Familiarity, Kin Groups, and Persistence in Sub-Divided Populations

9508319沃尔夫我们建议研究无关个体的移民对栖息地中已建立的居民繁殖成功的影响。进入陌生群体的雄性或雌性经常通过对年轻个体实施杀婴或扰乱正常繁殖模式来扰乱生殖。这项研究将记录灰尾田鼠在不同隔离程度的栖息地的繁殖成功、存活和种群增长。动物的活动、存活和数量将由实验围栏内的活体诱捕、标记和放生决定。这项研究将使我们能够测试亲缘关系和陌生关系在零散环境中动物繁殖成功中的作用。有人建议修建走廊，允许动物在碎片之间移动，以此作为维持因人类活动而日益分散的存活种群的一种机制。这项研究通过增加我们对行为对繁殖成功的影响的理解，将有助于我们管理栖息地斑块的能力。

9508319 Wolff We propose to study the effects of immigration of unrelated individuals on the breeding success of established residents in a habitat patch. Males or females that enter unfamiliar groups often disrupt reproduction by committing infanticide on young individuals or by disturbing normal breeding patterns. This study will document breeding success, survival, and population growth of the gray-tailed vole in habitat patches differing in degree of isolation. Animal movement, survival, and numbers will be determined by live-trapping, marking, and releasing animals within experimental enclosures. This study will allow us to test the role of kinship versus unfamiliarity in the breeding success of animals in fragmented landscapes. Construction of corridors to permit movement of animals between fragments has been suggested as a mechanism for maintaining viable populations increasingly fragmented by human activity. This study will contribute to our ability to manage habitat patches by increasing our understanding of the effect of behavior on breeding success.