Breeder Turnover, Harvest, and Food Affect Recruitment of Young Nonbreeders in Groups of Gray Wolves

ABSTRACT Groups of cooperative breeders typically have social hierarchies, with breeders at the top guiding group decisions and influencing the behavior of subordinates in the group. Because of breeders' strong influence on group dynamics and behaviors, breeder turnover can affect the survival of remaining group members. We lack a solid understanding of the nuanced but important effects of breeder turnover on group composition. I first asked how harvest (i.e., hunting and trapping) affected rates of breeder turnover in groups of gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) in Idaho, USA, from 2008 to 2020. Then, I asked how breeder turnover, group size, and food availability affected the recruitment of 1‐ and 2‐year‐old nonbreeders into groups. Harvest was associated with an increase in breeding female, but not breeding male, turnover. Breeding female turnover was negatively associated with the probability of 1‐year‐old, but not 2‐year‐old, nonbreeders being in a group the following year. The only significant variable associated with the recruitment of 2‐year‐old nonbreeders into groups was sex, as males were less likely than females to be present in groups at time (t+1) . Finally, an index of prey biomass was positively associated with the probability of 1‐year‐olds being present in groups at time (t+1) (i.e., apparent pup survival to age 1). I show that harvest, social factors such as breeder turnover, and food availability influence the presence of young nonbreeders in groups, ultimately affecting group composition in a cooperative breeder.