Research Overview & Research Articles

Intensity of territorial marking predicts wolf reproduction: Implication for Wolf Monitoring

Llaneza L, García EJ, López-Bao JV (2014) Intensity of Territorial Marking Predicts Wolf Reproduction: Implications for Wolf Monitoring. PLoS ONE 9(3): e93015. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093015

In the journal “Intensity of territorial marking predicts wolf reproduction: Implication for Wolf Monitoring”, researchers Lui Llaneza, Emilio Garcia and Jose- Lopoz Bao look into the implementation of different approaches on how to monitor large carnivores, the main focus being the wolf. More specifically, they look into how the roots of colonization affected migration patterns and how wolves have been displaced. Thus their research not only looks at their movement, but how individuals from different backgrounds relate to wolves through the realm of their story in pursuit of creating more compassion and cohabitation. 

In their research they explained their “multi -sampling approach” where based on a collection of both visual and scent of wolf markings, and wolf reproduction point. By doing so  they were able to measure during what point in time pup-rearing would reflect wolf reproduction. This research spanned from 1994-2007, collecting an array of wolf marking over 42 sampling sites. In their research , experts were able to demonstrate the relationship between world marking and wolf reproduction rates are best measured with straightforward sampling procedures because it is both cost effective and has real life results. But in order to understand the way people perceived wolves, researchers entered the field with a system of semi-structured interviews in order to exhibit more casual conversation and capture the insight and culture from participants. 

This journal truly delved into the way that wolves and humans interact, especially coming from the way that they are perceived. In previous reading we see how much wolves are both villainized and not seen as an individual species separate from dogs. In this research, experts were able to separate the two and describe different life experiences. They found that humans do not have a natural instinct to not like wolves, even with the horrific stories, but rather a complex relationship with their own life experiences. However, his research did not give me a whole bunch of information on wolves  specifically, I think it is a good starting point in understanding how the two animals' worlds interconnect. 

Although this research is long and varied in topics, I know that a scicomm article could be written on the relationship between man and wolf. Why? This research was conducted over time and researchers explain their process of how they collected data. I would be able to walk through the different findings they had that led up to their conclusions. Not only that but since I was able to easily find his through the library search, I feel like I could access more research similar to this one.m not only that, but maybe even look into further research these experts conducted. 

Comparing wolves and dogs: current status and implication for human ‘self domestication’

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.01.003

In the research article “Comparing wolves and dogs: current status and implication for human ‘self domestication’” Friederike Range and Sarah Marshall- Pescini look into the domestication of dogs in the sense of wolves and how thai domestication process led to humans undergoing their own ‘self domestication’. Through their research they look at the essence of what domestication actually means and how we can use animals and human interaction to understand dogs as a special species. 

Through their research, experts were able to conclude on some big ideas. One, domestication is both an ecological and human induced process. Another, is that there is no true ancestral distinction in looking at the evolution of dogs and wolves because that direct ancestral line is now extinct. Not only that but they contradict the assumptions that dog domestication  as a way to model human self- domestication. Through these smaller conclusions, researchers found that the reality is the relationship between dogs and humans is more complex due to the pressure from the natural environment. Instead, the connection between species better reflects how “human- enacted selective pressure” leads the favorin animals that we can easily control and exploit their skills for our own advantage. 

This journal did look at the muti-faceted understanding of the interconnectedness of the two species and how they relate. By doing so however, I am not sure that Thai research can have a protagonist because it doesn't have the personal factor of how researchers conducted their research and don’t really narrow on one topic to research. However, Thai research helped me understand the complexities of how relationships have changed over time and how much they can change to this day. I think after reading this article I am more inclined in seeing how dogs and humans have coexisted through various facets. Although this research was a a little more difficult to find in a google scholar search, I think if i used words such as “domesticatication” and “ecology”, I would find better results.