Capybara social structure and dispersal patterns: variations on a theme
Capybara social structure and dispersal patterns: variations on a theme
复制标题
水豚的社会结构和扩散模式：主题的变化
DOI：
10.1644/09-mamm-s-420.1
复制
发表时间：
2011
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Z. Tang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
E. Herrera;V. Salas;Elizabeth R. Congdon;M. J. Corriale;Z. Tang
水豚（Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris）是新大陆的大型草食动物，常见于南美洲热带和亚热带季节性泛滥的稀树草原。在本文中，我们回顾了水豚的社会结构和动态在他们的地理范围。水豚无论在哪里被研究都是群居的。水豚群体是由成年雄性和雌性（性别比例偏向雌性）及其幼崽组成的稳定的社会单位。一个线性的优势等级的特点是男性之间的相互作用，和占主导地位的男性获得最多的交配。群体大小从6到16个成年成员不等，并随栖息地特征和种群密度而变化。在更高的密度组大小和比例的漂浮物（显然是独立的动物，主要是男性）增加。在1个低密度的位置分散似乎发生在两种性别的群体，而在另一个位置，密度较高，男性分散和女性是philopatric。我们还讨论了更多的概念性问题（主要是近端和最终的机制），涉及到种内变异的社会行为一般，特别是水豚。
Abstract Capybaras, (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are large, herbivorous New World hystricomorphs, common in the seasonally flooded savannas of tropical and subtropical South America. In this paper we review the social structure and dynamics of capybaras across much of their geographic range. Wherever they have been studied capybaras live in groups. Capybara groups are stable social units composed of adult males and females (sex ratio biased toward females) with their young. A linear dominance hierarchy characterizes interactions among males, and the dominant male obtains most matings. Group sizes range from 6 to 16 adult members and vary with habitat characteristics and population density. At higher densities group sizes and the proportion of floaters (apparently unaffiliated animals; mostly males) increase. In 1 low-density location dispersal appears to occur in groups of both sexes, whereas in another location, where density is higher, males disperse and females are philopatric. We also discuss more conceptual issues (mostly proximate and ultimate mechanisms) that relate to intraspecific variation in social behavior in general, and capybaras in particular.