Course: Introduction to Wolf Ethology

Topic outline

General

Welcome to Wolf Ethology
- Minnesota State Academic and ISTE Standards File
- Ethology is the study and interpretation of behaviors, but some behaviors are hard to explain Page
- Wolf Education Facilities Page
- Download a copy of this course. File 41.4MB Moodle backup
This topic
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Topic 2
- Genetics: Which Animal is Genetically Closer to a Wolf? Page
- Can you turn a Wolf into a Dog URL
- Can you ID your Dog with DNA File
- Dog Ancestory and Domestication File
- Martin Clunes - A Man and is Dogs File
- Martin Clunes a Man and his Dogs Video URL
- Genetic Relationships in a Wolf Pack File
- Unit 2 - Genetics Quiz
Topic 3

To see the influence of selective breeding for behavioral features, this unit will review the Early Canid Domestication: The Farm-Fox Experiment including video footage.
- Slide Show on Domestication and Genetics by Marina Voloshina URL
- Lyudmila N. Trut - American Scientist, Volume 87 File
- American Scientist Article Reference URL
- Cooperative Study - Study of the Molecular Basis of Tame and Aggressive Behavior in the Silver Fox Model URL
- Video Clips of Fox Experiment URL
- Assignment 3- Belyaev Fox Experiment
Topic 4

This unit categorizes pup development and reviews a behavioral comparison between wolves, dogs, fox and coyotes published by Scott and Fuller. The goal of this unit is to categorize behaviors and attempt to identify the functionality of these behaviors in wild wolf survival.
- Definitions of Social Development Page
- Pup Development File
- Assignment 4 - Fuller and Scott Instinctual Behavioral Chart
Topic 5

Communication is an important part of the wolf social hierarchy. This unit will look at one aspect of communication, intraspecific or within the species. What comes to mind when you think about a wolf? Chances are, you may say howling. This is one of the most well-know forms of communication within the species, but is not the most common for wolves. The communication of body language is most well-known to wolves (and dogs...)
- Communication Page
- Details of a Confrontation between Two Wild Wolves File
- Assignment 5 - Defining Intraspecific Behavior
Topic 6

Communication can also take on the form of Interspecific or between the species. This unit will offer unique observations discovered by biologists expanding the use of technology in research. Read the article entitled Communication Tree, then watch the video links, think about all of the interactions that go on between different species. There is an article related to the interactions of Moose and Wolves, with a review of the hypothesis that wolf predation is a regulatory function. As with any one of these research papers, please feel free to post opinions on the Blog. There is an assignment at the end of this unit that requires the use of a reference book, Wolves, Behavior, Ecology and Conservation.
- Communications Tree - The Wildlife Society File
- Video Highlighting Wolf Interactions with other Predators Page
- Wolf-Moose Hypothesis File
- Assignment Text Reading 6 - Wolves: Behavior, Ecology and Conservation
Topic 7
- Predation Behaviors Page
- Interested in Watching Wolves in Yellowstone? URL
- Maternal and Grandmaternal Fawns File
- Wolf Predation Notes File
- Assignment 7 - Documenting Wild Wolf Behaviors
Topic 8
- Captive Wolf Research Page
- Wolf Identification at the International Wolf Center File
- Retired Pack at the International Wolf Center File
- Gone but not Forgotten Wolves File
- Unit 8 - Develop a Photo Presentation Assignment
Topic 9
- Behavioral Research Techniques Page
- Unit 9 - Interactive Ethogram and 8 Hours of Data Collection Assignment
Topic 10
- Why Educate about Wolf Behavior? Page
- Case Study of Human Wolf Interactions in Alaska File

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Topic outline

General

Topic 1

Topic 2

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Topic 4

Topic 5

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Topic 10

Attribution

Wolf News (Anti-Wolf)