Effects of antler breakage on mating behavior in male tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes) |
| |
Authors: | Heather E. Johnson Vernon C. Bleich Paul R. Krausman John L. Koprowski |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program, California Department of Fish and Game, 407 West Line Street, Bishop, CA 93514, USA;(2) School of Natural Resources, The University of Arizona, 325 Biological Sciences East, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Although antler size has been identified as a primary determinant of dominance, fighting success, and reproductive success in male cervids, >80% of the male tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes) in the Owens Valley, California, experience antler breakage. To determine the effect of antler breakage on male mating success, we recorded antler morphology, body size, and mating behavior of male elk throughout the rut. Antler breakage, regardless of severity, had no effect on male–male assessment, fighting success, or harem-holding status. The factor consistently associated with our indices of male mating success was not antler size but body size. Although antler size is frequently emphasized as a key factor in male dominance and social rank, this association may reflect the correlation between antler size and body size. In the Owens Valley, it appears that male elk are not assessing competitors based on antler morphology but on other characteristics. An erratum to this article can be found at |
| |
Keywords: | Antler breakage Fighting success Male assessment Mating behavior Owens Valley |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|