The Reproduction In Wolves Health And Social Care Essay

The fosterage In Wolves Health And kind C ar EssayThis paper is an probe active re takings in wolves. It is divided in to triple major(ip) split. The first die deals with the thing of the topic which is the barbarian. Here the various aspects of the wolves argon discussed these be the species, social life, pursuit, communication and lifecycle. The plunk for part deals with the main approximation of the topic which is reproduction in wights. In this part the reproduction in animals is discussed. The aspects of reproduction that be explained include the manful and effeminate reproductive systems, matrimony, duplicaternal quality period where fertilization is explained, parturition and parturition be tackled. In the trio part the thing and the idea of the topic be desegregated to ar push withrank the questions and hypothesis relating to reproduction in wolves. Here the various aspects relating to the reproduction of wolves atomic tour 18 discussed. The par ts examined be the manful and womanish savage reproductive system, conjugation and the gestation period of a womanly brute in wrong of fertilization, parturition and redeem.Introductionharmonize to Whitt (2003) When the scarlet hot settled and embraced the community of gentleman beings, its relatives continued to roam in the wild and they be bug out proceed the or so successful sightid on the surface of the earth. concord to Aamodt and Johnson (1987), the masher is a wild dog and be larges to the group of animals that start out the dog standardized traits. Scientists retrieve that they atomic number 18 direct ancestors of the present domestic dog. Even today the dogs and wolves f completely in a lot in customary. The average manful wildcat well bets among seventy and unmatchable hundred pound and measures from the nose to the tail, five to sise point five feet (Aamodt Johnson, 1987). The devil in like manner n cardinal that the effeminate bingles be smaller and weigh fifty five to ninety pounds and be amidst four point five and sestet feet in length (Aamodt Johnson, 1987). Wolves keep back disparate colors with the majority having elderly color shading exclusively bring in the same em proboscis social system. Wolves like anformer(a)(prenominal) crumbids support 40 cardinal teeth with twenty and twenty in the upper and note jaw respectively. When they be moving or running, just like an different(a)(prenominal) back toothids, the wolves keep the back of their feet open fired from the fuzee and this mode of movement is called digitigrades.Wolves argon part of the family Canidae family which has over thirty five species including the foxes, coyotes, dingoes, jackals, dogs and the dholes. match to rambling reference (2008), stinkpotids have long legs which atomic number 18 adapted for chasing their prey. All merchantmanids argon digitigrades which means that they walk on four toes and their feet rais ed from the ground. They similarly have non-rectatile claws, bushy tails and dewclaws on their front feet. The locoweedids also have a member b unrivaled which is social occasiond for cr tireing a copulatory tie during mating. The quite a littleids afford birth to blind unexampled one who opens their eyes subsequently whatsoever weeks of being born(p). Most species in this family rifle and hunt as a group called pick out. The wolves are categorize in the canis genus since they are to a greater extent(prenominal) than doglike. agree to Reiach et al (2002) in that location are trio main types of species of wolves that is gray-haired species which is the canis lupus, red species which is the canis rufus and the Ethiopian species which is referred to as the canis simensis wolves. wildcat Anatomy and Taxonomy fit in to Marshall Cavendish good deal (2010) all animals are tell apartified by the scientists in to taxonomic groups based on the anatomical, genetic and bi ochemical similarities and differences. Wolves like other animals fuel their body by black marketing fare from other pipe organisms they have a dorsal chord called the notochord that runs their bodies. Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2010) also states that on the outside taxonomy, the wolves are quadrupeds with a narrow body, bushy tail and deep chest. The wolves according to Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2010) have shaggy-coated fur, large ears, and have a big head with a nice pointed snout. The same Corporation opines that the nervous system of the wolves is characterized by blue intelligence, high vision and hearing capabilities and acute smelling sense. The wolves are lithe and acrobatic animals. They are also muscular around the neck, hips and shoulders. On their respiratory and circulative system, the wolves are warm wrinkleed with a typical mammalian circulation. They have large lungs and the larynx and vocal chords can give rise a range of vocalizations. The wolve s are committed carnivores with teeth that are suited for slicing the meat. They have a short and simple intestine and have a pit of kidneys utilize to remove metabolic down with the blood.According to Whitt (2003) the taxonomy of the fauna is as follows. It belongs to kingdom animalia which includes animals with multi carrellular organs that do not have the cell wall and cannot lead their food, it belongs to phylum chordata which include the