Territoriality of Giant Otter Groups in an Area with Seasonal Flooding

Leuchtenberger, Caroline; Magnusson, William E.; Mourão, Guilherme

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0126073

Cited by 17 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…These findings corroborate the idea that the overall spatial organization of males may be related to a defense of females (Ostfeld, ; Elbroch et al ., ), rather than to prey abundance and distribution (Maletzke et al ., ). But, since solitary carnivores are defined as territorial (Moorcroft et al ., ; Tallents et al ., ; Leuchtenberger et al ., ), the male, as well as the females, may be avoiding confrontation with other (untracked) males and, thus, end up using the same areas as the tracked females. To understand their influence on inter‐ and intrasexual movement behavior, more males need to be simultaneous tracked on a large spatiotemporal scale.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many carnivores are classified as territorial (Moorcroft, Lewis & Crabtree, ; Tallents et al ., ; Leuchtenberger, Magnusson & Mourão, ), with both infanticide (Soares et al ., ) and cannibalism (Azevedo et al ., ) being reported for males. However, some solitary carnivores appear to have a degree of tolerance for conspecifics (Cavalcanti & Gese, ; Quaglietta et al ., ; Rodgers et al ., ), sharing the same space in situations of high resource availability, with little cost to each other (Lührs & Kappeler, ; Elbroch et al ., ; Macdonald & Johnson, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

et al. 2019

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Patterns of space use by an individual emerge as a result of their movements, and their decisions of when and where to move are related to the distribution of resources needed for their survival and reproduction. Solitary species are characterized by limited social interaction with conspecifics, moving independently or maintaining a spatiotemporal avoidance of them, except during courtship or parental care. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of various factors on space use by jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Pantanal of Brazil. We used step selection functions (SSF) to evaluate the effect of the tendency to return to the home‐range center (HRC), habitat, time of day and distance to conspecifics on jaguars’ space use. Five jaguars with partially overlapping home ranges were simultaneously monitored using global positioning system collars. The results indicate that the main factors guiding individual movement are the spatiotemporal movements of conspecifics, differences in HRC between sexes, and the variations in habitat type throughout the day. Tracked females presented strong HRC, limiting their movements to the vicinity of their HRC, while the single tracked male did not. The habitat varies throughout the day, according to daily activities; forest and water bodies were selected all day long, but especially at night, when the species is more active and hunting. Tracked male and females selected areas that maximized the likelihood of encountering a female, but females avoided areas with a likelihood of encountering the single tracked male. Our findings allowed us to propose the solitary species’ space use, highlighting the relevance of including conspecifics as factors in the selection or avoidance of determined areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

et al. 2019

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“…However, as seasons shift, the resources within a territory may change (Winemiller and Jepsen 1998;Zhou and Fagan 2017). This can leave individuals unable to sustain themselves by foraging within their territories (Leuchtenberger et al 2015). To cope with this, species employ a variety of different strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To cope with this, species employ a variety of different strategies. These include extraterritorial forays (Evans et al 2008;Patterson and Messier 2001), attempts to take-over a neighbouring territory (Wirtz 1981;Piper et al 2000), or extensions of an existing territory to access greater resources (Roper et al 1986;Leuchtenberger et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deciding when to intrude on a neighbour: quantifying behavioural mechanisms for temporary territory expansion

2018

Self Cite

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Flexible territorial structures are common to a variety of animal populations. When resources are abundant, animals can maintain relatively fixed territory boundaries. However, if resources decline, animals may have to intrude temporarily into a neighbour's territory to secure enough food for survival. Although such intrusions may be necessary, they take time away from foraging and can lead to costly conflicts, resulting in a behavioural trade-off. Here, we examine this trade-off using a spatially explicit, energy-based movement model inspired by observations of giant otters. We uncover conditions under which temporary neighbour intrusions are beneficial. We show that, under certain circumstances, this benefit is sufficient for allowing territorial groups to survive in perpetuity, when otherwise they would be forced to disperse or die. Our model also reveals plausible mechanisms behind a variety of observed phenomena, including the emergence of intermediate-sized territorial groups, territorial fission/fusion dynamics, and the employment of multiple methods for advertising territories (e.g. vocal and olfactory). Although we focus our modelling on giant otters, the behavioural mechanisms it describes are quite general, having been observed across a wide range of taxa, including birds, fish and mammals. Our model therefore serves as a general theoretical test-bed for understanding temporary territory expansion.

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“…Nevertheless, giant otters are highly territorial [26] and a group actively defends its territory [6]. This defence is especially important in areas where territories of neighbouring groups overlap [34]. Severe fights may occur between groups at territory borders [35], in areas with territorial overlap [36–37] or when a group tries to establish a new territory [37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Territorial choruses of giant otter groups (Pteronura brasiliensis) encode information on group identity

Mumm

Knörnschild

2017

PLoS ONE

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Group living animals often engage in corporate territorial defence. Territorial group vocalizations can provide information about group identity, size and composition. Neighbouring groups may use this information to avoid unfavourable direct conflicts. Giant otters are highly social and territorial animals with an elaborate vocal repertoire. They produce long-range screams when they are alert or excited, i.e. in an alarm, isolation or begging context. Long-range screams are not only produced by one individual at a time (‘single screams’) but also by multiple group members simultaneously, resulting in a highly conspicuous ‘group chorus’. Wild giant otters regularly produce group choruses during interactions with predators, when they detect intruders in their territory or before group reunions after separation. Since single screams and especially group choruses probably contribute to the groups’ corporate territorial defence, we hypothesized that group identity is encoded in single screams and group choruses. We analysed vocalizations from five wild and three captive giant otter groups and found statistical evidence for a group signature in group choruses. Results for single screams were less conclusive, which might have been caused by the comparatively lower sample size. We suggest that giant otters may gain information on group identity by listening to group choruses. Group identity likely constitutes important social information for giant otters since territory boundaries of neighbouring groups can overlap and direct inter-group conflicts are severe. Therefore, group chorusing may contribute to the mutual avoidance of members from different groups.

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Territoriality of Giant Otter Groups in an Area with Seasonal Flooding

Cited by 17 publications

References 43 publications

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

Deciding when to intrude on a neighbour: quantifying behavioural mechanisms for temporary territory expansion

Territorial choruses of giant otter groups (Pteronura brasiliensis) encode information on group identity

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