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而招募和生存下降的研究上，最终限制了种群规模。然而，在一些物种中，招募和存活率随着密度的增加而增加，产生被称为Allee效应的正相关。实证研究表明，尽管我们对其原因和生态后果的理解仍然非常有限，但这种影响比以前认为的更为广泛。这些影响在合作繁殖者中似乎特别明显，即每组中有一只雌性垄断繁殖，非繁殖的成年动物帮助她抚养后代。但是，尽管研究通常调查了这些物种的繁殖策略的进化，但控制群体规模和种群密度的生态机制却很少被探索。本研究将以野生喀拉哈里猫鼬（Suricata suricatta）为模型，探讨限制单一合作繁殖群体规模和种群密度的生态过程。它将检验群体大小与繁殖成功之间的正相关关系是群体成员发现捕食者能力增强的结果，并将确定群体大小是否受到从属雌性分散率增加的限制，这是由于生活在大群体中的优势雌性越来越不耐受造成的。它将探讨群体一级的管制程序对人口一级的动态和人口学的影响。最后，它将调查群体大小和种群动态如何受到降雨、食物供应和疾病变化的影响。通过探索影响狐獴种群动态的不同寻常的生态机制，该项目将为其他受强狭道效应影响的动物的管理和保护提供信息基础。

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.