Post by Koa on Jan 18, 2011 23:05:13 GMT -5
Hello members and visitors of this site,
Before roleplaying, I'd thought I'd use my knowledge of wolves to help you.
I don't believe this board will have realistic roleplay, but it would be a good to just point out a few common misconceptions about wolf hierarchy and social behavior, as well as appearance. We learn something new everyday, right? (;
WILD WOLF PACKS VS. CAPTIVE WOLF PACKS: THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIAL HIERACHY
Wolf packs are typically made of a breeding pair and their offspring. They work together as a cohesive unit.
In captive packs, wolves are usually unrelated or generally grouped together in a way that you wouldn't see naturally in the wild. Most studies on pack structure and hierarchy in the past were performed on captive subjects. When the ranks alpha, beta, omega, and so on were applied, they were basing it off the rigid hierarchy and dominant behavior found in captive wolves.
What most people didn't realize that at the time, when this rank labeling was put into use for wild wolves, it was inaccurate. But why is this?
As I stated in my opening statement - wild wolf packs consist of a breeding pair and their offspring. Because the main goal of the wolf pack is to raise their pups and survive and the wolves are generally acquainted/related to/with each other rather than mere strangers, there is little need for great displays of dominance or contests.
Whereas in captive wolf packs, you often have unrelated/or unacquainted wolves - this can cause a rigid hierarchy (forming and falling into the alpha/beta/omega/etc. ranks) and thus result in more contests for dominance.
While studying wild wolves at Ellesmere Island, Dr. David L. Mech reports he saw no contests for dominance while he was observing the wolves there.
WHAT THE RANK ALPHA IMPLIES
The rank implies that "labeling a high-ranking wolf alpha emphasizes its rank in a dominance hierarchy. However, in natural wolf packs, the alpha male or female are merely the breeding animals, the parents of the pack, and dominance contests with other wolves are rare, if they exist at all. During my 13 summers observing the Ellesmere Island pack, I saw none.
Thus, calling a wolf an alpha is usually no more appropriate than referring to a human parent or a doe deer as an alpha. Any parent is dominant to its young offspring, so "alpha" adds no information. Why not refer to an alpha female as the female parent, the breeding female, the matriarch, or simply the mother? Such a designation emphasizes not the animal's dominant status, which is trivial information, but its role as pack progenitor, which is critical information. "
As you can see, Dr. L. David Mech touched on the absence of contests for dominance at Ellesmere Island and the general inaccuracy of the term "alpha."
THE DIVISION OF LABOR
"Will different wolves lead different things?"
Yes and no. Generally the breeding pair will lead most pack activities.
However, this is not to say that other wolves will not step up and lead other activities, although this may depend on the age of the breeding pair and the age of the other wolves. Something important to keep in mind is this - wolves do work together cohesively, so non-breeding pair members leading an activity isn't entirely impossible.
COMMUNICATION
Wolves communicate with a variety of sounds and often use body language as well. They also communicate with scent glands.
Body language is a key aspect of wolf communication. The dominant wolves will carry themselves higher and raise their tails, whereas less dominant wolves will lower their tails and body stature. www.wolf.org states that "Wolves convey much with their bodies. If they are angry, they may stick their ears straight up and bare their teeth. A wolf who is suspicious pulls its ears back and squints. Fear is often shown by flattening the ears against the head. A wolf who wants to play dances and bows playfully."
Scent can be used to distinguish the status of an animal as well as the presence of the animal (i.e. wolves marking their territory) and many other signs as well.
Sounds that wolves use are barks, whimpers, growling and howling - these vocalizations are separated into four distinct categories, as www.wolf.org states -
"Wolves' vocalizations can be separated into four categories: barking, whimpering, growling, and howling. Sounds created by the wolf may actually be a combination of sounds such as a bark-howl or growl-bark.
Barking is used as a warning. A mother may bark to her pups because she senses danger, or a bark or bark-howl may be used to show aggression in defense of the pack or territory.
Whimpering may be used by a mother to indicate her willingness to nurse her young. It is also used to indicate "I give up" if they are in a submissive position and another wolf is dominating them.
Growling is used as a warning. A wolf may growl at intruding wolves or predators, or to indicate dominance.
Howling is the one form of communication used by wolves that is intended for long distance. A defensive howl is used to keep the pack together and strangers away, to stand their ground and protect young pups who cannot yet travel from danger, and protect kill sites. A social howl is used to locate one another, rally together and possibly just for fun."
WOLF BEHAVIOR: POSTURES
-coming soon-
MISCONCEPTIONS
My favorite misconception is that wolves kill each other frequently or fight.
They do not.
Fighting - anything or anything fighting, uses energy and time. That energy and time is needed to survive. If they were to fight, it would be a long and drawn-out one.
RESOURCES
- www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=942
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtFgdwTsbU
- www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34625
- www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/alstat/intro.htm
- www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/alstat/alpst.htm
- Dr. Dan McNulty (http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41855&start=15)
- www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/basic/biology/communication.asp
- My experience as a moderator of the WolfQuest Community (as of 11/9/11, 1 year and eight months since March 5th, 2010)
Feel free to comment.
