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Density-dependent selection on horn phenotype in Soay sheep

T H Clutton-Brock1, K Wilson, I R Stevenson

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|July 29, 1997
PubMed
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Scurred horns in Soay sheep are linked to reduced male mating success but increased survival and reproductive success in females. This trait

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Ecology
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • The Soay sheep population on Hirta exhibits natural variation in horn morphology, with scurred horns present in 12% of males and 24% of females.
  • Previous research indicates that scurred horns negatively impact male mating competitiveness but positively influence overwinter survival in both sexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reproductive implications of scurred horns in female Soay sheep.
  • To determine if scurredness in females is associated with improved conception and offspring survival rates.
  • To explore how population density and age influence selection pressures related to scurredness.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of reproductive success (conception and weaning rates) in scurred versus non-scurred female Soay sheep.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Correlation of horn phenotype with maternal body weight and offspring birth weight.
  • Examination of selection pressures acting on scurredness across different population densities and age groups.

    • Main Results:

    • Scurred females demonstrate significantly higher conception and weaning rates compared to non-scurred females.
    • These reproductive advantages in scurred females are linked to greater maternal body weight and higher offspring birth weights.
    • Selection favoring scurredness in females is density-dependent and more pronounced in younger animals.

    Conclusions:

    • Opposing selection pressures exist for scurred horns: against males via mating success, and for females via reproductive and survival benefits.
    • The maintenance of genetic diversity may be facilitated by fluctuating selection pressures on the scurred horn trait.
    • Scurredness represents a complex trait influenced by sexual selection, natural selection, and environmental factors like population density.