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Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...

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females c<strong>on</strong>tributed more than any o<strong>the</strong>r wolves, dominant males came sec<strong>on</strong>d, and n<strong>on</strong>-breeding<br />

males c<strong>on</strong>tributed <strong>on</strong> average <strong>the</strong> least food. When <strong>the</strong> net c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> rate was c<strong>on</strong>sidered (i.e.<br />

food items c<strong>on</strong>tributed minus items eaten by <strong>the</strong> individual helper), breeding females were still <strong>the</strong><br />

most generous individuals, followed by subadult females, which c<strong>on</strong>tributed more than any o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

n<strong>on</strong>-breeder.<br />

Table 2. Individual c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s of Ethiopian wolves to cooperative pup-care in relati<strong>on</strong> to<br />

reproductive status, sex, and age during 2,115h of den observati<strong>on</strong>s. Values are mean ± SD. Sample<br />

size was 17 breeding males, 18 breeding females, 49 n<strong>on</strong>-breeding adult males, 11 n<strong>on</strong>-breeding<br />

adult females, 16 subadult males and 12 subadult females. Baby-sitting measured as <strong>the</strong> percentage<br />

of observati<strong>on</strong> time in which individuals of a given category were present within 200m of <strong>the</strong> den.<br />

Feeding measured in number of solid food items (i.e. whole rodents or regurgitati<strong>on</strong>s) c<strong>on</strong>tributed<br />

per hour.<br />

Breeders N<strong>on</strong>-breeders<br />

Behaviour/Age male Female males Females<br />

mean ± SD mean ± SD mean ± SD mean ± SD<br />

Babysitting<br />

Visits per hour:<br />

Adults 1.9 ± 0.6 2.6 ± 0.7 1.1 ± 0.7 1.3 ± 1.2<br />

Subadults 1.3 0.7 1.6 ± 1.1<br />

Percentage of time:<br />

Adults 17.3 ± 8.6 23.6 ± 11.4 11.4 ± 9.5 11.4 ± 9.5<br />

Subadults 8.6 ± 8.4 11.1 ± 8.8<br />

Grooming rate:<br />

Adults 0.04 ± 0.05 0.06 ± 0.06 0.02 ± 0.03 0.04 ± 0.08<br />

Subadults 0.03 ± 0.04 0.03 ± 0.05<br />

Food Provisi<strong>on</strong>ing<br />

Hourly total food c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>:<br />

Adults 0.06 ± 0.05 0.12 ± 0.09 0.03 ± 0.03 0.04 ± 0.06<br />

Subadults 0.03 ± 0.03 0.06 ± 0.07<br />

Hourly net food c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong><br />

Adults 0.05 ± 0.04 0.10 ± 0.08 0.02 ± 0.03 0.04 ±0.04<br />

Subadults 0.02 ± 0.04 0.06 ± 0.04<br />

The predicti<strong>on</strong> of a positive correlati<strong>on</strong> between <strong>the</strong> total amount of food delivered to <strong>the</strong><br />

pups, and <strong>the</strong> number of n<strong>on</strong>-breeding helpers present was not supported in this study, since <strong>the</strong><br />

presence of helpers did not increase feeding frequency at <strong>the</strong> den (r = 0.18, n = 7, P > 0.05). However,<br />

s<br />

while <strong>the</strong> total food-provisi<strong>on</strong>ing rate did not increase significantly with <strong>the</strong> number of c<strong>on</strong>tributors<br />

to <strong>the</strong> den, <strong>the</strong> share c<strong>on</strong>tributed by n<strong>on</strong>-breeding helpers did do so. Food c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s by n<strong>on</strong>breeders<br />

were accompanied by reduced parental input in pup rearing - reducing food c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

by <strong>the</strong> dominant male (r = -0.63, n = 7, P > 0.05) and female (r = -0.85, n = 7, P < 0.05) - and hence<br />

s s<br />

a reducti<strong>on</strong> in energy expenditure by <strong>the</strong> breeding pair (Fig. 3).<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>Walia</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Special</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Editi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> 72

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