Mating tactics and mate choice in relation to age and social rank in male mountain goats

Mainguy, Julien; Côté, Steeve D.; Cardinal, Étienne; Houle, Mélina

doi:10.1644/07-mamm-a-234r.1

Cited by 55 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Dominance could also be influenced by age, although older individuals-not younger ones-are expected to act as dominants (e.g. Clutton-Brock and Guinness 1982;Coltman et al 2002;Mainguy et al 2008). In Himalayan tahr, adulthood is reached at about 5 years (Forsyth et al 2005;Garel et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As normally older male ungulates tend to be the main reproducers, this feature of Himalayan tahr is greatly unusual amongst polygynous ungulates (e.g. Geist 1971;Schaller 1977;Clutton-Brock and Guinness 1982;Coltman et al 2002;Mainguy et al 2008). One could wonder about the role played by older, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mech 1970;Schaller 1963 and1972;McElligott 2001;Coltman et al 2002;Mainguy et al 2008). On the contrary, females may increase their reproductive fitness by selecting the Bbest^males, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geist 1971;Schaller 1977) and dominance is often positively correlated to age (e.g. Coltman et al 2002;Mainguy et al 2008), horn size (e.g. Geist 1971Preston et al 2003;Bergeron et al 2010), body weight (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Male ruff colour as a rank signal in a monomorphic-horned mammal: behavioural correlates

Lovari

Fattorini

Boesi

et al. 2015

Sci Nat

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Coexistence of individuals within a social group is possible through the establishment of a hierarchy. Social dominance is achieved through aggressive interactions, and, in wild sheep and goats, it is related mainly to age, body size and weapon size as rank signals. Adult male Himalayan tahr are much larger than females and subadult males. They have a prominent neck ruff, ranging in colour from yellow (5.5-9.5 years old, i.e. young adults, golden males) to brown (7.5-14.5 years old, i.e. older individuals, pale and dark brown males), with golden males being the most dominant. We investigated the social behaviour of male tahr and analysed the relationships between ruff colour, courtship and agonistic behaviour patterns during the rut. Colour classes varied in their use of several behaviour patterns (male dominance: approach, stare, horning vegetation; courtship: low stretch, naso-genital contact, rush). Golden-ruffed males used more threats than darker ones. Pale brown and dark brown males addressed threats significantly more often to males of lower or their own colour classes, respectively, whereas golden ones addressed threats to all colour classes, including their own. The courtship of dominant males was characterised by the assertive rush, whereas that of subordinates did not. Ruff colour of male Himalayan tahr may have evolved as a rank signal, homologous to horn size in wild sheep and goats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mech 1970;Schaller 1963 and1972;McElligott 2001;Coltman et al 2002;Mainguy et al 2008). On the contrary, females may increase their reproductive fitness by selecting the Bbest^males, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Male ruff colour as a rank signal in a monomorphic-horned mammal: behavioural correlates

Lovari

Fattorini

Boesi

et al. 2015

Sci Nat

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“…Thus in following species where dominants establish tending bonds with receptive females, subordinate males in some cases employ a coursing tactic where they seek to gain brief access to females by separating them from dominants (e.g. in bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis, Hogg 1984; Hogg and Forbes 1997; and mountain goats Oreamnos americanus, Mainguy et al 2008). Alternative mating tactics can depend on age, body condition and/or inherent genetic quality, all of which affect competitive ability, but with different implications for the consistency of sexual selection at the genetic level.…”

Section: The Traditional View Of Ungulate Mating Strategies: Competitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intra- and Intersexual Conflicts and Cooperation in the Evolution of Mating Strategies: Lessons Learnt From Ungulates

Bro‐Jørgensen

2010

Evol Biol

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The traditional narrow focus on male mate competition in studies of mammalian mating strategies has been successful in explaining many conspicuous outcomes of sexual selection. However, focusing on ungulates, I here review increasing evidence that a comprehensive understanding of sexually selected adaptations requires consideration of a broader range of sex roles, particularly those relating to female behaviour. I show how mate competition and mate choice in both sexes can interact and often lead to intra-and intersexual conflicts and sometimes also cooperation. By causing phenotypic selection, these behavioural interactions can shape evolution although the outcome depends on genetic constraints. I conclude that to advance the understanding of mammalian mating systems we must broaden our conceptual framework from being largely focused on male competitive strategies to encompass coevolutionary dynamics between the mating strategies of both sexes. Future challenges include clarifying (1) the ecological basis for the inter-and intraspecific diversity in sex roles, (2) the condition-dependence of female mating strategies, and (3) the ultimate causes of mate competition and promiscuity in females.

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Evolution of ungulate mating systems: Integrating social and environmental factors

Bowyer

McCullough

Rachlow

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Ungulates exhibit diverse mating systems that range from monogamous pair territories to highly polygynous leks. We review mating systems and behaviors across ungulates and offer a new approach synthesizing how interacting factors may shape those mating systems. Variability exists in mating systems among and within species of ungulates and likely is affected by predation risk, availability of resources (food and mates), habitat structure, and sociality. Ungulate mating systems may be labile as a consequence of the varying strength of those interacting factors. In addition, degree of polygyny and sexual dimorphism in size are associated with the evolution of mating systems. Neither male–male combat nor paternal care, however, can completely explain differences in sexual size dimorphism for ungulates, a necessary component in understanding the development of some mating systems. Whatever the evolutionary pathway, sexual segregation limits paternal care allowing more intense male–male competition. Selection of habitat structure, because it modifies risk of predation, is a major determinant of sociality for ungulates. Likewise, ruggedness and steepness of terrain limit the types of mating systems that can occur because of limitations in group size and cohesiveness, as well as the ability of males to herd even small groups of females effectively. The quality and defensibility of resources affect mating systems, as does the defensibility of females. Population density of females also may be a critical determinant of the types of mating systems that develop. Size of groups likewise constrains the types of mating tactics that males can employ. Our aim was to use those relationships to create a broad conceptual model that predicts how various environmental and social factors interact to structure mating systems in ungulates. This model provides a useful framework for future tests of the roles of both ecological and social conditions in influencing the social systems of ungulates.

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Mating tactics and mate choice in relation to age and social rank in male mountain goats

Cited by 55 publications

References 57 publications

Male ruff colour as a rank signal in a monomorphic-horned mammal: behavioural correlates

Male ruff colour as a rank signal in a monomorphic-horned mammal: behavioural correlates

Intra- and Intersexual Conflicts and Cooperation in the Evolution of Mating Strategies: Lessons Learnt From Ungulates

Evolution of ungulate mating systems: Integrating social and environmental factors

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