Shit happens – a glimpse into males’ mating tactics in a polygynous ungulate - the reindeer

Abstract

This is about the two big "guys", Spot and Mika, and their endeavour to propagate their genes during the mating season 2007. They were 6 and 5 years old weighting 172 and 141 kg before rut, respectively. Together with 23 other males (one 5 yrs, two 4 yrs, three 3 yrs, six 2 yrs and eleven 1 yr old) they roamed within a ~15 km2 fenced area competing for access to 87 females. Indeed, the competition was intense and all males present contributed to the dynamic observed. Especially Hot, the heaviest 4 yrs old male weighing 155 kg before rut, played a prominent role - in addition to Spot and Mika, their mating tactics being highly dynamic. However there is no short cut to success - strength have to be coupled with smartness - but shit happens - as we'll see

Personality and fitness consequences of flight initiation distance and mating behavior in subdominant male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

“…This is exemplified in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), a polygynous ungulate with intense male-male competition for females, serving as an exemplary system to study individual differences in mating behavior and competitive ability (Tennenhouse, Weladji, Holand, Røed, & Nieminen, 2011). Dominant male reindeer attempt to monopolize access to estrous females and maintain cohesion within temporary harems while inhibiting subdominant male access to mates by chasing and displacing encroaching males (Body, Weladji, Holand, & Nieminen, 2014;Holand et al, 2013). Subdominant males may attempt to gain copulations either by waiting to attain dominance and control over part or all of a mating group, or through intermittent, transient attempts on estrous females within a group (Holand et al, 2013).…”

“…Dominant male reindeer attempt to monopolize access to estrous females and maintain cohesion within temporary harems while inhibiting subdominant male access to mates by chasing and displacing encroaching males (Body, Weladji, Holand, & Nieminen, 2014;Holand et al, 2013). Subdominant males may attempt to gain copulations either by waiting to attain dominance and control over part or all of a mating group, or through intermittent, transient attempts on estrous females within a group (Holand et al, 2013).…”

Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate?

“…Moreover, reindeer mating systems appear to be conducive to multiple mating. Male reindeer, unlike other male ungulates, do not tend females after copulating ( Bergerud 1974 ; Holand et al 2012 ), allowing subsequent attempts to be made by other males. Moreover, female reindeer are polyestrous during the rut and may remain receptive following copulation if fertilization has not occurred ( McEwan and Whitehead 1972 ).…”

Highly Competitive Reindeer Males Control Female Behavior during the Rut

“…This suggests that dominant males focused their attention, during the peak rut week or toward the end of the peak rut, on other mating behaviors such as courting or tending females. Together with interference competition, which happened through fights for dominance when groups merged together [53] , herding provides an additional mechanism to explain high sexual selection in reindeer.…”