Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Life Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Animal Sciences

PDF

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1992

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Lek Formation In Sage Grouse: The Effect Of Female Choice On Male Territory Settlement, Robert M. Gibson Mar 1992

Lek Formation In Sage Grouse: The Effect Of Female Choice On Male Territory Settlement, Robert M. Gibson

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Previous studies of female choice in sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, have identified two processes that could drive the local clustering of male territories at leks: (1) fidelity of females to previous mating sites (“temporal spillover” hypothesis), and (2) “spatial spillover” of matings from an attractive male to his immediate neighbors (“hotshot” hypothesis). The effects of each process on male territory settlement were investigated using observations of the resettlement of vacant territories and of individual site fidelity during a 7-year field study. The frequency with which vacant territories were resettled both within and between seasons increased with mating success of …


The Costs Of Female Choice In A Lekking Bird, Robert M. Gibson, Gwendolyn C. Bachman Jan 1992

The Costs Of Female Choice In A Lekking Bird, Robert M. Gibson, Gwendolyn C. Bachman

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We investigated the costs of active female choice in sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, a lekking species in which females make repeated, lengthy visits to leks to assess males before mating. Several potential costs were measured by monitoring changes in hens' ranging behavior, time budgets, and encounter rates with predators when they visited leks. Two costs were identified: hens moved further per day and encountered golden eagles, Aquila chrysaetos, more frequently when visiting leks. However, extra travel due to visiting leks increased predicted daily energetic expenditure by only about 1%, and the risk of predation by golden eagles over …