Transects were located between 6.20 and 34.95 km from the colony. To establish whether jackals were territorial we observed and tracked

individuals from 12 focal groups, three in both years of the study, during daylight hours (06:00–19:30 h) over a 6-week period from early November to mid-December in 2004 and 2005. Observations were conducted using established activity conventions (P. Moehlman pers. comm.) to identify agonistic encounters (including fighting, chasing, aggressive body postures) and self-advertisement, in the form of scent-marking Midostaurin price and vocalizations by the dominant pair. The locations of behavioural observations were recorded using GPS. To distinguish territorial scent-markings we considered only raised-leg urinations, scratching and rubbing performed by the dominant pair in tandem (i.e. male and female scent-marked

the same site sequentially). In Vemurafenib datasheet most cases we could track pairs on foot and during border patrols, and record exact scent-marking locations. During border patrols the dominant pair would trot or walk along territory boundaries, frequently sniffing and tandem scent-marking, and occasionally emitting loud vocalizations. In contrast, when jackals commuted to the colony, territory holders typically travelled at a fast trot, did not scent-mark frequently and would not always travel together. At the fur seal colony communication MCE公司 through advertisement or defensive/aggressive behaviour was usually associated with food and thus differentiated from territorial behaviour during border patrols and when individuals were located within their territory. Following Höner et al. (2005), geo-referenced observations of agonistic encounters (N=164) and self-advertisement behaviour (N=1447) were recorded, along with locations of active dens with offspring (N=60) and potential dens where repeated digging by the dominant pair

was observed (N=54). Territory size was calculated using the minimum convex polygon method (Harris et al. 1990) with Hawth’s analysis tools (Beyer, 2004) in ArcGIS v9.0 (ESRI). Within-territory density was calculated as group size divided by territory size. To aid interpretation of data on territorial behaviour and territory size we recorded number of different dens pairs utilized while pups were 0–12 weeks old and/or no longer den-dependent. We performed statistical analyses in spss (release 16.0). In examining the effects of distance on group size, highway density and within-territory density, linear regression analysis was used. Distance was log transformed for all statistical analyses to aid visual interpretation of data. To test the effect of group size, presence of subordinates, number of dens and distance on territory size a generalized linear model (GLM) with normal error structure was used. Group size was square route transformed to stabilize variance for analysis.