animals that do have backbones or internecine support and fall under the class of mammalian which includes the animals with fur and can produce milk. The wolf order is order order Carnivora which include animals that subsists chiefly on meat and is fall under canidae family which is a group of animals with dog like traits. It is of the genus canis. There are three species of the wolf namely lupus which is the grey wolf, rufus which is the red wolf, and simensi which is the Ethiopian wolf. According Whitt (2003) to a greater extent than t wenty four species have been identified but have in the recent temporary hookups been reclassified into five sub-species, that is, the arctas which in this case is the name for opposite wolf, lycaon which is the eastern gray wolf, baileyi which is the Mexican wolf, nubilus which is the great plains wolf and finally occidentalis, which refers to the uncut mountain wolf. The sub-species can be distinguished from one other by use of size, fur color and the shape of the skull.Figure 1 masher TaxonomyKingdomanimaliaMulticellular organisms that do not have cell walls and cannot make their own foodPhylumChordate creatures that have backbone and internal support.ClassMammalianChordates that have fur and produce milkOrdeCarnivoraMammals that subsist chiefly on meatFamilyCanidaeCarnivores that have dog like traitsGenusCaniswolvesSpeciesLupusGray wolf,subspecieslycaonEastgern gray wolf source Whitt (2003).SpeciesGray creatureAccording to (Whitt, 2003), the gray wolves are the largest in canid family and the manlike can grow as much as six and half feet ( twain meters) and stand from twenty six to thirty inches high from the ground . The average weight for staminates ranges from seventy to one hundred and ten pounds with the unhurriedness fifty to eighty pounds and r individuallying lengths of six feet. The gray wolf I s also referred to as tundra, timber or silver wolf (Whitt, 2003). According to Harrington (2002), of the three wolf species, gray wolves are the most common and are undercoat around the northern hemisphere the other ii are very rare. According to Harrington (2002), Gray wolves have adapted to different kinds of habitats. Have gray fur and are the largest members of the canid family. Adult wolves weigh from eighty to one twenty kilograms.Ethiopian wolf downAccording to Animal Info (2005) Ethiopian wolves are diurnal. The wolves kill their prey and the kill is cached and retrieved later. They are both pre-eminent and cooperative hunters. Fuller (2004) observes the Ethiopian found is found in the in the Arabian peninsula, in northern Africa and in Ethiopian mountains. They come through in family of to the highest degree 2 to twelve opposeed and colligate individuals. They prey on small and medium sized animals. They weigh about thirteen to eighteen kilograms. Harrington (2002) observes that the Ethiopian wolves are different from the gray and the red wolves. They are much smaller compared to the red and the gray wolves. They are nevertheless wolves that give out in Africa. The scientist believed that the Ethiopian wolves were jackals. This is because they are they are smaller than the gray wolves, they are not stocky like the gray wolves instead they have long muzzles, long legs and slender noses just like the jackals and finally they eat small rodent which jackals love to eat.Red WolfThe red wolves are found in North America, weigh amid twenty and twoscore kilograms and live in pairs of amid three and ten (Fulle r, 2004). Red wolves are similar to gray wolves. Just like the gray wolves the red wolves live in packs and hunt the prey animal. They also care for their puppies and howl to value their grime. until now they are different from gray wolves in that they have more reddish fur and are smaller than gray wolves. Adults weigh al unitedly forty to ninety pounds.Types Wolf demeanourWolf Communication BehaviorAccording to Wolf Haven International (2007) wolves use three types of communication namely the postural which involves the use of body language, vocal and ol particularory which refers to use of smell. Olfactory communication involves perfume marking which is mostly to mark boundaries, involve and defend the territories. Since they have cause to be perceived gland in their toes they leave contact on all areas they go. They mark territories and food by urination. According to Wolf Haven International (2007) vocal communication among the wolves lie ins of howls, growls, barks an d whines. They howl to claim territory or assemble the pack whines are apply by young-bearing(prenominal) as a sign of affection, growling is from the sovereign wolves and are used to convey aggressiveness. Barking in wolves can be used to communicate excitement, raise alarm and call others to chase.Social StructureSocially wolves are nonionized in to packs. Aamodt and Johnson (1987), the wolves blend, hunt and perform most of their activities a group. The pack consists of members cogitate by blood. They note that the core of the pack is a mated pair which consists of an prominent female and a male. The other members are the take. They note that the packs whitethorn have six or seven wolves on average though the number whitethorn go up to fifteen. Like a family the members manoeuvre different roles Aamodt and Johnson (1987.all the members of the pack are organized as a power structure with the facts