The Lek System in Uganda Kob Antelope

The tradition with which both male and female Uganda kob returnto permanently located territorial breeding grounds (TG's orleks), along with the dispersion of individuals in relationshipto a home TG and morphological variation between individualsassociated with different TG's, indicates that the total populationof kob in the Toro Game Reserve and its vicinity is subdividedinto relatively closed breeding units. Mathematical analysesof linear body measurements show significant differences inmorphological features between three demes, not only in averagesbut also in the inter-relatedness of body characteristics, suggestingan underlying genetic integrity within demes. Interdemic geneflow through individuals appears to be inconsequential, butthere may be significant gene flow through the formation oftemporary TG's. Altruistic behavior among territorial males may contribute tokinship selection, and the individual kob behavior in responseto predation suggests that altruism may have a bearing on theregulation of predation. The lek system of social organizationmay be significant in maintaining genetic heterogeneity in thekob antelope, which lives in geographically isolated populationsthroughout its range.