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Feeding competition within a feral goat population on the Isle of Rum, NW Scotland

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Abstract

This study investigated feeding competition within and between different age–sex classes of feral goats (Capra hircus) on the Isle of Rum (northwest Scotland) from August to November 2000 (inclusive). Although contests in a feeding context were common, most were relatively passive: little overt agonistic behaviour was observed between opponents and the distance between feeding animals involved did not change significantly after an interaction. Month (but not sex or habitat type) had a significant effect on feeding interaction rates, and the proportion of interactions involving more intense forms of conflict was highest in November when forage availability was beginning to decline. The results show that the initiator won most feeding encounters, with adult males being dominant over females. The ability to win conflicts increased with age for both males and females. However, it decreased sharply for adult males older than 5 years, which may, in part, explain the reduced overwinter survival of these individuals.

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Acknowledgements

The fieldwork was financially supported by an ORS scholarship, a University of Liverpool scholarship, the Henry Lester Memorial Trust, the World Friendship Trust and the Great Britain–China Education Trust. We would like to thank Scottish Natural Heritage and the Wardens on the Isle of Rum for granting permission to work on the island and for providing logistic support. We would also like to thank the referees for their helpful comments.

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK

    Jianbin Shi & R. I. M. Dunbar

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  1. Jianbin Shi
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  2. R. I. M. Dunbar
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Correspondence to R. I. M. Dunbar.

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Shi, J., Dunbar, R.I.M. Feeding competition within a feral goat population on the Isle of Rum, NW Scotland. J Ethol 24, 117–124 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0170-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0170-6

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