Do leks limit the frequency of aggressive encounters in fallow deer? Linking local male density and lek occurrence

Abstract

We suggest here that the formation of leks in ungulates is a mating tactic that aims at decreasing the number of aggressive encounters in which dominant males are involved when the local male density becomes too high. Using a simulation model, we show that the spatial stability of territories in leks should limit the number of aggressive encounters between males, despite a high number of males locally present. Data on the frequencies of aggressive interactions recorded in both lekking and nonlekking fallow deer (Dama dama) populations under different local male densities support our hypothesis.