philopatric
/ˌfɪlə(ʊ)ˈpatrɪk
/adjective Zoology
(Of an animal or species) tending to return to or remain near a particular site or area.The fact that close inbreeding is rarely observed even in highly philopatric species suggests that animals have mechanisms to avoid breeding with close kin....
- Most individuals are philopatric; they return to the area near where they hatched to breed.
- Like other waterfowl species, common goldeneye females are natal and breeding site philopatric.
Derivatives
philopatry
- For colonial seabirds, studies of natal dispersal are numerous, and two levels of natal philopatry have been recognized: philopatry to the natal colony and within the colony philopatry to the natal breeding site.
- First-time breeders that came back to breed within their natal colony showed strong philopatry toward their natal breeding sites.
- The name for this stay-at-home behavior is philopatry, a term derived from the Greek for ‘home-loving’ and loosely defined as the tendency of an individual to remain in its birthplace as an adult.
Origin
1940s: from philo- 'liking' + Greek patra 'fatherland' + -ic.