Mating strategies of woodland caribou: Rangifer tarandus caribou

• Main Author: Butler, Heather Elizabeth
• Other Authors: Geist, Valerius
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Calgary 1986
• Subjects: QL 737 U55 B86 1986; Caribou - Behavior; Sexual behavior in animals; Curl; Newfoundland; Rangifer; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1880/23666; https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/15292

Bibliography: p. 536-565. Mating behavior of woodland caribou, Rangifer tarandus caribou, was studied in populations from contrasting environments that were expected to influence reproductive tactics. A small population of caribou on Brunette Island (Newfoundland) lived at high density in mostly open habitat, without predators. A larger population in Spatsizi Wilderness Park (British Columbia) lived at low density in mostly open habitat, with heavy predation pressure. A high density population, on the Slate Islands (Ontario), lived in closed habitat without predators. The major objectives of this study were to examine the functional aspects of rutting behavior of males and to examine the relationships between the environment and the mating behavior of males and females. Sparring behavior did not appear to have strong consequences for dominance ranks. Fighting was limited to the period immediately prior to and during breeding. Fight duration tended to be longer for males from rutting groups (one dominant male plus females) than for males interacting in mating herds (many large males and females). Hock-rubbing, a behavior pattern of dominant large males, may stimulate estrus in females, and intimidate males. Bush-thrashing, by dominants and subordinates, occurred most frequently in the absence of male conflict, or intense courtship activities. Ground-hitting appeared to be associated with conflict between males. Bush-gazing varied in frequency between populations and appeared to have little social significance. Males may low-stretch to females to test their estrous status. Males chased females in both herding and non-herding contexts. Chase and low-stretch may also stimulate reproductive physiology and behavior in females. Ratios of chase to low-stretch acts were lower for males from mating herds than from rutting groups. Chasing was also infrequent in male-female associations in closed canopy. The generally accepted role of lip-curl (flehmen) and "mouth-open", postures frequently performed by rutting males, is ...