ZOOLOGY 260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Canidae, Behavioral Ecology, Selective Breeding
2 Feb 2017
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Wolves preadapted to future role played with humans, dog lineage. Preadapted- happened to have a set of attributes that are well adapted to being wolves, but also adaptable to life with humans. Cooperative reproduction in packs of 2 breeding alphas (alpha female and male) Ex: up to 9 other individuals are helping alpha pair raise pups (1-6) Fission-fusion grouping = summer fission then winter fusion. Fuses pack members together (travel together, pack- during winter months) Fission- scattered, spread out, hunt/feed in pairs or singles (forage in summer) Cooperative defense of a year round territory- by howling, patrolling, scent-marking aggressively repelling or killing intruders (all canids) Wolf behavioral ecology (pre-adapted them to life with humans) Preadapted- by happenstance some wolf behaviors were compatible with human habits. Subordinates wait years to reproduce or never do, yet cooperate with pack- mates. Long periods of fasting and generalis diet (slide 4) Around 45,000 years ago, relationship between wolves and humans changed.
