THE CONCEPT AND MANIFESTATIONS OF SOLITARINESS IN ANIMAL ECOLOGY

Abstract

The concept of solitariness refers to various manifestations of the solitary lifestyle of animals, and its main application is to denote the solitary lifestyle of all individuals in the non-reproductive period, when animals do not form mating pairs or family groups such as ‘mother + offspring’. The dictionary definitions of solitariness and its synonyms, examples of its use in animal ecology and other fields of knowledge, as well as definition of the term in explanatory dictionaries and scientific publications are considered. This concept is considered using mammals as an example, in order to limit the diversity of its manifestations and interpretations and to define this phenomenon more clearly. The phenomenon of solitariness naturally manifests itself in groups with narrow or otherwise limited spatial and trophic niches. In particular, solitariness manifests itself as an invariable attribute of many groups of apex predators (e.g., bears, lynxes, wolverines), but it is also characteristic of other groups that are critically dependent on scarce resources (e.g., species of the families Mustelidae, Spalacidae, Soricidae). The dynamics of the level of solitariness, the reasons for its occurrence, and the mechanisms of reverse socialisation are considered. Solitariness is particularly evident in predatory animals, especially large carnivores, which are essentially apex predators. However, the phenomenon of solitariness is reversible, and the starting point is the beginning of reproductive cycles, after which socialisation decreases until complete solitariness is achieved. Solitariness can be forced and acquired when populations are significantly depleted, particularly as a result of overexploitation (hunting), deteriorating living conditions with excessive mortality or extremely low fertility, fragmentation of space and disruption of migration routes. The latter can significantly transform the spatial structure of populations and make interactions between individuals impossible, including forming mating pairs or seasonal flocks for collective hunting. Forms of feralisation of domestic carnivorans (dogs and cats) are considered as models of reduced socialisation, but with the subsequent formation of new patterns of socialisation, from solitary vagrancy to the formation of packs.