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Density-related changes in sexual selection in red deer

T H Clutton-Brock1, K E Rose, F E Guinness

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK. thcb@cam.ac.uk

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|November 19, 1997
PubMed
Summary

High red deer population density led to more females than males, altering mating competition. This shift in sex ratio influenced male breeding success and reduced overall competition for mates.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Population Dynamics

Background:

  • High population density in sexually dimorphic mammals often results in higher male mortality and female-biased adult sex ratios.
  • These demographic shifts can significantly impact mating systems and sexual selection dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how a female-biased adult sex ratio affects male breeding success, mate competition intensity, and sexual selection opportunities.
  • To analyze the consequences of population changes on mating patterns in a red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) population.

Main Methods:

  • Monitoring population changes in red deer on the North Block of Rum following the cessation of culling.
  • Analyzing adult sex ratios, male mortality, emigration, and immigration rates.
  • Quantifying male breeding success, harem defense duration, and paternity distribution.

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Main Results:

  • Cessation of culling led to increased female numbers and a decline in male numbers, resulting in a 1:2 male-to-female sex ratio.
  • Increased male mortality in early life, higher emigration of young males, and reduced male immigration contributed to the biased sex ratio.
  • A female-biased sex ratio increased the skew in mating success but decreased harem defense duration, with more males holding harems for shorter periods.
  • A higher proportion of calves were fathered by immigrant males, while the proportion fathered by resident males decreased.

Conclusions:

  • The study supports the hypothesis that a female-biased adult sex ratio, often occurring at high population densities, can lead to a decline in the intensity of mate competition.
  • Changes in population dynamics significantly alter sexual selection processes and reproductive success distribution in red deer.