Influence of Time Spent in Captivity on Aggressive Behaviors of Gray Wolves Canis lupus

Authors

Chelsea Knutson

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Knowledge of the characteristics that promote group success is key to understanding the adaptive advantages of sociality for many group-oriented species. In this study, nine Gray Wolves Canis lupis were each observed twelve times over a period of six months to determine if the amount of time spent in the wild/captivity had any effect on aggressive behaviors. The number of aggressive behaviors were recorded for each wolf during each observation. The nine wolves were separated into three groups depending on their upbringing; born and raised in captivity, born in the wild and raised in captivity, and born and raised in the wild. A oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) and three independent sample t-tests (with Bonferroni correction) were conducted to test for significant differences. There was a significant difference in the amount of aggressive behaviors among upbringings (p = 0.02), providing evidence to suggest the amount of time spent in the wild/captivity does influence the amount of aggressive behaviors demonstrated by a wolf.

Publication Date

2017

Comments

Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program

Recommended Citation

Knutson, Chelsea, "Influence of Time Spent in Captivity on Aggressive Behaviors of Gray Wolves Canis lupus" (2017). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 37.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/37