Location of rut stands vs. mating opportunities in Przewalski’s gazelle: A field test of the “Resource-based Hypothesis” and “Female Traffic Version of the Hotspot Hypothesis”

Abstract

We studied the mating tactics of Przewalski's gazelle on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2002 to 2005.Przewalski's gazelle is a cluster mating animal whereby female groups, including juveniles, travel to and from their resting grounds along fixed routes and dominant males stand on or near these travel routes during rut. To explain rut patterns in male gazelles, we tested predictions arising from the "Resource-based Hypothesis" and "Female Traffic Version of the Hotspot Hypothesis". We marked the location of each rut stand and female travel route, measured food availability in each rut stand and recorded the mating opportunities of rut stand owners. We also conducted a field experiment to force female groups to change their daily travel route, and observed whether males abandon their original rut stands and shift their rut stands to new travel routes of females during the 3 rd rut. We found that: (1) male gazelle defending rut stands closer to a female travel route had a higher chance of mating; (2) food resources within rut stands had no effect on mating opportunities of the rut stand owner; (3) when the female travel route was obstructed, female groups changed grazing sites, and all males abandoned their original rut stands and defended new rut stands along the new female travel route. In conclusion, the location of rut stands in relation to female travel routes is the ultimate factor for consolidating mating opportunities in male gazelle, supporting the "Female Route Version of Hotspot Hypothesis"[Current Zoology 57 (6): 701-708, 2011].

Impacts of grassland fence on the behavior and habitat area of the critically endangered Przewalski’s gazelle around the Qinghai Lake

“…We recorded feeding bouts of gazelles in the fenced and unfenced areas in summer and winter 2005. Behaviors of focal gazelles were continuously recorded during 10 min observation period; followed by 10 min break before the next bout of observation [21,23]. Total field behavioral observation times were 354 and 368 h in the fenced habitat (Hudong-Ketu and Yuanzhe) and unfenced habitat (Kuaierma), respectively.…”

“…Recently, more populations of the Przewalski's gazelle were discovered; however, those populations were engulfed by pasture fence lines [22]. You et al [23] reported pasture paddock fence affected the shape and size of breeding territories of the Przewalski's gazelle.…”

Metapopulation viability of a globally endangered gazelle on the Northeast Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

“…They have a polygynous mating system and breed once a year (Jiang, 2004;You and Jiang, 2005;You et al, 2011). Most litters comprise only one offspring, while a few have two (Jiang, 2004).…”

“…The proportion of breeding females was initially assumed to be 80%, with an Allee effect at low population size, and 40% when population size is at K (Jiang, 2004). We also specified the percentage of males in the breeding pool as 60% at all stages, as suggested by the constant SR and type of mating system (Lei et al, 2001;You and Jiang, 2005;You et al, 2011). Using this percentage, Vortex automatically …”

“…By manipulating other parameters, increasing OFY was found to have a large positive effect on survival and recovery in the subpopulations (Appendix D). Although the OFY depends on the reproductive characteristics of Przewalski's gazelle, it is possible to improve breeding conditions for gazelles by reducing food competition with livestock in the winter (Jiang, 2004;Li et al, 2008) and avoiding disturbance caused by human activities (You et al, 2011).…”