Shit happens – a glimpse into males’ mating tactics in a polygynous ungulate - the reindeer

This is about the two big "guys", Spot and Mika, and their endeavour to propagate their genes during the mating season 2007. They were 6 and 5 years old weighting 172 and 141 kg before rut, respectively. Together with 23 other males (one 5 yrs, two 4 yrs, three 3 yrs, six 2 yrs and eleven...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rangifer
Main Authors: Holand, Øystein, L’Italien, Léon, Weladji, Robert B., Djaković, Natasa, Røed, Knut, Hovland, Anne Lene, Nieminen, Mauri
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2012
Subjects:
intrasexual selection
male-male combats
mating tactics
reindeer
reindeer male mating strategy
videos
Endeavour
Rangifer
Online Access:https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/2378
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.32.1.2378
Description
Summary:This is about the two big "guys", Spot and Mika, and their endeavour to propagate their genes during the mating season 2007. They were 6 and 5 years old weighting 172 and 141 kg before rut, respectively. Together with 23 other males (one 5 yrs, two 4 yrs, three 3 yrs, six 2 yrs and eleven 1 yr old) they roamed within a ~15 km2 fenced area competing for access to 87 females. Indeed, the competition was intense and all males present contributed to the dynamic observed. Especially Hot, the heaviest 4 yrs old male weighing 155 kg before rut, played a prominent role - in addition to Spot and Mika, their mating tactics being highly dynamic. However there is no short cut to success - strength have to be coupled with smartness - but shit happens - as we'll see.

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