Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure
Abstract In polygynous mating systems, males compete intensely for mates and may mate several females during a single reproductive season. Accordingly, factors influencing the ability of males to control a larger number of females during the breeding season can provide information on the processes u...
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crwiley:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x 2024-06-02T08:13:37+00:00 Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure L'Italien, Léon Weladji, Robert B. Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H. Nieminen, Mauri Côté, Steeve D. Zeh, D. 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1439-0310.2012.02073.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Ethology volume 118, issue 8, page 783-792 ISSN 0179-1613 1439-0310 journal-article 2012 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x 2024-05-03T10:39:16Z Abstract In polygynous mating systems, males compete intensely for mates and may mate several females during a single reproductive season. Accordingly, factors influencing the ability of males to control a larger number of females during the breeding season can provide information on the processes underlying sexual selection. In ungulates, age, body mass and social rank are considered good predictors of the reproductive success of males, but how male age structure and sex ratio in the population influence mating group ( MG ) dynamics has received little empirical testing. Between 1996 and 2005, we manipulated male age‐ and sex structure and monitored MG dynamics in a reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) population. We investigated the influence of male characteristics, percentage of males and male age structure on MG size and stability. We found that males with higher social rank (that were also older and heavier) controlled larger MG s (therefore had greater mating opportunities) and had more stable MG s (corresponding to a higher ability to maintain and control females) than males of lower social rank. Moreover, MG size and MG stability decreased as the percentage of males in the population increased, most likely resulting from greater male–male competition and increased female movements. Male age structure did not influence MG stability. Given the positive relationship between mating success and MG size (and likely MG stability), frequent female movements and intense competition among males to control females seem to be the principal components of reindeer MG s dynamic. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Wiley Online Library Ethology 118 8 783 792 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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English |
description |
Abstract In polygynous mating systems, males compete intensely for mates and may mate several females during a single reproductive season. Accordingly, factors influencing the ability of males to control a larger number of females during the breeding season can provide information on the processes underlying sexual selection. In ungulates, age, body mass and social rank are considered good predictors of the reproductive success of males, but how male age structure and sex ratio in the population influence mating group ( MG ) dynamics has received little empirical testing. Between 1996 and 2005, we manipulated male age‐ and sex structure and monitored MG dynamics in a reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) population. We investigated the influence of male characteristics, percentage of males and male age structure on MG size and stability. We found that males with higher social rank (that were also older and heavier) controlled larger MG s (therefore had greater mating opportunities) and had more stable MG s (corresponding to a higher ability to maintain and control females) than males of lower social rank. Moreover, MG size and MG stability decreased as the percentage of males in the population increased, most likely resulting from greater male–male competition and increased female movements. Male age structure did not influence MG stability. Given the positive relationship between mating success and MG size (and likely MG stability), frequent female movements and intense competition among males to control females seem to be the principal components of reindeer MG s dynamic. |
author2 |
Zeh, D. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
L'Italien, Léon Weladji, Robert B. Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H. Nieminen, Mauri Côté, Steeve D. |
spellingShingle |
L'Italien, Léon Weladji, Robert B. Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H. Nieminen, Mauri Côté, Steeve D. Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure |
author_facet |
L'Italien, Léon Weladji, Robert B. Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H. Nieminen, Mauri Côté, Steeve D. |
author_sort |
L'Italien, Léon |
title |
Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure |
title_short |
Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure |
title_full |
Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure |
title_fullStr |
Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mating Group Size and Stability in Reindeer Rangifer tarandus: The Effects of Male Characteristics, Sex Ratio and Male Age Structure |
title_sort |
mating group size and stability in reindeer rangifer tarandus: the effects of male characteristics, sex ratio and male age structure |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1439-0310.2012.02073.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Ethology volume 118, issue 8, page 783-792 ISSN 0179-1613 1439-0310 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02073.x |
container_title |
Ethology |
container_volume |
118 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
783 |
op_container_end_page |
792 |
_version_ |
1800737192992047104 |