Committee Chair

Hayes, Loren D.

Committee Member

Gaudin, Timothy; Klug, Hope

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

A major goal in the study of mammalian social systems has been to explain evolutionary transitions in social traits. Recent comparative analyses have used phylogenetic reconstructions to determine the evolution of social traits but have omitted intraspecific variation in social organization (IVSO) and mating systems (IVMS). My objectives were to (i) summarize the extent of IVSO and IVMS in Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla and (ii) determine the ancestral social organization and mating system for Artiodactyla. Eighty-two percent of artiodactyls showed IVSO, whereas 31% exhibited IVMS. Eighty percent of perissodactyls had variable social organization and only one species showed IVMS. The ancestral population of Artiodactyla was predicted to have variable social organization (84%) rather than solitary or group-living. A clear ancestral mating system for Artiodactyla, however, could not be resolved. These results show that intraspecific variation is common in artiodactyls and perissodactyls, and suggest a variable ancestral social organization for Artiodactyla.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

12-2018

Subject

Artiodactyla; Perissodactyla; Mammals -- Behavior

Keyword

Intraspecific variation; Social organization; Artiodactyla

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xiv, 106 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Date Available

1-1-2020

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