Abstract
BackgroundAssortative mating can help explain how genetic variation for male quality is maintained even in highly polygynous species. Here, we present a longitudinal study examining how female and male ages, as well as male social dominance, affect assortative mating in fallow deer (Dama dama) over 10 years. Assortative mating could help explain the substantial proportion of females that do not mate with prime-aged, high ranking males, despite very high mating skew. We investigated the temporal pattern of female and male matings, and the relationship between female age and the age and dominance of their mates.ResultsThe peak of yearling female matings was four days later than the peak for older females. Younger females, and especially yearlings, mated with younger and lower-ranking males than older females. Similarly, young males and lower-ranking males mated with younger females than older males and higher-ranking males. Furthermore, the timing of matings by young males coincided with the peak of yearling female matings, whereas the timing of older male matings (irrespective of rank) coincided with the peak of older female matings.ConclusionsAssortative mating, through a combination of indirect and/or direct female mate choice, can help explain the persistence of genetic variation for male traits associated with reproductive success.
Highlights
Darwin [1] distinguished two selective mechanisms in his theory of sexual selection; selection for the ‘‘power to conquer other males in battle’’, or the ‘‘power to charm the females’’
Male-male competition has received a lot more attention than either male or female choice, and most studies of female mate choice have traditionally focused on male traits that are selected by the majority of females [2,3]
We investigated assortative mating in fallow deer (Dama dama) using data gathered over 10 years
Summary
Darwin [1] distinguished two selective mechanisms in his theory of sexual selection; selection for the ‘‘power to conquer other males in battle’’ (male-male competition), or the ‘‘power to charm the females’’ (female choice). Male-male competition has received a lot more attention than either male or female choice (especially in mammals), and most studies of female mate choice have traditionally focused on male traits that are selected by the majority of females [2,3]. Assortative mating is another important aspect of sexual selection that has been overlooked, in large polygynous mammals. We investigated the temporal pattern of female and male matings, and the relationship between female age and the age and dominance of their mates
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