Social organisation and mating system of the narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata)

在食肉动物中，一些非洲猫鼬(鼠疫科)表现出复杂的社会。然而，对它们的近亲--地方性马达加斯加食虫科--的社会制度的研究仍然很少。我们的目标是研究窄条纹猫鼬(Mungotictis Decemlineata)社会系统的关键方面，以便(1)有助于更广泛地评价食肉动物的社会进化和(2)检验社会生态理论在这一长期孤立的食肉动物辐射中的预测。坊间证据表明，这种真斑羚以小群(3-5个个体)的形式生活，并表现出与一些鼠疫科报告的类似的社会模式。第一次，我们的目标是将通过GPS遥测获得的详细空间数据与行为观察和遗传分析相结合，以确定年龄、性别和亲属结构以及空间使用模式方面的平均群体组成。基于这些数据，我们还将测试对特定性别生殖策略的预测，以及种内竞争、联想模式和合作行为的性质。因此，这项研究将补充DFG正在进行的一个类似的关于隐尾藻Ferox的项目，以开始为食肉动物的社会进化提供重要的基线数据。

Among carnivores, some African mongooses (Herpestidae) exhibit complex societies. However, the social systems of their closest relatives, the endemic Malagasy Eupleridae, remain poorly studied. We aim to investigate key aspects of the social system of the narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata) in order to (1) contribute to a broader appraisal of carnivore social evolution and to (2) test predictions of socio-ecological theory in this representative of a long isolated carnivore radiation. Anecdotal evidence indicates that this Euplerid mongoose lives in small groups (3-5 individuals) and exhibits social patterns similar to those reported for some Herpestidae. For the first time in M. decemlineata, we aim to combine detailed spatial data obtained via GPS telemetry with behavioural observations and genetic analyses to determine the average group composition in terms of age, sex and kinship structure as well as patterns of space use. Based on these data, we will also test predictions about sex-specific reproductive strategies, as well as the nature of intra-specific competition, association patterns and cooperative behaviour. This study will therefore complement a similar ongoing DFG-funded project on Cryptoprocta ferox to begin contributing important baseline data on carnivore social evolution.