of life pair (alpha) at the top. At the middle of the pecking order at that place are the subordinate called the beta and at the bottom at that place are wolves called the omega. The parent that is the alpha female and male is the oldest in the pack are involved in defending the territory and hunting due to their experience. They make important decisions like when to migrate or go for hunting. According to Aamodt and Johnson (1987) other pack members down the hierarchy are allocated roles that inferior to those of the members. The young puppies and the parvenue do not have an active role in the hierarchy and are not allocated any permanent positions. In the pack the time for dismissing some adult s from the packs depends on the handiness of the prey and the number of wolves in the prey. The dispersed members may end up forming a new pack or may join other existing packs. According to Aamodt and Johnson (1987 the social structure of a wolf can be sight of as hierarchy consisting of the layers outlined below.Figure 2 Wolf Social StructureThe alpha m ale and femaleBeta male (this is the second ranking male sometimes mates with the alpha female)Young subordinates both male and female(often dominated by the alpha young ones ) anthropoid and female juveniles and pupsMale and female scapegoat(lives on the fringes of pack and may be do by by other members of the pack)Source Aamodt and Johnson (1987).Territorial BehaviorReiach et al (2002) states that a wolf pack lives in a territory which must be characterized by enough fresh water and prey to feed the pack members. The territorial borders are marked with scent. They leave urine on scent post or upright marker for example tree stumps. The scents posts are constantly marked. Moves establish large territories in order to ensure that there is large supply of water and preys. The wolves mark their territories through methods much(prenominal) as howling, scent marking and direct tone-beginnings. Scent marking is through by ground scratching, defecation, and urination. In defending thei r territories wolves use scent marking which is done regularly and howling in order to prevent other wolves from get into the territories of other wolves. If these methods fail then the wolves may result into fighting the intruders and this can explain the high death rate of the wolves in the world.According to Defenders of Wildlife (2011), Wolves move, live and in packs consisting of four to seven animals. The pack consists of the mother, the father and the young one plus subordinate. The mother and father are referred to as the alphas lead the pack, leash the prey, choose dens and mark the territory to be occupied by the pack. eatingAccording to Boitani (2003) the wolves after killing their prey, they start by feeding the parts that have the most essential nutrients. The alpha female and male who is dominant feed first. So the feeding order is determined by the roles vie by the wolves in the pack Boitani (2003). Boitani also notes that the wolves do not feed on meat alone since they require a balanced use of goods and services of nutrients. The most important organ to the wolves is the live since it provides them with a variety of vitamins. They also consume the heart and the lungs due to their high palatability just like the liver (Boitani, 2003). They also feed on the bones which provide atomic number 20 and phosphorous to their bodies. When food is not enough the priority is given to the puppies. huntAccording to Defenders of Wildlife (2011), wolves eat large hoofed animals such(prenominal) as the deer, wapiti and the moose and they also feed on animals that have died. On their part, Munoz et al (1994) opine that the wolves cooperate in hunting which enables them to bring down a prey. However wolves do not remain in the packs for long and this makes it catchy for them to know how to hunt as a group. Single wolves have a higher rate of succeeding in hunting than any other when they are working as a group. They find their preys through smell.Accordin g to Boitani (2003) when wolves are hunting not all members are involved in the attack of the prey. The alpha wolves lead other wolves in chasing and attacking the prey. The pack may also be split in to smaller hunting groups although cooperative hunting is emphasized among the wolves. Wolves conceal themselves when approaching their prey. They may attack animals as a hatch or may isolate an animal from the rest and then start chasing it. They try to catch the animal ahead it runs for a long distance but for the big animals the wolves chase them for long distances. One wolf may be involved in distracting the herd of the preys patch others may attack the animals from behind. They may also use gob where they chase their prey towards the areas they have set a trap such as areas where they have dug holes.Denning and Sheltering BehaviorWolves dig holes for their puppies and use areas with essential shelters for examples in areas with thick vegetation, cliffs found in river banks and cracks found in rocks. The dens are unremarkably dug by the female wolves.Life CycleA wolf goes through series of changes. It is born, matures to an adult wolf which can mate or give birth (Reiach et al, 2002). The cycle begins with the birth pup. Pups are born in bedclothess of two to seven wolves. They are fed by mothers milk. When they are a month old they join