Social system and spatial organization of wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea) in a natural population
Social system and spatial organization of wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea) in a natural population
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DOI：
10.1644/bns-012
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发表时间：
2004-08-01
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
Sachser, N
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Asher, MR;De Oliveira, ES;Sachser, N
本研究旨在阐明野生豚鼠（Cavia aperea）的社会系统，野生豚鼠的野生祖先，在自然条件下的行为几乎是未知的。因此，C. aperea进行了为期6个月的调查，在其自然栖息地在巴西东南部。通过无线电遥测检查动物的空间使用，使用直接观察记录社会互动，并通过DNA指纹分析遗传关系。此外，植物覆盖，食物资源和捕食风险的分布记录，探讨不同的生态因素对社会系统的演变的影响。在研究期间，种群密度较低，存在较强的捕食压力，导致了高死亡率。失语症野生杜鹃花的空间分布与地面植被密集的地区密切相关。在这些领域内，由1名男性和1-2名女性组成的小团体占据了稳定的家域，仅与相邻团体的家域略有重叠。社会互动主要局限于同一群体的个体，对父系的初步分析表明，雌性的后代是由相应群体的雄性所生。从社会系统和空间组织两个方面对C.在密集的植被中，小群体的大小降低了被捕食者发现的风险，因此，aperea被认为是对高捕食压力的适应。此外，栖息地的使用，社会互动，和父系指向一个单一的男性系统，在这个低密度的野生种群。
This study aims to elucidate the social system of the wild cavy (Cavia aperea), the feral ancestor of the domestic guinea pig, whose behavior under natural conditions is almost unstudied. Therefore, a population of C. aperea was investigated for a 6-month period in its natural habitat in southeastern Brazil. The animals' space use was examined via radiotelemetry, social interactions were recorded using direct observations, and genetic relationships were analyzed via DNA fingerprinting. Additionally, the distribution of plant cover, food resources, and predation risk was recorded to investigate the impact of different ecological factors on evolution of the social system. In the study period, a low population density was detected and a strong predation pressure existed, which resulted in a high mortality rate of C. aperea. Spatial distribution of wild cavies was strongly associated with areas of dense ground vegetation. Within these areas, small groups consisting of 1 male and 1-2 females occupied stable home ranges that overlapped only slightly with home ranges of adjacent groups. Social interactions were restricted mainly to individuals of the same group, and initial analyses of paternity indicate that the females' offspring were sired by the respective group male. The social system and spatial organization of C. aperea are regarded as adaptations to high predation pressure because in dense vegetation small group size reduces the risk of detection by predators. Moreover, habitat use, social interactions, and paternity point to a single-male system in this low-density population of wild cavies.