Individual strategies, group dynamics and population regulation in singular cooperative breeders

大多数关于鸟类和哺乳动物种群密度调节的详细研究都集中在随着种群密度的增加，招募和存活率下降，最终限制种群规模的研究上。然而，在某些物种中，招募和生存随着密度的增加而增加，产生正相关性，称为Allee效应。经验研究表明，这种影响比以前认为的更为广泛，尽管我们对其原因和生态后果的了解仍然非常有限。这些影响似乎是特别明显的合作育种，其中一个女性在每个组垄断生殖和非繁殖成年人帮助她提高她的后代，但，虽然研究普遍调查这些物种的生殖策略的演变，控制组的大小和人口密度的生态机制很少被探索。本研究将探讨限制群体大小和人口密度的生态过程，在单一的合作育种使用野生喀拉哈里猫鼬（Suricata suricatta）作为模式。它将测试的预测，群体大小和繁殖成功之间的正相关性是一个后果，增加了群体成员的能力，以检测捕食者，并将确定群体大小是否是有限的，由下属女性，造成越来越多的不容忍的主导女性生活在大群体的扩散率增加。它将探讨在群体层面上的动态和人口统计学在群体层面上的监管过程的影响。最后，它将研究群体大小和种群动态如何受到降雨量，食物供应和疾病变化的影响。通过探索影响猫鼬种群动态的不寻常的生态机制，该项目将为管理和保护其他受强烈Allee效应影响的动物提供知情的基础。

Most detailed studies of the regulation of population density in birds and mammals have focussed on studies where recruitment and survival decline as population density increases, eventually limiting population size. However, in some species, recruitment and survival increase with rising density, generating positive correlations known as Allee effects. Empirical studies show that effects of this kind are more widespread than was previously thought though our understanding of their causes and ecological consequences is still very limited. These effects appear to be particularly pronounced in cooperative breeders where one female in each group monopolises reproduction and non-breeding adults assist her to raise her offspring but, although studies have commonly investigated the evolution of reproductive strategies in these species, the ecological mechanisms controlling group size and population density have rarely been explored. This study will investigate the ecological processes limiting group size and population density in singular cooperative breeders using wild Kalahari meerkats (Suricata suricatta) as a model. It will test the prediction that positive correlations between group size and breeding success are a consequence of increases in the ability of group members to detect predators and will determine whether group size is limited by increasing rates of dispersal by subordinate females, caused by increasing intolerance by dominant females living in large groups. It will explore the effects of regulatory processes at the group level on dynamics and demography at the population level. Finally, it will investigate how group size and population dynamics are affected by variation in rainfall, food availability and disease. By exploring the unusual ecological mechanisms affecting population dynamics in meerkats, the project will provide an informed basis for the management and conservation of other animals subject to strong Allee effects.