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Asa, C.S. |
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Title |
Male reproductive success in free-ranging feral horses |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
1999 |
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Abbreviated Journal |
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
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47 |
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1-2 |
Pages |
89-93 |
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Keywords |
Key words Reproductive success; Alternative mating strategies; Mating systems; Paternity |
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Abstract |
In the social organization of feral horses, adult males compete to monopolize groups or bands of females, sometimes called harems. Alternative male strategies are to remain alone or with other bachelors or, less commonly, to accept subordinate status within a harem. The hypothesis that dominant harem stallion status confers a reproductive advantage was tested in free-ranging feral horses. The presence of foals in harems headed by vasectomized (VSX) versus intact stallions was used to assess the ability of these stallions to control reproduction in their harems. Of harems headed by VSX stallions, 17 and 33% contained foals during years 2 and 3 post-treatment, respectively. In contrast, 86 and 80% of harems headed by non-VSX stallions contained foals in those years. Acquisition of pregnant mares appeared more likely than sneak copulations by bachelor stallions to account for foals in harems with a single stallion. However, most foals were born into harems that included a subordinate stallion, an occurrence that was undoubtedly exacerbated by the extended breeding season resulting from the sterility of the harem stallion. Thus, in comparing alternative reproductive tactics, bachelors appeared less successful than subordinate stallions within a harem. However, the highest reproductive success was achieved by the harem stallion, further demonstrating that alternative tactics are not equally profitable. |
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Springer-Verlag |
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English |
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0340-5443 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5786 |
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Author |
Feh, C.; Munkhtuya, B. |
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Title |
Male infanticide and paternity analyses in a socially natural herd of Przewalski`s horses: Sexual selection? |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Behavioural Processes |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav. Process. |
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Volume |
78 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
335-339 |
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Keywords |
DNA paternity analysis; Human disturbance; Male infanticide; Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii); Sexual selection |
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Abstract |
The sexual selection hypothesis explains infanticide by males in many mammals. In our 11-year study, we investigated this hypothesis in a herd of Przewalski's horses where we had witnessed infanticidal attacks. Infanticide was highly conditional and not simply linked to takeovers. Attacks occurred in only five of 39 cases following a takeover, and DNA paternity revealed that, although infanticidal stallions were not the genetic fathers in four cases out of five, stallions present at birth did not significantly attempt to kill unrelated foals. Infanticide did not reduce birth intervals; only in one case out of five was the infanticidal stallion, the father of the next foal; mothers whose foals were attacked subsequently avoided associating with infanticidal stallions. Therefore, evidence for the sexual selection hypothesis was weak. The “human disturbance” hypothesis received some support, as only zoo bred stallions which grew up in unnatural social groups attacked foals of mares which were pregnant during takeovers. |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4632 |
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