|
|
|
Title: Dominance Hierarchies and Social Interactions in Captive African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus).
Author: Sarah Jeeves
Establishment: Anglia Ruskin University
Summary: The aims of the current study were to examine the social interactions within the hunting dog pack, looking at neighbour preference and behaviour interactions, to see if the number of visitors affected the social routine by comparing with resting periods and social interactions and to find out the dominance hierarchy of the group using social behaviour and interactions. Neighbour preference was examined to see if it related to the behaviour given and received, using the prediction that neighbour preference should occur mainly between the dominants and that the subordinates should exhibit the most social interactions directed to the dominants. The study also used the predictions that the dominance socializing will mainly be focused on the alpha pair and that the social behaviour should not be too affected by visitors numbers.
A three day pilot study was conducted to allow individual identification and to register the social behaviour types. In total, a four week data collection period was carried out with a total of 132 hours total collection. Behaviour and scan sampling were used to carry out observations. Behaviour sampling was carried out four times a day at 20 minute intervals. The type and length of behaviour and the actor and receiver of behaviours were all recorded. Scan sampling was conducted every hour to identify the daily interactions. For analysis, the behaviours were grouped into cohesion, conflict and mating. Analysis was used to evaluate the occurrence, frequency and interactions of these behaviours
Complete article:
During data collection, the supposed ‘alpha’ male was over-dominated by its brother on day 12. With this, the results were modified to incorporate this change, to see if this made any difference to the social interactions and wild dog preference within the pack.
Results showed that with the alpha change, the neighbour preference also changed and there were more social interactions between the wild dogs after the change. Before the alpha change, the two females showed neighbour preference as well one of these females, the dominant individual, with the dominant male. Most behaviour was also directed within these three dogs, and in particular the most ‘friendly’ behaviours were observed between the alpha pair. After the alpha change, a completely different pattern emerged. The new dominant male then started directing most behaviour to the dominant female. The ex-dominant male also seemed to interact more with the subordinate female. The lower ranking males never showed any preference to another dog. The aggression levels subsequently altered with the new dominant male now directing most of the aggression at the ex-dominant. It is thought that before the change, the new dominant male had higher preferences with the other two low ranking males, which possibly led to the weakening of the position of the dominant male and enabled this male to take over.
When testing for visitor numbers, there were significant differences in social behaviour, particularly friendly behaviour, when the visitors numbers when high. Results indicated that the pack bond more when visitor numbers are low.
|
|
|
|