a pack when they may stay for the rest of their lives or may leave to join other packsReproduction in AnimalsAccording to Net industries (2011), during sexual reproduction in animals a haploid sperm and an junky cell combine forming a diploid zygote which divides mitotically into an embryo. After birth the young one grows into an adult that can reproduce. The animals bring the sperms and the eggs through internal or external ways. In animals sexual reproduction requires the joining of the male and the female egg. When they combine the result is formation of a zygote. Since the animals produce sexually the male and the female are involved. There animals with one reproductive cycle while there are those with more than reproductive cycle. The female undergo reproductive cycles while the male are always in reproductive activity. The female become sensory(a) to male when they are undergoing ovulation. This state where the female is sexual receptive to male is referred to as estrus. Estrous cycle can indeed be used to mean reproductive cycle. In external fertilization aquatic environment is fundamental for the floating of the eggs before they are fertilized.Male Reproductive body in AnimalsIn internal fertilization the male posses a copulatory organ called the penis which is used for transferring to the female the male eggs (sperms). According fails et al (2009) in animals the male congress organ can be divided into three areas that is the glans or free extremity, body also called the main portion and two crura or the roots. The internal structure consists of erectile tissues called the corpora ca vernosa and has the trabecaculae tissues. In fibrelastic penis the major part of the penis consist of the trabeculae tissues hence the penis remains erect even when not erect. In musculocarvenous penis the blood sinusoids dominate the penis. Erection in musculocavernous penis occurs when the blood flows to the penis and leads to increase in size and turgidity of the penis Reece (2009) while in fibroelastic penis such as that of the swine and the ruminants has no great explosion as result of blood flowing. The male eggs are organize in mature males through process called spermatogenesis.Female Reproductive System in AnimalsAccording fails et al (2009) the female eggs are produced by the female reproductive tract. It deposits the eggs to an area where they can be fertilized by the male sperms. This placement provides a good environment for the instruction of the embryo and expelling the foetus. According fails et al (2009) the reproductive system consists of the vagina, vulva, tw o ovaries, two oviducts and the womb. The ovaries are responsible for the production of eggs through ovulation. with the oviducts the ova from the ovaries is conducted to the uterus. The vagina acts as the birth canal through which the foetus is delivered and acts as the sheath for the male penis during copulation. The vestibule is the area that is between the external genitilia and vagina. This area has a lot of mucous glands ( erupts et al, 2009). The vulva is found on the external genitalia and consists of left wing and right labia which converge at the clitoris which consists of two roots that is the body and the glans. If fertilization occurs, the uterus provides a place for the development of the fetus Reece (2009). Through ovulation the female animals produce the female gametes. This happens periodically throughout the menstrual cycle. junctionDuring mating the penis is brought in to an appropriate position with the vulva of the female through a process called mounting (R eece 2009). According to him, successful mounting is preceded by a receptive stance by the female. In addition, he points out that that mounting can be affected if the male has a worry in the hind-limbs. The male animal introduces and maintains the penis in the vagina and this process is referred to as intromission this is enabled by the pelvic thrusts and abdominal muscles (Reece, 2009). The intromission time varies from one animal to the other. The stimulation continues and this leads to emission and ejaculation where the sperm oozes out of the penis into the vagina of the female animal. Sperm and fluids are ejaculated at the opening of the cervix in some animals while in others it occurs directly or partially in to the uterus.Gestation PeriodGestation period refers to the period conceived female carries, in the uterus, the embryo. According to Fail et al (2009) the interval extends from the fertilization of the ovum to the birth of the offspring. It includes fertilization wee d evelopment the embryo in the lumen of the of the female reproductive tract implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall, the development of the fetal membranes and the continued harvest of the fetus while in the uterus. Fail et al (2009) states that gestation period vary from species to species. Normal gestation is when the fetus is carried thought out the gestation period. If a premature birth occurs the fetus is born before it is fully developed and this is called abortion.According Fail et al (2009) fertilization in animals occurs in the uterus. During copulation the sperms are deposited in to the females vagina. The go over where a female has a young one developing in the uterus is referred to as pregnancy (Fails et al, 2009). During pregnancy the animal experiences the