Wolf pack spacing: Howling as a territory-independent spacing mechanism in a territorial population

SummaryHowling is a principle means of spacing in wolf populations. The relationship between a pack's responses to howling (replies, movements) and its location within its home range, was studied using human-simulated howling in a territorial population in northeastern Minnesota. The results indicated the responses were independent of the pack's location, or the locations of the pack and playback relation to the territory center. These results indicate that howling serves as a territory-independent spacing mechanism, that will result in the use of exclusive territories when coupled with strong, year-round site attachment, but with floating, exclusive, buffer-areas about migratory packs.

[1]  P. Waser,et al.  Experimental playbacks show vocal mediation of intergroup avoidance in a forest monkey , 1975, Nature.

[2]  L. Mech,et al.  Patterns of homesite attendance in two Minnesota wolf packs , 1982 .

[3]  L. Mech.  Productivity, Mortality, and Population Trends of Wolves in Northeastern Minnesota , 1977 .

[4]  L. Mech,et al.  Fall and winter homesite use by wolves in northeastern Minnesota , 1982 .

[5]  R P Peters,et al.  Scent-marking in wolves. , 1975, American scientist.

[6]  L. Mech.  Wolf numbers in the Superior National Forest of Minnesota. , 1973 .

[7]  P. Marler,et al.  Vocalizations of East African monkeys. I. Red colobus. , 1970, Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology.

[8]  Gordon C. Haber.  Socio-ecological dynamics of wolves and prey in a subarctic ecosystem , 1977 .

[9]  Peters Rp,et al.  Scent-marking in wolves , 1975 .

[10]  L. Mech,et al.  Wolf-Pack Buffer Zones as Prey Reservoirs , 1977, Science.

[11]  L. Mech,et al.  Role of the wolf in a deer decline in the Superior National Forest. , 1977 .

[12]  L. Mech,et al.  An analysis of howling response parameters useful for wolf pack censusing , 1982 .

[13]  P. Marler.  Vocalizations of East African monkeys II : black and white colobus , 1972 .

[14]  W. B. Davis,et al.  The wolves of Mount McKinley , 1944 .

[15]  G. Parker.  Distribution and Densities of Wolves within Barren-Ground Caribou Range in Northern Mainland Canada , 1973 .

[16]  John B. Theberge,et al.  Howling as a Means of Communication in Timber Wolves , 1967 .

[17]  L. Mech,et al.  WOLF HOWLING AND ITS ROLE IN TERRITORY MAINTENANCE , 1979 .

[18]  P. Waser.  Individual Recognition, Intragroup Cohesion and Intergroup Spacing: Evidence From Sound Playback To Forest Monkeys , 1977 .

[19]  Rh. Wiley,et al.  Territoriality and non-random mating in sage grouse , 1973 .

[20]  F. Harrington,et al.  Urine-Marking and Caching Behavior in the Wolf , 1981 .

[21]  L. Mech,et al.  DYNAMICS, MOVEMENTS, AND FEEDING ECOLOGY OF A NEWLY PROTECTED WOLF POPULATION IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA , 1981 .

[22]  L. Mech.  Making the Most of Radio Tracking—A Summary of Wolf Studies in Northeastern Minnesota , 1980 .

[23]  P. Joslin,et al.  Movements and Home Sites of Timber Wolves in Alǵonquin Park , 1967 .

[24]  L. Mech,et al.  The Wolf: The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species , 1970 .

[25]  R. Stephenson,et al.  Homing in the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) , 1974 .

[26]  D. Byman,et al.  Ecology of the timber wolf in northeastern minnesota usa , 1975 .

[27]  R. Wiley,et al.  Mechanisms and Evolution of Spacing in Animals , 1979 .