Social organisation and mating strategies of the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) in Kirindy Forest CFPF, Madagaskar

哺乳动物的交配系统与一个物种的社会组织密切相关，而社会组织又取决于获得有限资源的性别特异性选择压力。在以前的研究孤独的食肉动物，交配系统已被描述为社会组织单独，由于难以观察交配行为的远距离物种与低人口密度。在本研究中，我们的目标是联合收割机的空间数据收集，通过现代GPS技术与行为和遗传数据的人口的一个孤独的食肉动物，窝（Cryptoprocta ferox）。以前的研究与低样本量表明，存在一个独特的哺乳动物交配系统，结合元素的争夺竞争一夫多妻制和一个列克系统。女性访问传统的交配树，并积极寻求多个交配。此外，轶事证据表明存在男性联盟，这可能是在交配机会的性内竞争的背景下发挥作用。因此，我们希望详细调查的间距模式和交配行为的窝，以有助于理解一个神秘的顶级食肉动物的独特的哺乳动物交配系统。

Mammalian mating systems are closely related to the social organisation of a species, which in turn is determined by sex-specific selection pressures with respect to access to limited resources. In previous studies of solitary carnivores, mating systems have been described with respect to social organisation alone, due to difficulties of observing mating behaviour in far-ranging species with low population densities. In the present study, we aim to combine spatial data collected through modern GPS technology with behavioural and genetic data of a population of a solitary carnivore, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). Previous studies with low sample sizes have indicated the existence of a unique mammalian mating system, combining elements of scramble competition polygyny and a lek system. Females visit traditional mating trees and appear to actively solicit multiple matings. Moreover, anecdotal evidence indicates the existence of male coalitions, which may function in the context of intra‐sexual competition for mating opportunities. We therefore want to investigate spacing patterns and mating behaviour of the fossa in detail in order to contribute to the understanding of a unique mammalian mating system in an enigmatic top carnivore.