The effects of population density and sociality on scent marking in the yellow mongoose

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dc.contributor.authorLe Roux A.
dc.contributor.authorCherry M.I.
dc.contributor.authorManser M.B.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T15:59:53Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T15:59:53Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractWe investigated scent marking in the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata focusing on a low-density population where all offspring dispersed upon reaching sexual maturity. Dominant males appeared to be the main territory defenders and demarcators, with offspring foraging and marking only near the territory cores. The cheek-marking rates of dominant males increased during the breeding season and may have been involved in olfactory mate guarding. We compared our low-density population with a high-density population displaying natal philopatry. The two populations differed markedly in terms of individual contributions to territorial marking, as subordinate group members in the low-density population performed almost no territorial marking or defence, but were the primary scent-markers and territory defenders in the high-density population. We discuss scent-marking distinctions between populations in the context of ecological and social differences. © 2008 The Authors.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Zoology
dc.identifier.citation275
dc.identifier.citation1
dc.identifier.issn9528369
dc.identifier.other10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00404.x
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/11413
dc.subjectbreeding season
dc.subjectdefense behavior
dc.subjectdispersal
dc.subjectdominance
dc.subjectmate guarding
dc.subjectolfaction
dc.subjectphilopatry
dc.subjectpopulation density
dc.subjectscent marking
dc.subjectsexual maturity
dc.subjectsmall mammal
dc.subjectterritoriality
dc.subjectCarnivora
dc.subjectCynictis penicillata
dc.titleThe effects of population density and sociality on scent marking in the yellow mongoose
dc.typeArticle
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