Understanding natal emigration in group-living carnivores
July 30, 2026
- Dispersal is a critical ecological and evolutionary process, yet the drivers of individual variation in emigration, particularly under human-modified conditions, remain relatively understudied. We investigate the determinants and patterns of emigration in a managed population of cooperative breeders using genetic samples from harvested individuals.
- We used a novel genetic approach to identify natal emigration through sibship analyses of DNA from harvested grey wolves (Canis lupus), a cooperative-breeding species, and evaluated how prey biomass, wolf density, human-caused mortality and sex influenced natal emigration across Idaho, USA, from 2017 to 2023.
- From our analysis of 182 sibling groups (representing packs), we evaluated natal emigration status for 224 individuals. Of these, 86 were classified as emigrants and 138 as non-dispersers. We assessed how covariates influenced the probability of emigration and evaluated sex differences in apparent dispersal distance.
- We found no sex differences in emigration propensity or apparent dispersal distance. Emigrants dispersed an average of 81.8 km (range: 30.0–338.9 km) from their inferred natal territories. Emigration was more likely from territories with higher prey biomass and lower wolf density, while human-caused mortality had no detectable effect.
- We found that ecological drivers, such as prey availability and population density, have a stronger effect on the propensity to emigrate than harvest intensity. These results highlight the importance of resource availability and population dynamics in shaping dispersal patterns in a cooperative breeder. Our study used a novel genetic method to assess natal emigration in a group-living carnivore and developed a framework broadly applicable to social systems where kin structures can be traced to dispersers. Our findings identify landscape-scale conditions that influence dispersal and can inform the management of wild populations.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Title | Understanding natal emigration in group-living carnivores |
| DOI | 10.1111/1365-2656.70330 |
| Authors | Kathleen M. Petersen, Joel M. Tebbenkamp, Matthew A. Mumma, David Edward Ausband |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Journal of Animal Ecology |
| Index ID | 70279155 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Coop Res Unit Seattle |