Before roleplaying, I'd thought I'd use my knowledge of wolves to help you.
I don't believe this board will have realistic roleplay, but it would be a good to just point out a few common misconceptions about wolf hierarchy and social behavior, as well as appearance. We learn something new everyday, right? (;
WILD WOLF PACKS VS. CAPTIVE WOLF PACKS: THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIAL HIERACHY
Wolf packs are typically made of a breeding pair and their offspring. They work together as a cohesive unit.
In captive packs, wolves are usually unrelated or generally grouped together in a way that you wouldn't see naturally in the wild. Most studies on pack structure and hierarchy in the past were performed on captive subjects. When the ranks alpha, beta, omega, and so on were applied, they were basing it off the rigid hierarchy and dominant behavior found in captive wolves.
What most people didn't realize that at the time, when this rank labeling was put into use for wild wolves, it was inaccurate. But why is this?
As I stated in my opening statement - wild wolf packs consist of a breeding pair and their offspring. Because the main goal of the wolf pack is to raise their pups and survive and the wolves are generally acquainted/related to/with each other rather than mere strangers, there is little need for great displays of dominance or contests.
Whereas in captive wolf packs, you often have unrelated/or unacquainted wolves - this can cause a rigid hierarchy (forming and falling into the alpha/beta/omega/etc. ranks) and thus result in more contests for dominance.
While studying wild wolves at Ellesmere Island, Dr. David L. Mech reports he saw no contests for dominance while he was observing the wolves there.
WHAT THE RANK ALPHA IMPLIES
The rank implies that "labeling a high-ranking wolf alpha emphasizes its rank in a dominance hierarchy. However, in natural wolf packs, the alpha male or female are merely the breeding animals, the parents of the pack, and dominance contests with other wolves are rare, if they exist at all. During my 13 summers observing the Ellesmere Island pack, I saw none.
Thus, calling a wolf an alpha is usually no more appropriate than referring to a human parent or a doe deer as an alpha. Any parent is dominant to its young offspring, so "alpha" adds no information. Why not refer to an alpha female as the female parent, the breeding female, the matriarch, or simply the mother? Such a designation emphasizes not the animal's dominant status, which is trivial information, but its role as pack progenitor, which is critical information. "
As you can see, Dr. L. David Mech touched on the absence of contests for dominance at Ellesmere Island and the general inaccuracy of the term "alpha."
THE DIVISION OF LABOR
"Will different wolves lead different things?"
Yes and no. Generally the breeding pair will lead most pack activities.
However, this is not to say that other wolves will not step up and lead other activities, although this may depend on the age of the breeding pair and the age of the other wolves. Something important to keep in mind is this - wolves do work together cohesively, so non-breeding pair members leading an activity isn't entirely impossible.
COMMUNICATION
Wolves communicate with a variety of sounds and often use body language as well. They also communicate with scent glands.
Body language is a key aspect of wolf communication. The dominant wolves will carry themselves higher and raise their tails, whereas less dominant wolves will lower their tails and body stature. www.wolf.org states that "Wolves convey much with their bodies. If they are angry, they may stick their ears straight up and bare their teeth. A wolf who is suspicious pulls its ears back and squints. Fear is often shown by flattening the ears against the head. A wolf who wants to play dances and bows playfully."
Scent can be used to distinguish the status of an animal as well as the presence of the animal (i.e. wolves marking their territory) and many other signs as well.
Sounds that wolves use are barks, whimpers, growling and howling - these vocalizations are separated into four distinct categories, as www.wolf.org states -
"Wolves' vocalizations can be separated into four categories: barking, whimpering, growling, and howling. Sounds created by the wolf may actually be a combination of sounds such as a bark-howl or growl-bark.
Barking is used as a warning. A mother may bark to her pups because she senses danger, or a bark or bark-howl may be used to show aggression in defense of the pack or territory.
Whimpering may be used by a mother to indicate her willingness to nurse her young. It is also used to indicate "I give up" if they are in a submissive position and another wolf is dominating them.
Growling is used as a warning. A wolf may growl at intruding wolves or predators, or to indicate dominance.
Howling is the one form of communication used by wolves that is intended for long distance. A defensive howl is used to keep the pack together and strangers away, to stand their ground and protect young pups who cannot yet travel from danger, and protect kill sites. A social howl is used to locate one another, rally together and possibly just for fun."
WOLF BEHAVIOR: POSTURES
-coming soon-
MISCONCEPTIONS
My favorite misconception is that wolves kill each other frequently or fight.
They do not.
Fighting - anything or anything fighting, uses energy and time. That energy and time is needed to survive. If they were to fight, it would be a long and drawn-out one.
RESOURCES
- www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=942
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtFgdwTsbU
- www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34625
- www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/alstat/intro.htm
- www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/alstat/alpst.htm
- Dr. Dan McNulty (http://www.wolfquest.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41855&start=15)
- www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/basic/biology/communication.asp
- My experience as a moderator of the WolfQuest Community (as of 11/9/11, 1 year and eight months since March 5th, 2010)
Feel free to comment.