A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf
Although predatory behavior is traditionally described by a basic ethogram composed of 3 phases (search, pursue, and capture), behavioral studies of large terrestrial carnivores generally use the concept of a “hunt” to classify and measure foraging. This approach is problematic because there is no c...
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fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:jmammal:88/3/595 2023-05-15T15:50:33+02:00 A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf MacNulty, Daniel R. Mech, L. David Smith, Douglas W. 2007-06-01 00:00:00.0 text/html http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/88/3/595 https://doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-119R1.1 en eng Oxford University Press http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/88/3/595 http://dx.doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-119R1.1 Copyright (C) 2007, Oxford University Press Feature Articles TEXT 2007 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-119R1.1 2016-11-16T18:31:42Z Although predatory behavior is traditionally described by a basic ethogram composed of 3 phases (search, pursue, and capture), behavioral studies of large terrestrial carnivores generally use the concept of a “hunt” to classify and measure foraging. This approach is problematic because there is no consensus on what behaviors constitute a hunt. We therefore examined how the basic ethogram could be used as a common framework for classifying large-carnivore behavior. We used >2,150 h of observed wolf ( Canis lupus ) behavior in Yellowstone National Park, including 517 and 134 encounters with elk ( Cervus elaphus ) and American bison ( Bison bison ), respectively, to demonstrate the functional importance of several frequently described, but rarely quantified, patterns of large-carnivore behavior not explicitly described by the basic ethogram (approaching, watching, and attacking groups). To account for these additionally important behaviors we propose a modified form of the basic ethogram (search, approach, watch, attack-group, attack-individual, and capture). We tested the applicability of this ethogram by comparing it to 31 previous classifications and descriptions involving 7 other species and 5 other wolf populations. Close correspondence among studies suggests that this ethogram may provide a generally useful scheme for classifying large-carnivore predatory behavior that is behaviorally less ambiguous than the concept of a hunt. Text Canis lupus Bison bison bison HighWire Press (Stanford University) Journal of Mammalogy 88 3 595 605 |
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HighWire Press (Stanford University) |
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English |
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Feature Articles |
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Feature Articles MacNulty, Daniel R. Mech, L. David Smith, Douglas W. A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf |
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Feature Articles |
description |
Although predatory behavior is traditionally described by a basic ethogram composed of 3 phases (search, pursue, and capture), behavioral studies of large terrestrial carnivores generally use the concept of a “hunt” to classify and measure foraging. This approach is problematic because there is no consensus on what behaviors constitute a hunt. We therefore examined how the basic ethogram could be used as a common framework for classifying large-carnivore behavior. We used >2,150 h of observed wolf ( Canis lupus ) behavior in Yellowstone National Park, including 517 and 134 encounters with elk ( Cervus elaphus ) and American bison ( Bison bison ), respectively, to demonstrate the functional importance of several frequently described, but rarely quantified, patterns of large-carnivore behavior not explicitly described by the basic ethogram (approaching, watching, and attacking groups). To account for these additionally important behaviors we propose a modified form of the basic ethogram (search, approach, watch, attack-group, attack-individual, and capture). We tested the applicability of this ethogram by comparing it to 31 previous classifications and descriptions involving 7 other species and 5 other wolf populations. Close correspondence among studies suggests that this ethogram may provide a generally useful scheme for classifying large-carnivore predatory behavior that is behaviorally less ambiguous than the concept of a hunt. |
format |
Text |
author |
MacNulty, Daniel R. Mech, L. David Smith, Douglas W. |
author_facet |
MacNulty, Daniel R. Mech, L. David Smith, Douglas W. |
author_sort |
MacNulty, Daniel R. |
title |
A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf |
title_short |
A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf |
title_full |
A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf |
title_fullStr |
A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Proposed Ethogram of Large-Carnivore Predatory Behavior, Exemplified by the Wolf |
title_sort |
proposed ethogram of large-carnivore predatory behavior, exemplified by the wolf |
publisher |
Oxford University Press |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/88/3/595 https://doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-119R1.1 |
genre |
Canis lupus Bison bison bison |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus Bison bison bison |
op_relation |
http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/88/3/595 http://dx.doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-119R1.1 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2007, Oxford University Press |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1644/06-MAMM-A-119R1.1 |
container_title |
Journal of Mammalogy |
container_volume |
88 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
595 |
op_container_end_page |
605 |
_version_ |
1766385520045195264 |