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Process of dispersal in nearby territories
Journal
Mammal Review, Volume
33, Numbers 3-4, September 2003, pp. 314-318(5) -
Blackwell Publishing
Authors
ROPER T.J.; OSTLER J.R.; CONRADT
L.
Abstract
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Radio-telemetry was used to track dispersal in five adult
Eurasian badgers Meles meles (four males and one female) from three
social groups.
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All animals moved to a territory immediately neighbouring their
home territory. Three of the males dispersed simultaneously as a ‘coalition’;
the other two individuals dispersed solitarily.
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The process of dispersal took from 2 to 9 months. Dispersing
animals first made nocturnal forays into the new territory but returned to their
own territory to sleep. They then began to sleep progressively more often in
setts in the new territory, and less often in their original territory. During
this period, dispersers foraged in both the old and the new territory, before
eventually settling into a home range centred exclusively on the new territory.
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We conclude that dispersal can be a lengthy and complex
process, even when the distance involved is small.
Keywords
exploration; ranging behaviour; sett use
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