Male age structure influences females’ mass change during rut in a polygynous ungulate: the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Holand, Øystein; Weladji, Robert B.; Røed, Knut; Gjøstein, Hallvard; Kumpula, Jouko; Gaillard, Jean Michel; Smith, Martin A.; Nieminen, Mauri

doi:10.1007/s00265-005-0097-5

Cited by 35 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Thus, even passive female choice is enough to achieve mating with a large male. There may also be a small, direct benefit afforded by reduced harassment (Holand et al 2006b). However, when only young males are present, mating is delayed by a few days (Mysterud et al 2002), suggesting that females are reluctant to mate with young males and actively seek larger males.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male phenotypic quality influences offspring sex ratio in a polygynous ungulate

et al. 2006

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Evolutionary models of sex ratio adjustment applied to mammals have ignored that females may gain indirect genetic benefits from their mates. The differential allocation hypothesis (DAH) predicts that females bias the sex ratio of their offspring towards (more costly) males when breeding with an attractive male. We manipulated the number of available males during rut in a polygynous ungulate species, the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and found that a doubling of average male mass (and thus male attractiveness) in the breeding herd increased the proportion of male offspring from approximately 40 to 60%. Paternity analysis revealed indeed that males of high phenotypic quality sired more males, consistent with the DAH. This insight has consequences for proper management of large mammal populations. Our study suggests that harvesting, by generating a high proportion of young, small and unattractive mates, affects the secondary sex ratio due to differential allocation effects in females. Sustainable management needs to consider not only the direct demographic changes due to harvest mortality and selection, but also the components related to behavioural ecology and opportunities for female choice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male phenotypic quality influences offspring sex ratio in a polygynous ungulate

et al. 2006

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“…is is possibly accentuated by the prime-age females choosing to mate with heavier and older males (Holand et al, 2006). e possible di erences caused by management trials in Kutuharju (cf.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Mysterud et al (2009), older and heavier females mate earlier and extend gestation length, whereas late conception may induce shortening (e.g. Holand et al, 2006). e male calves are heavier at birth (Eloranta & Nieminen, 1986;Mysterud et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and environmental effects affecting the variation in birth date and birth weight of reindeer calves

Muuttoranta

Holand²,

Røed³

et al. 2013

Ran

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e factors causing variation in birth date and birth weight were analysed from the data from an experimental reindeer herd consisting of 1136 calves with parental information. e traits had coe cient of variation of 37 and 14%, respectively. e variation in both traits was a ected by year and sex (male calves heavier) and by management factors, such as the age distribution of females and males. Early calving results from the use of older breeding males and is most apparent in prime age females. In both traits the heritability was moderate (0.23 and 0.24) with a high proportion of maternal genetic variation (0.23) in birth weight. e North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) indices, summarizing the major weather conditions prior to rut, explained part of the annual variation in the traits. e amount of total genetic variation in relation to trait mean, or the evolvability, was 21% in birth date and 10% in birth weight indicating that selection could successfully be used to improve herd productivity and that the traits have substantial potential for adapting to possible changing environmental conditions. e results on genetic correlations imply that selection on calf 's birth weight leads on one hand to calves being born earlier and on the other hand to dams with later parturition.

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“…Another explanation is that young males are not able to schedule their reproductive effort to coincide with peak oestrus as old males do because of their inexperience (Mysterud et al 2008b). The inexperience of young males manifests itself as undeveloped social rutting behaviour, such as harassment of females, which can induce stress and mass loss in females (Holand et al 2006). It is possible that precise timing of reproductive effort is another learned skill that improves with age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%