Alternative mating tactics in the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri): when non-territorial males are successful too

被引:12
作者
Caudron, A. K. [1 ,2 ]
Negro, S. S. [2 ]
Fowler, M. [3 ]
Boren, L. [2 ]
Poncin, P. [1 ]
Robertson, B. C. [2 ,4 ]
Gemmell, N. J. [2 ,5 ]
机构
[1] Univ Liege, Inst Zool, Behav Biol Unit, B-4020 Liege, Belgium
[2] Univ Canterbury, Sch Biol Sci, Mol Ecol Lab, Christchurch 1, New Zealand
[3] Sonoma State Univ, Dept Biol, Rohnert Pk, CA 94928 USA
[4] Univ Otago, Dept Zool, Dunedin, New Zealand
[5] Univ Otago, Dept Anat & Struct Biol, Ctr Reprod & Genom, Dunedin, New Zealand
关键词
alternative tactics; fur seals; male mating strategy; pinnipeds; reproductive success; MALE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS; HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS; GREY SEAL; PHOCA-VITULINA; HARBOR SEAL; ADULT MALE; MICROSATELLITE ANALYSIS; COMPUTER-PROGRAM; SEXUAL SELECTION; BIGHORN SHEEP;
D O I
10.1071/ZO09024
中图分类号
Q95 [动物学];
学科分类号
071002 ;
摘要
In polygynous mammals, the status of many males does not allow them to have a high social rank and theory predicts selection for alternative mating tactics. Alternative tactics were suggested to explain discrepancies between mating and paternity successes in several pinniped species. However, information on alternative tactics in fur seals is limited. Here, we focus on the polygynous New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri, predicting that competition for females is likely to cause a diversification of male mating tactics and that non-territorial tactics can yield reproductive success. We describe the behaviour of 38 males in a medium to large colony. Paternity success was assessed using CERVUS and PASOS, from a pool of 82 pups sampled at the study site and at neighbouring breeding areas. To see whether size is correlated with mating tactic, the length of 17 males was estimated using photogrammetry. Cluster analysis identified three male behavioural profiles: one corresponding to large territorial males and two illustrating alternative tactics employed by smaller non-territorial males. Of the 13 pups born at the study site that were assigned a father, eight were sired by three territorial males and five were sired by non-territorial males. Our study highlights that holding a territory is not a necessary condition for reproductive success in all otariids.
引用
收藏
页码:409 / 421
页数:13
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