Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska
Abstract: Group size and stability was studied in a population of re-established muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in northeastern Alaska by re-locating radio-collared animals. Mixed-sex groups (cows, calves, sub-adults and often adult bulls) ranged in size from 2-118 with a mean of 19.2. Almost 60 % of a...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.659.8712 2023-05-15T17:13:41+02:00 Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska P. E Reynolds The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 1991 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.659.8712 http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/1082/1033/ en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.659.8712 http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/1082/1033/ Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/1082/1033/ text 1991 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T16:47:22Z Abstract: Group size and stability was studied in a population of re-established muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in northeastern Alaska by re-locating radio-collared animals. Mixed-sex groups (cows, calves, sub-adults and often adult bulls) ranged in size from 2-118 with a mean of 19.2. Almost 60 % of all mixed-sex groups contained 5¬ 19 individuals. Solitary cows were seen infrequently. Adult bulls were observed in mixed-sex groups, in bull groups or alone. Bull groups averaged 3.9 and ranged in size from 2 to 12. Thirty percent of all adult bulls seen outside mixed-sex groups were solitary animals. Mixed-sex groups were significantly smaller in summer/ rut Quly-September) than in midwinter Qanuary-March), spring/calving (April-June) and early winter (Octo-ber-November). Mean group size was 12.2 in August compared with 23.6 in February. In August, during the rut, numbers of small groups (2-14) increased, while numbers of medium-sized (15-29) and large groups (> 29) decreased. Bull groups were significantly larger in spring/calving than during other seasons. The ratio of single bulls to bull groups was less than 0.30 in winter, increased in June, and reached a maximum during the rut in August when more than 2 single bulls were seen for every bull group. Group size and individuals within a group changed frequently. This fluid social system provides a balance between protection from pre-dators, efficient food acquisition and the formation of harems during the rut. Key words: muskoxen, group size Text muskox ovibos moschatus Rangifer Alaska Unknown Midwinter ENVELOPE(139.931,139.931,-66.690,-66.690) |
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ftciteseerx |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract: Group size and stability was studied in a population of re-established muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in northeastern Alaska by re-locating radio-collared animals. Mixed-sex groups (cows, calves, sub-adults and often adult bulls) ranged in size from 2-118 with a mean of 19.2. Almost 60 % of all mixed-sex groups contained 5¬ 19 individuals. Solitary cows were seen infrequently. Adult bulls were observed in mixed-sex groups, in bull groups or alone. Bull groups averaged 3.9 and ranged in size from 2 to 12. Thirty percent of all adult bulls seen outside mixed-sex groups were solitary animals. Mixed-sex groups were significantly smaller in summer/ rut Quly-September) than in midwinter Qanuary-March), spring/calving (April-June) and early winter (Octo-ber-November). Mean group size was 12.2 in August compared with 23.6 in February. In August, during the rut, numbers of small groups (2-14) increased, while numbers of medium-sized (15-29) and large groups (> 29) decreased. Bull groups were significantly larger in spring/calving than during other seasons. The ratio of single bulls to bull groups was less than 0.30 in winter, increased in June, and reached a maximum during the rut in August when more than 2 single bulls were seen for every bull group. Group size and individuals within a group changed frequently. This fluid social system provides a balance between protection from pre-dators, efficient food acquisition and the formation of harems during the rut. Key words: muskoxen, group size |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
P. E Reynolds |
spellingShingle |
P. E Reynolds Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska |
author_facet |
P. E Reynolds |
author_sort |
P. E Reynolds |
title |
Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska |
title_short |
Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska |
title_full |
Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern Alaska |
title_sort |
dynamics of muskox groups in northeastern alaska |
publishDate |
1991 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.659.8712 http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/1082/1033/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(139.931,139.931,-66.690,-66.690) |
geographic |
Midwinter |
geographic_facet |
Midwinter |
genre |
muskox ovibos moschatus Rangifer Alaska |
genre_facet |
muskox ovibos moschatus Rangifer Alaska |
op_source |
http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/1082/1033/ |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.659.8712 http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/1082/1033/ |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
_version_ |
1766070875653668864 |