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Behavioural mechanisms at latrines
Journal
Animal Behaviour, Volume
63, Number 5, May 2002, pp. 999-1007(9) -
Academic Press
Authors
Stewart P.D.; MacDonald D.W.; Newman C.; Tattersall
F.H. from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit
at the University of Oxford
Abstract
We investigated the behavioural mechanisms by which badgers receive
and transmit information at shared defecation sites (latrines). We surveyed
locations of 143 latrines to establish factors influencing latrine position, and
monitored the behaviour of badgers at latrines. Badger latrines were
significantly closer to tree trunks than were random samples, and were more
likely to be associated with conifers than broadleafs. This may serve to protect
scent marks from erosion. Latrines were also placed more closely to linear
features than expected; linear features may channel the movements of badgers,
promoting discovery of latrines. Within latrines, badgers differed in their
placement of faeces and subcaudal scent marks. Faeces were placed in a subset of
pits, which were used for several consecutive nights, then abandoned for another
subset of pits. Subcaudal scent (squat) marks were positioned in prominent
places, and there was no consistent tendency to overmark. Meetings were rare at
latrines. Sniffing was the most common behaviour, and was focused on defecation
sites. At least three distinct behaviours that appear to serve an information
transfer function were observed: squat marking; defecation; and digging and
scuffing. Squat marking and defecation were performed by all age and sex
classes, and may have a role in cross-territorial communication. Digging and
scuffing were associated with mating, and may communicate breeding condition.
The wide range of marking behaviours, compounded by the lack of any clearly
sex-limited behaviour at latrines, suggests a multiplicity of roles in the
social lives of all age and sex classes of badgers.
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