to 2000, 195 koalas from three sites were captured and fitted with radio-collars. A total of 40 koalas (23 males and 17 females) dispersed from these sites. Most (93%) dispersing individuals were 20–36 months of age. Three adult females (more than 36 months old) dispersed and no adult males dispersed during the study. A significantly higher proportion of young males dispersed than females. Dispersal occurred between June and December, with most dispersal of males commencing in July and August and that of females commencing between September and November prior to, and early in, the annual breeding season. The mean straight-line distance between the natal and breeding home ranges for males and females was similar and was measured at 3.5 km (range 1.1–9.7 km) and 3.4 km (range 0.3–10.6 km) respectively. Dispersing males and females tended to successfully disperse south and west of their natal home ranges and were generally unable to successfully disperse to urban areas within the study area, as a high proportion of the mortality of dispersing koalas was associated with attacks by domestic dogs and with collisions with vehicles on roads. Information from other studies indicates that most young koalas disperse from their natal areas. It is likely that the social behaviour and mating systems of koala populations provide mechanisms for young koalas to disperse. The potential role of dispersal in the dynamics of regional koala populations is discussed.

Testing the resource economic monopolization hypothesis and its consequences for the mating system ofAlpheus estuariensis(Decapoda, Caridea, Alpheidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-647
Author(s):  
Danillo Barroso ◽  
Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues Alves ◽  
Gustavo L. Hirose
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Random Distribution ◽  
Great Abundance ◽  
North East ◽  
The Social ◽  
Average Abundance ◽  
Males And Females

The aim of the present study is to test the resource economic monopolization hypothesis and the hypothesis of monogamy using the shrimpAlpheus estuariensisas a model. The shrimps were collected in two areas in the Vaza-Barriz estuary, north-east Brazil, from August to November 2016. The average abundance of refuges was obtained through 30 random replicates. The shrimp presented a random distribution in both areas. Males and females found together showed a weak relation between their sizes, with males being larger than females. In addition, the cheliped of males grows proportionally more than that of females. The great abundance of refuges present in the environment, added to the aforementioned results, do not support the idea of refuge-guarding behaviour or monogamy. These results, which are in disagreement with those already found for some shrimps of the same family, genus, and even species, reinforce the idea that Alpheidae can be used as a model in the study of how environmental conditions are capable of shaping the social behaviour of a species.

The Social Organisation of the Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa Gould (Aves : Rallidae)

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
ST Garnett
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
The Social ◽  
Free Ranging

A population of dusky moorhens was studied between October 1974 and December 1976. Moorhens were present in the study area throughout the year, existing predominantly in free-ranging flocks in May and June and tending to form territorial groups of from two to seven birds from July to April. In a group there were from one to three males per female; all males copulated with all females. Groups formed in July were predominantly of experienced adults and did not cease territoriality until April; those formed later, in September, were predominantly of immatures and tended to cease territoriality in March. The former had larger territories with more reeds, less sexual behaviour although more frequent successful coition, and a higher productivity than the latter. Productivity did not increase with group size although those with more than four birds lost twice as many eggs as smaller groups. It is unlikely that members of a group are related. The most frequent group size was four and it is postulated that groups of this size produce the most young. The skewed ratio in groups may result from the scarcity of nest sites, which limits the number of females per group.

scholarly journals Building national security through human security: Seasonal migration from Upper Mustang

Unity Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 74-88
Author(s):  
Man Bahadur Khattri
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
National Security ◽  
Human Security ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Seasonal Migration ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Business Investment ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Males And Females

Migration is one of the essential social-cultural phenomena of human being around the world. Seasonal migration is one of the human security dimensions directly related to the national security of a country. This paper explores the human security dimension closely related to seasonal migration and national security which has reasons, processes, and destinations of the Lobas of Upper Mustang, Nepal. The survey, interview, and field observation (Upper Mustang, Western Hills of Nepal and Vanarashi, India) were the principal methods of data collection. The findings of the research are that both married males and females having agriculture and livestock occupations of the large family go for seasonal migration from Upper Mustang, Nepal. The dominant age group of migrants is 20-50 years. The level of literacy, language efficiency, and social network plays a determining role in choosing the destination and period of stay out. They usually migrate to a group and use multiple modes of transportation for their travel. For business, they use the social network. They rent a room to live in. For business investment, they use mostly their own money and some they borrow from moneylenders. They not only work themselves also employ Nepali speaking youths in Vanarashi. Their property in Upper Mustang is taken care of mostly by their family members. They bring cash and kind as their earning while returning home.