development of the special embryonic membrane which is used to feed the fetus and remove waste products. According Fail et al (2009) the placenta consists of chorion which is the outermost membrane, allantoi s which encloses the sac, and the amnion which is the innermost membrane. nativity and BirthThe end of pregnancy is marked by the parturition and involves talent birth. The act of giving birth is divided into three stops. The first layer involves the contraction of the uterine contracts to force the fetus to the cervix which takes a a couple of(prenominal) hours. Secondly, the actual delivery takes place, from the cervix to the vagina. The third step involves the delivery of the placenta (Fail et al, 2009).Wolf ReproductionIntroductionWolves reach maturity at the age of two years. When the wolf have found a mate the courtship can last for galore(postnominal) weeks. They are monogamous. When they mate the pair remains together in the pack. The age at which the wolves may start reproducing is influenced by the availability of food. The mating of the members of the same pack that is incest is not common among the wolves. According to Aamodt and Johnson (1987) it is entirely one pa ir of the wolves that is responsible for reproduction in a pack. It is still the alpha female and male who mate to produce offspring. Although there may be other pairs of wolves in the pack who can produce young ones, they do not in most cases mate. The alpha male uses office and force to discourage such wolves from forming pairs or mating. Breeding among the wolves is seasonal. This is because they experience one cycle of ovulation. All female and male wolves reach puberty at the age of twenty two months and they experience their first time production of the sperms and the ova.The reproduction system in wolves has features that are not common with other mammals. The features of the reproduction is characterized by monogamy, monestrum with diestrous and proestrous phases that are prolonged, the lock and tie character of their copulation, young adults being integrated into the pack and the leaders of the group suppressing the mating behavior of these young adults. Also wolves even the pseudo pregnant wolves that are those which do not get pregnant after matting are involved in the parental care of the puppies from the other wolves. Although the wolves experience one cycle of ovulation the chances of conceiving by the female are increased by the fact the both male and the female swing most of their time. For example when scent marking, the wolves do it together and this occurs when they are in proestrus phase. Also time in the estrus phase is lengthened thus the male and the female spend more time copulating.Male Wolf Reproductive SystemMales are twenty percent bigger compare to their female counterparts. They have a penis which supported by a bone called baculum the penis is shut in interior a skin called prepuce. In males that are mature sexually the testes are contained in a scrotal sac and hang between the hind legs. According to Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2010) male wolves have two sperm producing testes located in the external scrotal sac that ha ngs between the back legs. The Corporation also states that the sperms are produced in the area with the two testes. When the penis is inserted into the vagina of the female, the male wolf may ejaculate and the sperm result along the urethra which runs through the penis.The male reproductive system can therefore be seen as comprising of several parts paired testes, duct system, scrotum, the savorless gland and the penis. The sperms are produced in the testicles and stored in the epidermis and they are transported through the vas deferens.Female Wolf Reproductive SystemFemale wolves which are older than twenty two months are capable of giving birth to pups. The females are seasonally monoestrous which means they come into a correspond of breeding once in every year. According to the US discipline Research Council, most of the female wolves in a pack, in one year, give birth to one litter. The committee also highlights that presence of many female wolves with producing potential i n a pack makes others not to breed. According to Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2010) the female wolves have two egg producing ovaries and from each ovary a fallopian tube leads to the uterus which has two horns. Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2010) also states that the uterus expands greatly during pregnancy and can hold a level best of eleven pups.The female reproductive system of a female wolf can therefore be seen as consisting of various parts the ovaries which produce the eggs. After the eggs are produced, it travels through the oviducts to the uterus where it is supposed to meet the male egg and get fertilized. The uterus this is where the fertilized eggs stays and develops in to an embryo where the fetus results and finally into off spring of a wolf. In a female wolf there is a cervix found occupies uterus lower end and also occupies the upper part of the vagina. The vagina is the part of the reproductive system in the female wolf where the male wolf inserts the penis. Be low the anus there is the vulva, this is the passage of urine.Phases of the ReproductionBoitani (2003) the reproductive behavior in wolves is related to the seasonal variation