Accounting for intraspecific variation transforms our understanding of artiodactyl social evolution

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.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Miles, Monica

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hayes, Loren D.
• Gaudin, Timothy; Klug, Hope
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Artiodactyla
• Perissodactyla
• Mammals -- Behavior

Licence

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

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/578

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1733