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Testing hotspot models of lek evolution: data from three species of ungulates

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Summary

Hotspot models propose that leks have evolved because certain sites are associated with extremely high female encounter rates. In this paper we test five predictions of hotspot models, using data from studies of three species of lekking ungulates. As predicted, we found that lekking species generally had large female home ranges. However, in contrast to other predictions of hotspot models, ungulate leks did not occur at sites of maximum adult female density, lekking was not associated with low overall female density, and the adult sex ratio and the proportion of females that were in oestrus both differed substantially between leks and off-lek areas. Our empirical results therefore confirm recent theoretical assessments of the hotspot process, suggesting that while hotspots may help explain broad patterns of male dispersion, further mechanisms are needed to generate the extent of territory clustering seen at leks.

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Author notes

  1. Andrew Balmford

    Present address: Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY, London, UK

  2. James C. Deutsch

    Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, NR4 7TJ, Norwich, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., CB2 3EJ, Cambridge, UK

    Andrew Balmford, James C. Deutsch, Rory J. C. Nefdt & Tim Clutton-Brock

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  1. Andrew Balmford
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  2. James C. Deutsch
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Correspondence to: A. Balmford

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Balmford, A., Deutsch, J.C., Nefdt, R.J.C. et al. Testing hotspot models of lek evolution: data from three species of ungulates. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 33, 57–65 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164347

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