Sexual Segregation in Rocky Mountain Mule Deer

Main, Martin B.; Coblentz, B

doi:10.2307/3802067

Cited by 109 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…(a) The predation hypothesis and evidence based on breeding phenology The predation-risk hypothesis has received massive support in explaining sexual segregation in ungulates: females with young often select safer habitat even at the expense of forage quality (Bergerud et al 1984;Francisci et al 1985;Shank 1985;Festa-Bianchet 1988;Berger 1991;Miquelle et al 1992;du Toit 1995;Main & Coblentz 1996;Bleich et al 1997;Villaret et al 1997). In our study, social segregation and habitat segregation peaked when calves were newborn and probably most prone to predation, and was delayed in Norway compared with France, demonstrating the utility of accounting for breeding phenology in sexual-segregation studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, the 'predation-risk hypothesis' Ruckstuhl & Neuhaus 2002) states that anti-predator behaviour shapes sexual segregation because females and especially offspring are more vulnerable to predation than are larger males (Bowyer 1984;Miquelle et al 1992;Bon & Campan 1996;Main & Coblentz 1996;Bleich et al 1997). Predictions are that females, especially those with offspring, should choose safe habitats (vegetation cover or escape habitat) even at the expense of forage quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Bonenfant

Loe

Mysterud

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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Sexual segregation outside the mating season occurs in most species of sexually dimorphic ungulates and has been extensively described in the literature, but the mechanisms causing segregation are still debated. The detailed pattern of sexual segregation throughout the year has rarely been presented for mammals, and no study, to our knowledge, has used latitudinal-related variation in breeding phenology to shed light on the underlying mechanisms. Recent methodological developments have made it possible to quantify separate components of segregation (social, habitat) and activity synchrony in animal groups, but these major improvements have so far been little used. We observed European red deer year round at two widely different latitudes (France and Norway) and tested three different mechanistic hypotheses of segregation related to: (i) predation risk; (ii) body-size-related forage selection; and (iii) activity budget. Habitat segregation peaked during calving in both populations and dropped rapidly after calving. Females with calves were more segregated from males than were females without calves, pointing to a key role of antipredator behaviour even though large predators are absent in France and extremely rare in Norway. However, at both sites individuals also grouped with their own sex within habitat types (i.e. social segregation), and individuals in mixed-sex groups were less synchronized in activity type than individuals in either unisex male or unisex female groups, suggesting that differences in activity budgets are involved. Social segregation peaked during calving and was lowest during the rut (indicating aggregation) in both populations; these activities occurred one month later in the Northern populations, corresponding well with known differences in breeding phenology. We conclude that latitude-dependent breeding phenology shapes the seasonal pattern of sexual segregation and that sexual segregation in ungulates has multiple causes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Bonenfant

Loe

Mysterud

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…In many dimorphic ungulates (e.g., red deer: CluttonBrock et al 1987;Conradt 1999; Alpine ibex Capra ibex ibex: Bon et al 2001; Rocky Mountain mule deer Odocoileus hemionus hemionus: Main and Coblentz 1996; white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus: Kie and Bowyer 1999), sexual segregation is common outside the breeding season. While feral goats (Capra hircus) are no exception, the level of segregation in the population inhabiting the Isle of Rum is modest and rather unstable (Shi et al 2005), with adult males and females forming mixed groups even outside of breeding season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding competition within a feral goat population on the Isle of Rum, NW Scotland

Shi

Dunbar

2005

J Ethol

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This study investigated feeding competition within and between different age-sex classes of feral goats (Capra hircus) on the Isle of Rum (northwest Scotland) from August to November 2000 (inclusive). Although contests in a feeding context were common, most were relatively passive: little overt agonistic behaviour was observed between opponents and the distance between feeding animals involved did not change significantly after an interaction. Month (but not sex or habitat type) had a significant effect on feeding interaction rates, and the proportion of interactions involving more intense forms of conflict was highest in November when forage availability was beginning to decline. The results show that the initiator won most feeding encounters, with adult males being dominant over females. The ability to win conflicts increased with age for both males and females. However, it decreased sharply for adult males older than 5 years, which may, in part, explain the reduced overwinter survival of these individuals.

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“…These areas are constituted of deciduous woods, shrubs, and meadows providing adequate availability of food. According to Main and Coblentz (1996), polygynous male ungulates tend to engage in foraging and behavioural patterns that maximize body condition before rut. Males exploit areas where nutritious resources are abundant in all seasons, excluding rut, because they need to compete successfully for mates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Home range patterns of male fallow deerDama dama in a sub-Mediterranean habitat

et al. 2004

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Davini S., Ciuti S., Luccarini S. and Apollonio M. 2004. Home range patterns of male fallow deer Dama dama in a sub-Mediterranean habitat. Acta Theriologica 49: 393-404.From 1996 to 2000 the home ranges of 14 male fallow deer Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) were studied in the San Rossore Preserve (Italy) using radio-telemetry. Mean size of annual home ranges was 588.9 ± 278.9 ha, calculated by MCP, and 337.5 ± 178.9 ha, using Kernel method, and was larger than that reported in published literature to date. The size of the seasonal home range estimated with the MCP method was 90.6 ± 129.1 ha during spring, 73.7 ± 67.9 ha in summer, 465.0 ± 230.6 ha in fall, and 65.6 ± 60.6 ha in winter. The Kernel method gave 84.7 ± 140.2 ha in spring, 61.3 ± 64.6 ha in summer, 306.0 ± 170.5 ha in fall, and 46.5 ± 44.0 ha during winter. The seasonal analysis suggested that bucks tended to occupy the same particular area from winter to summer, which was related to rich trophic resources, even despite of anthropic disturbance. During autumn, males reached the rutting site (a lek) that was 4 km distant from the areas occupied during the other three seasons. The lekking behaviour was the main factor influencing home range size.

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Sexual Segregation in Rocky Mountain Mule Deer

Cited by 109 publications

References 28 publications

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Feeding competition within a feral goat population on the Isle of Rum, NW Scotland

Home range patterns of male fallow deerDama dama in a sub-Mediterranean habitat

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