Overt and covert competition in a promiscuous mammal: the importance of weaponry and testes size to male reproductive success

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
B T PrestonK Wilson

Abstract

Male contests for access to receptive females are thought to have selected for the larger male body size and conspicuous weaponry frequently observed in mammalian species. However, when females copulate with multiple males within an oestrus, male reproductive success is a function of both pre- and postcopulatory strategies. The relative importance of these overt and covert forms of sexual competition has rarely been assessed in wild populations. The Soay sheep mating system is characterized by male contests for mating opportunities and high female promiscuity. We find that greater horn length, body size and good condition each independently influence a male's ability to monopolize receptive females. For males with large horns at least, this behavioural success translates into greater siring success. Consistent with sperm-competition theory, we also find that larger testes are independently associated with both higher copulation rates and increased siring success. This advantage of larger testes emerges, and strengthens, as the number of oestrous females increases, as dominant males can no longer control access to them all. Our results thus provide direct quantitative evidence that male reproductive success in wild populations o...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 11, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jennifer S MascaroJames K Rilling
Oct 17, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·B T PrestonK Wilson
Nov 24, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Edward H Morrow, Claudia Fricke
Mar 1, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·B T PrestonK Wilson
Jul 19, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Steven A RammPaula Stockley
Nov 7, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Steven A Ramm, Paula Stockley
Mar 1, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Kiyono SekiiLukas Schärer
Jan 23, 2013·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Charlotta Kvarnemo, Leigh W Simmons
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