Mate choice by hen Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus with an excess of cocks—role of territory size and food quality |
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Authors: | R. MOSS A. WATSON R. PARR |
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Affiliation: | Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB3 4B Y |
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Abstract: | In a breeding population of Red Grouse the ratio of cocks to hens was about 2:1. Cocks with hens had bigger territories and richer feeding sites than unmated cocks. Despite this, the size of a cock's territory was inversely related to the level of nitrogen in his food. The idea that this was because cocks defend a territory just big enough to meet the pair's food requirements seemed inapplicable, since territories were much bigger than this. In addition, it was inferred that hens took longer to choose a cock on a part of the area that had relatively poor feeding sites. Whether hens chose the cock or his territory was uncertain, but both probably played a part. |
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