Social Organisation in the Rufous Bettong, Aepyprymnus Rufescens

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Frederick ◽  
CN Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Overt Aggression ◽  
Association Patterns ◽  
Intimate Knowledge ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Almost All

This study examined association patterns and reproductive behaviour in a sexually monomorphic potoroid marsupial, the rufous bettong, Aepyprymnus rufescens. A total of 29 individuals was marked, and 22 of these were observed regularly over a six-month period; these 22 individuals accounted for almost all the animals using the study area. Rufous bettongs at this site were predominantly solitary (71% of sightings were of single animals) and groups, when they formed, were generally small (maximum of six individuals). Most groups of two were male-female pairs, and unisex groups occurred significantly less often than expected. These male-female groups formed as a result of sexual investigations of females by males, and were shore-lived. Analysis of the frequency with which particular males and females were seen together (excluding occasions when females were in oestrus) showed that most males did not persistently associate with any particular female. Instead, they appeared to maintain transitory contact with as many females as possible. However, three pairs were regularly seen together, suggesting that some males may maintain especially close contact with particular females. Females as they approached oestrus were followed continually by several males, with one male following very closely and preventing others from approaching. In two well-studied cases, the male who defended priority of access to the female was the same individual who had most often associated with that female when not in oestrus. These males demonstrated intimate knowledge of the nesting locations of the females and were able to join them very early each evening, and defended them against other males with little overt aggression. The mating system in this population appears to be promiscuous, but with a hint of monogamy arising from the tendency of some males to persistently investigate and ultimately to guard sexual access to certain individual females.

scholarly journals Sex differences in spatial ability: a test of the range size hypothesis in the order Carnivora

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie M. Perdue ◽  
Rebecca J. Snyder ◽  
Zhang Zhihe ◽  
M. Jackson Marr ◽  
Terry L. Maple
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Mating System ◽  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Spatial Ability ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Giant Pandas ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Males And Females

Sex differences in spatial cognition have been reported for many species ranging from voles to humans. The range size hypothesis predicts that sex differences in spatial ability will only occur in species in which the mating system selects for differential range size. Consistent with this prediction, we observed sex differences in spatial ability in giant pandas, a promiscuous species in which males inhabit larger ranges than females, but did not observe sex differences in Asian small-clawed otters, a related monogamous species in which males and females share home ranges. These results provide the first evidence of sex differences in spatial ability in the order Carnivora, and are consistent with the range size hypothesis.

Home Range and Movement Patterns of Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) In Coastal Dry Heathland, Anglesea, Victoria.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
S. Laidlaw W ◽  
S. Hutchings ◽  
R. Newell G
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Hours ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Degree Of Overlap

Sminthopsis leucopus is a small dasyurid distributed in south-eastern Australia. Radiotelemetry in conjunction with live capture trapping was used to investigate home range size and habitat utilisation of S. leucopus. The average distance moved showed no significant differences between sexes or between seasons. The observed range length and home range area were similar for both sexes. The mean home range area (95% harmonic mean) for S. leucopus was 0.917 hectares. Home ranges of males and females revealed a high degree of overlap. Activity during the day was low and highest in the hours following dusk.

Social structure and mating system of sperm whales off northern Chile

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 1360-1369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda K Coakes ◽  
Hal Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Mating System ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Northern Chile ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean

We studied the social structure and mating system of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus L., 1758) off northern Chile over 10 months in 2000, photographically identifying 898 individuals. The mean size of encountered groups of females with immatures was about 23 animals, while the estimated mean size of units (sets of females and immatures with permanent relationships) was 11 animals. About 4% of the population consisted of large mature males, although this varied seasonally. Groups of females and immatures, as well as large males, spent only a matter of days within the study area at a time. There was no evidence for preferred ranges for the males, for males consistently accompanying particular groups, or for males forming coalitions. Males roved between the groups of females and immatures. Both mature males and females or immatures appeared to take the initiative in maintaining or breaking close associations. These results are similar to those from studies off the Galápagos Islands, even though the habitat, nonsocial behaviour, and relative abundance of mature males were quite different in the two areas.

scholarly journals Social Behaviour of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hervey Bay, Eastern Australia, a Preferential Female Stopover During the Southern Migration

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Franklin ◽  
Wally Franklin ◽  
Lyndon Brooks ◽  
Peter Harrison ◽  
Adam A. Pack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Humpback Whale ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Competitive Behaviour ◽  
Males And Females

Agonistic competitive social behaviour in humpback whales [Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781)] has been extensively studied and reported in previous research. However, non-agonistic social behaviour in humpback whale pods has not been systematically studied. We investigated the social behaviour of 3,949 humpback whale pods over a period of 14 years during August, September, and October in Hervey Bay (Queensland, eastern Australia), a preferential female stopover early in the southern migration. Modelling and analyses of the data examined the factors influencing the occurrence and timing of non-agonistic social behaviour pods, agonistic competitive pods and newly associated pods. Non-agonistic social behaviour was observed more frequently during August when mature females, including early pregnant and resting females, co-occur and socially interact with immature males and females. Overall, relatively few mature males visit Hervey Bay. Agonistic competitive behaviour was observed with increasing frequency during September and October when mother-calf pods, with few escorts predominated. Mother-calf pods in Hervey Bay spent most of their time alone involved in maternal care. Agonistic competitive behaviour is related to the decreasing numbers of potentially oestrous females toward the end of the season. Non-agonistic social behaviour and agonistic competitive behaviour were more frequently observed in larger and newly associated pods. Overall, non-agonistic social behaviour pods were more prevalent than agonistic competitive social behaviour pods. The results of this study substantiate that non-agonistic social behaviour may be more prevalent than aggressive agonistic social behaviour in site-specific locations and habitats, depending upon the classes and timings of humpback whales using such habitats.

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