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The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)

Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 1995.

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Other Authors: Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
author_browse Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
author_facet Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 1995.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83239
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:12.012Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83239 The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780) Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932- Richardson, Philip R.K. Jackson, Timothy Peter UCTD Territoriality mating system Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 1995. The causes and consequences of territoriality were examined in the springbok Antidorcas marsupia/is. Males retained territories for extended periods, which precluded them from responding to fluctuating ecological conditions as effectively as non-territorial males or females; their home ranges were smaller, they fed less effectively than non-territorial males in the dry season, and their density on the dry riverbeds remained independent of ecological conditions including vegetation biomass, rainfall and the distance from the nearest waterhole. The social organisation of springbok exposed territorial males to the highest predation risk, whilst males in general risked a higher predation threat than females. This was reflected in both the observed predation and adult survivorship. Cheetahs were the main predator, taking twice as many adult males than females. The association of the two sexes within herds was modified by the agonistic behaviour of territorial males, which was lowest during the rut and highest at the end of the dry season. Territories were maintained through the year, despite the restricted breeding periods. Territory take-up and loss were related to both prevailing environmental conditions and rutting periods. Most territories were established and abandoned passively. Males which had abandoned a territory generally ·returned to their former territories. Sometimes males would shift territories in a year, but only if they increased the number of ewes on their territory by doing so. Such long term territory holding probably increases males' chances of retaining their territories over rutting periods, subsequently improving their reproductive success. Males held resource-based territories on the dry riverbeds and pans, where female numbers were highest. Only territorial males mated with females, though multiple mating’s by one or more males were common. Ruts were initiated by males and could potentially occur at any time of the year. A number of factors were involved in triggering rutting, though not all ruts led to successful mating’s, possibly because females were unable to respond. Ruts acted to co-ordinate mating and subsequently lambing periods, the benefits probably being enhanced male mating success at the time of the rut and an increase in offspring survival associated with the timing and synchrony of births. Zoology and Entomology PhD Unrestricted 2022-01-12T06:00:38Z 2022-01-12T06:00:38Z 19/8/2021 1995 Thesis * http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83239 en © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Territoriality
mating system
Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis
The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)
title The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)
title_full The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)
title_fullStr The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)
title_full_unstemmed The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)
title_short The role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmerman 1780)
title_sort role of territoriality in the mating system of the springbok antidorcas marsupialis zimmerman 1780
topic UCTD
Territoriality
mating system
Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83239