The mating system of polar bears: a genetic approach
Parentage analysis data for 583 individuals genotyped at 27 microsatellite loci were used to study the mating system of polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) in the Barents Sea area. We discriminated statistically between full and half-siblings identified through only one common parent. We document for the first time multiple paternity in polar bears. We […]
Male mating patterns in wild multimale mountain gorilla groups
Although mountain gorillas,Gorilla gorilla beringei, are classified as having a one-male mating system, approximately 40% of the social units are multimale groups. I observed two multimale groups of mountain gorillas at the Karisoke Research Center, Rwanda, Africa, for 17 months to determine male mating patterns and male–male mating harassment in relation to both male dominance […]
Influences of mating groups on the reproductive success of the Southern Sichuan Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens styani)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20034.abs The reproduction of female red pandas under three different husbandry conditions (monogamy, polygamy, and polyandry) was studied at the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding, and Chengdu Zoological Park, China. We monitored the fecal steroid profiles of seven females by radioimmunoassay in order to understand how the different mating groupings affect the […]
Behavior of captive Bulwer’s wattled pheasants, Lophura bulweri (Galliformes: Phasianidae)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1002.abs Bulwer’s wattled pheasant (Lophura bulweri) have traditionally been housed in pairs in captivity, although it is unknown whether monogamy is the species’ natural mating system. In 1998 we placed our group of 3.3 L. bulweri together in a complex outdoor habitat, in order to investigate several questions. These included whether monogamous pairing was […]
The Importance of Age/Sex Class Relationships for Captive-Breeding – A Review of Macropodoidea (Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos) as a Case Study
In this paper social relationships (as defined by Hinde) between age/sex classes of kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos are reviewed and characterized by frequencies, direction and, where possible, intensity of behavioural interactions, by their patterning in sequences and by distance regulation. Male social organization in the wild for larger non-solitary species is organized in an age/size-related […]
Home-range size as a predictor of mating systems in Microtus
Breeding populations of Microtus pennsylvanicus and M. ochrogaster were studied for approximately 4 weeks each in central Pennsylvania and south-central Illinois, respectively. Identical radio-telemetric and live-trapping techniques were combined in each study to examine the possible causes of interspecific and intraspecific variation in range size. M. pennsylvanicus exhibited sexually diethic ranging behavior, whereas M. ochrogaster […]
Female aggregation interacts with population structure to influence the degree of polygyny in red deer
In polygynous systems, female aggregation may affect the degree of polygyny by increasing the variance in male mating success. However, other population features such as the sex ratio and the age structure of males may also affect the distribution of male mating success. We combined behavioural observations and genetic data to investigate the relationship between […]
Consequences of Variation in Male Harem Size to Population Persistence: Modeling Poaching and Extinction Risk of Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris)
Poaching of tigers (Panthera tigris) and its prey base are considered important factors influencing wild tiger populations in India. At present, wild tigers are disappearing even from protected Tiger Reserves. Previous models, designed to understand the effect of poaching on the viability of wild tiger populations, either ignored their mating system or largely overlooked the […]
Ranging behaviour of little bustard males, Tetrax tetrax, in the lekking grounds
We investigated the ranging behaviour during the breeding season of 18 radiotracked little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) males, a disperse-lekking species inhabiting the cereal pseudo-steppes. The average kernel 95% home range was 60 ± 50 ha and the average cluster 85% area was 17 ± 17 ha. Range structure was as relevant as home range size […]
Non-Monogamous Copulations and Potential Within-Group Mating Competition in White-Faced Saki Monkeys (Pithecia pithecia)
Many primates display within-species variation in social organization and mating system. Individuals of these species may be confronted with both the challenges of between-group competition to exclude same-sex competitors as well as within-group competition for mating opportunities. Free-ranging white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) live in both male–female pairs and small multi-male, multi-female groups. Despite commonly […]