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Group composition effects on aggressive interpack interactions of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park

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  • Kira A. Cassidy
  • Daniel R. MacNulty
  • Daniel R. Stahler
  • Douglas W. Smith
  • L. David Mech

Abstract

Knowledge of characteristics that promote group success during intraspecific encounters is key to understanding the adaptive advantages of sociality for many group-living species. In addition, some individuals in a group may be more likely than others to influence intergroup conflicts, a relatively neglected idea in research on social animals. Here we use observations of aggressive interactions between wolf (Canis lupus) packs over an extended period and use pack characteristics to determine which groups had an advantage over their opponents. During 16 years of observation in Yellowstone National Park from 1995 to 2010, we documented 121 interpack aggressive interactions. We recorded pack sizes, compositions, and spatial orientation related to residency to determine their effects on the outcomes of interactions between packs. Relative pack size (RPS) improved the odds of a pack displacing its opponent. However, pack composition moderated the effect of RPS as packs with relatively more old members (>6.0 years old) or adult males had higher odds of winning despite a numerical disadvantage. The location of the interaction with respect to pack territories had no effect on the outcome of interpack interactions. Although the importance of RPS in successful territorial defense suggests the evolution and maintenance of group living may be at least partly due to larger packs’ success during interpack interactions, group composition is also an important factor, highlighting that some individuals are more valuable than others during interpack conflicts.

Suggested Citation

  • Kira A. Cassidy & Daniel R. MacNulty & Daniel R. Stahler & Douglas W. Smith & L. David Mech, 2015. "Group composition effects on aggressive interpack interactions of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(5), pages 1352-1360.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:26:y:2015:i:5:p:1352-1360.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arv081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Holly A. MacCormick & Daniel R. MacNulty & Anna L. Bosacker & Clarence Lehman & Andrea Bailey & D. Anthony Collins & Craig Packer, 2012. "Male and female aggression: lessons from sex, rank, age, and injury in olive baboons," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(3), pages 684-691.
    2. Simona Cafazzo & Paola Valsecchi & Roberto Bonanni & Eugenia Natoli, 2010. "Dominance in relation to age, sex, and competitive contexts in a group of free-ranging domestic dogs," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 21(3), pages 443-455.
    3. Daniel R. MacNulty & Douglas W. Smith & L. David Mech & John A. Vucetich & Craig Packer, 2012. "Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(1), pages 75-82.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dongryul Lee & Pilwon Kim, 2018. "Group formation under limited resources: narrow basin of equality," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Glowacki, Luke & Wilson, Michael L. & Wrangham, Richard W., 2020. "The evolutionary anthropology of war," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 963-982.
    3. Crouse, Kristin N. & Desai, Nisarg P. & Cassidy, Kira A. & Stahler, Erin E. & Lehman, Clarence L. & Wilson, Michael L., 2022. "Larger territories reduce mortality risk for chimpanzees, wolves, and agents: Multiple lines of evidence in a model validation framework," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 471(C).
    4. Sells, Sarah N. & Mitchell, Michael S., 2020. "The economics of territory selection," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 438(C).

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