Abstract
Dominance is a behavioural mechanism that allows individuals to access and monopolize resources which should ultimately improve their fitness. Hierarchy strength should be strongest when resources are limited; however, this relationship is not consistent. We provided abundant food to assess whether hierarchy strength was consistent with resource abundance using 9 groups of captive female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We further assessed how body mass, age and testosterone levels were associated with rank position. Deer displayed a weak hierarchy with a mean linearity (h′) of 0.39 (SD = 0.09) and a mean directional consistency index of 0.83 (SD = 0.06). Rank was related to body mass (p = 0.004, slope = 0.011), but not age or testosterone levels (p≥ 0.163). We demonstrate that hierarchy strength was weak in the presence of abundant food resources and suggest the possibility that dominance is a plastic behaviour that may vary with resource abundance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 49-67 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Behaviour |
Volume | 153 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- Dominance
- Food abundance
- Hierarchy strength
- White-tailed deer