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Table 2 The Lycaon as a model species for Allee effects

From: Do social groups prevent Allee effect related extinctions?: The case of wild dogs

Published studies

Description of the use of Lycaon as a model for Allee effects

Courchamp and Macdonald 2001 [33]

Review of the literature to suggest the crucial importance of Allee effects in Lycaon, and discussion of different mechanisms and processes that could advantage larger packs. These included, improved hunting efficiency, defense against kleptoparasites, better ability to exploit prey species range, improved adult survival due to increased predator vigilance, higher litter size and subsequent survival of pups due to pup-guarding.

Courchamp et al. 2000 [28]

A modelling exercise showing that should those hypothesized Allee effects arise, they could cause both high rates of pack extinction and affect the colonization of new territories, ultimately increasing population extinction rates.

Courchamp et al. 2002 [26]

The first empirical test of the existence of component Allee effects. Data showed that not only did the probability of pup-guarding increase with pack size, but that there was a pack size threshold below which this vital activity for pups can not longer be systematically accomplished.

Creel and Creel 2002 [34], Creel et al. 2004 [35], Carbone et al. 2005 [36], Bluettner et al. 2007 [37], McNutt and Silk 2008 [38], Rasmussen et al. 2008 [27], Gusset and Macdonald 2010 [39]

These empirical studies have searched for Allee effects in a variety of populations (see Table 1). Earlier studies that tested relationships between fitness and individual numbers (e.g. pupguarding data) were too limited in sample size and so not analyzed.

Somers et al. 2008 [29], Woodroffe 2011 [32]

They explored effects at the population level

  1. The same features of their natural history that make Lycaon likely victims of the Allee effects also make them a good model to test and understand Allee effects.