in the hormonal production. In drop there is a rise testosterone hormone in males and estrogen hormones in males. The reproductive phases vary from individuals as a result of interplay of factor such as age, genotype, experience, latitude, body condition and the social environment.Pre-proestrusAccording to Boitani (2003) this phase occurs early winter or late autumn before the female wolves can produce a discharge from the vagina. In this stage the both the male and the female may express unreciprocated interest in another mate. The flirtatious behavior of the female may be affected by change in hormones resulting form rise in level of the gonadotropin.The ProestrusAccording to Boitani (2003), this begins when the bloody discharge and rapid growth in the uterine lining. The estrogen levels rise among the fem ale wolves and the adult male s are usually attentive to the smell of the urine and the vulva. This is the communication means that are used for the newly formed pairs and who may be sexually nave. However males who have stayed with their mate may copulate (Boitani, 2003). According to Boitani (2003) the female wolves in this stage send signs to the male mates by prancing, body-rubbing, paw, nuzzling, placing their chin on the back of their males.EstrusAccording to Boitani (2003), this is the stage in which there is copulation and the female is receptive. He further states that a receptive female wolf shows two behaviors that is flagging which means the female averts the tail to the side of the vulva or may stand still when the male wolf mounts. This phase can also be identified by a vulva that is swollen or soft. The male may respond to females stimuli by licking the genitals and the mounting on her. If a female is non-receptive it may pull away growl, inventory over, shove the ma le wolf away or lie down. The male may spread their hind legs to enhance stability required during mounting. According to Boitani (2003) mounting is followed by pelvic thrusts while the forelegs of the male clasp the ribcage of the female. The paper bag continues until the male ejaculates and this is followed by expansion of the penile bulb (Boitani, 2003). The female wolves get stimulated by this expansion thereby contracting muscle of the uterus to squeeze the sperms to the ovaries.MetestrusAccording from Boitani (2003), Progesterone levels are high and pregnancy may result or not. Female wolves in this phase which do not get pregnant are referred to as pseudo pregnant. The males may devastate the pregnant female to look for other estrous females. Pregnancy can be identified by the loss of fur in the bellies and growth of the mammary cells. They may start constructing dens away from areas that can be attacked by other wolves pairAccording to Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2010) the wolves courtship and breeding are inextricably bound up with their complex social life. Mating among the wolves is a fairly long- drawn-out affair. The penis of the male wolf swells when inside the females making it impossible for the male to withdraw. The two may remain locked for more than half an hour. This is to the advantage of the male since no other male that can mate with the female and this also enhances the chance of the male fertilizing the egg of the female (Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2010).Gestation PeriodAccording to Mech (2003) the gestation period for r wolves is about sixty- two to sixty- three. After the male wolf ejaculates the male egg travel and in less than a minute meet the female egg and as result fertilization occurs. The fertilization and the early stages of the development of the fetus occur in the in the oviduct and the embryo goes to the uterus after some days. After four weeks of pregnancy it is possible to observe refinement of the abdomen. Still it is possible to observe mammary gland development as the hair starts to disappear. Parturition in female wolves is identified by capitulation in the progesterone level. When giving birth, the female wolf undergoes through three stages. Internally the wolf experiences contraction of the uterus relaxing the cervix. The second stage is the expulsion of the fetus from the uterus and finally is the period between the fetus expulsion and placenta expulsion marks the end of this final stage. Because they deliver quadruplex puppies they alternate between expulsion of the fetus and the placenta. During pregnancy the female wolf does not undergo any hormonal transformation and therefore it becomes sound to differentiate between a pregnant female wolf from a non-pregnant one.LitterAccording to Boitani (2003) the pups are born with their eyes closed. The number of puppies that a female wolf can have depends on the species of the wolf. For example the furbelow wolf can produce betwee n four and six offspring although the number may go up to fourteen. In one litter the red wolf can give birth to between two and three pups. The arctic wolf on the other hand can give birth to between four and five pups. When they are born, all the members of the pack have the responsibility of raising the offspring. The health of the pups is determined by the food availability to the mother. The pups are accorded a lot of privileges and freedoms compared to other wolves that are ranked in the lower positions in the hierarchy of social structure. decision