TY - JOUR
T1 - Aggression and tolerance by dominant males of Artibeus jamaicensis
T2 - Strategies to maximize fitness in harem groups
AU - Ortega, Jorge
AU - Guerrero, José Antonio
AU - Maldonado, Jesus E.
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Strategies of males in harem-forming mammals may change depending on 2 variables, female group size and consequent ability of the harem male to monopolize copulations, and the relative costs and benefits of tolerating other males. We studied harems of 4-20 females associated with a dominant male in small groups of Artibeus jamaicensis (<14 females), and with dominant and subordinate males in large groups (>14 females). Dominant males displayed defensive behavior toward satellite males when they intruded into the roosting site. Small groups received the highest number of visits by satellite males, and dominant males did not display total defense of females. During the breeding season, females roosted in highly compacted clusters and dominant males were more active in their defensive behavior. Subordinate males were generally tolerated in harem groups and their presence reduced the number of adult male visits. Some young in large harem groups were sired by subordinate males, resulting in a genetic benefit for both dominant and subordinate males. Dominant males had the highest fitness in the large harem groups by sharing paternity with related subordinate males and by rejecting unrelated intruders.
AB - Strategies of males in harem-forming mammals may change depending on 2 variables, female group size and consequent ability of the harem male to monopolize copulations, and the relative costs and benefits of tolerating other males. We studied harems of 4-20 females associated with a dominant male in small groups of Artibeus jamaicensis (<14 females), and with dominant and subordinate males in large groups (>14 females). Dominant males displayed defensive behavior toward satellite males when they intruded into the roosting site. Small groups received the highest number of visits by satellite males, and dominant males did not display total defense of females. During the breeding season, females roosted in highly compacted clusters and dominant males were more active in their defensive behavior. Subordinate males were generally tolerated in harem groups and their presence reduced the number of adult male visits. Some young in large harem groups were sired by subordinate males, resulting in a genetic benefit for both dominant and subordinate males. Dominant males had the highest fitness in the large harem groups by sharing paternity with related subordinate males and by rejecting unrelated intruders.
KW - Aggression
KW - Artibeus jamaicensis
KW - Dominant male
KW - Female defense
KW - Polygyny
KW - Satellite male
KW - Shared paternity
KW - Subordinate male
KW - Tolerance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149265024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1644/08-MAMM-S-056.1
DO - 10.1644/08-MAMM-S-056.1
M3 - Artículo de revisión
SN - 0022-2372
VL - 89
SP - 1372
EP - 1378
JO - Journal of Mammalogy
JF - Journal of Mammalogy
IS - 6
ER -