Data from: Helper plasticity in response to breeder turnover in gray wolves
Data files
Jun 10, 2024 version files 8.78 KB
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Ausband_Bassing_data_5_2024_Zenodo.csv
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README.md
Abstract
Nonbreeding helpers can greatly improve the survival of young and reproductive fitness of breeders in many cooperatively breeding species. Breeder turnover, in turn, can have profound effects on dispersal decisions made by helpers. Despite its importance in explaining group size and predicting population demography of cooperative breeders, our current understanding of how individual traits influence animal behavior after disruptions to social structure is incomplete particularly for terrestrial mammals. We used 12 years of genetic sampling and group pedigrees of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Idaho, USA, to ask questions about how breeder turnover affected the apparent decisions by mature helpers (>2-year-old) to stay or leave a group over a one-year time interval. We found that helpers showed plasticity in their responses to breeder turnover. Most notably, helpers varied by sex and appeared to base dispersal decisions on the sex of the breeder that was lost as well. Male and female helpers stayed in a group slightly more often when there was breeder turnover of the same sex, although males that stayed were often recent adoptees in the group. Males, however, appeared to remain in a group less often when there was breeding female turnover likely because such vacancies were typically filled by related females from the males’ natal group (i.e., inbreeding avoidance). We show that helpers exploit instability in the breeding pair to secure future breeding opportunities for themselves. The confluence of breeder turnover, helper sex, and dispersal and breeding strategies merge to influence group composition in gray wolves.
README: Helper plasticity in gray wolves
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvs0
Number of mature helpers in gray wolf packs derived from genetic sampling in Idaho, USA
Description of the data and file structure
Number of mature helpers in gray wolf packs derived from genetic sampling in Idaho, USA.
NA's in the data were used when there was no breeding the following year (t+1) in a pack.
year = year sampled
pack = pack name
NB_ID = individual ID for helper
r_to_pups = genetic relatedness of helper to pups
NB_sex = sex of helper
NB_stay_1 = did helper stay or go, stay = 1
become_breeder = did helper become a breeder
multiple_breeding_t_plus_1 = was there multiple breeding in group
no_adults = group size
turnover = was the breeder turnover
BF_t_plus_1 = who was the new breeding female at t+1
BM_t_plus_1= who was the new breeding male at t+1,
BF_change = was there a new, unrelated breeding female in group
BM_change = was there a new, unrelated breeding male in group
harvest_rate = percent of population harvested that year
brdr_turnover_event = ID number for number of turnover events in dataset
Sharing/Access information
Data was derived from the following sources:
- DNA