2003/01/01 by Zub, Karol Zub, Rafał Kowalczyk +7 · 5 citations
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation #Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
paper · doi:10.1163/156853903322149478
Summary We analysed data on territory marking with urine, scats, and ground scratching by wolves (Canis lupus) belonging to four packs in the BiaA owie C Primeval Forest, Poland. The aims were to determine: (1) seasonal variation in the marking rates, (2) signie cance of various kinds of marking in territory demarcation, and (3) relationship between spatial distribution of wolves’ marking and their use of territory. Continuous radio-tracking and subsequent snow tracking of the collared wolves were the main methods. Deposition rates of scats showed little variation in time and space, whereas rates of urine marking and ground scratching showed large seasonal and spatial variation. Wolf marking rates with urine and ground scratching were highest during the cold season (October-March) and peaked during the mating season, in January and February. Marking intensity did not grow with the number of wolves in a pack, and per capita rates of marking were highest in wolves travelling singly or in pairs. Mean marking rates per km of wolf trail were low in the core areas of territories, and increased