Red Deer -- Male and Female Demography Compared -- Rhum (Scotland)Data from Clutton-Brock et al., Red Deer: Behavior and Ecology of Two Sexes (see reading list)
(1) Females have higher survival than males when young and old but not
in their prime (in this population without predators survival is high for
both sexes) . . .
(2) Age-specific survivorship shows that females live longer . . .
(3) Males begin successful reproduction at a later age than do females ... and end at an earlier age ... but are more successful in their prime ...
(4) Reproductive success of stags (males) depends on their ability to win fights with other males ...
The life table for females shows that the population is increasing ...
Here is the life table for males (mx is age-specific production of
sons) ... compare males' and females' net reproductive rates
(Ro), generation times (T), and proportionate annual
changes in numbers (N1/N0 =
Some questions . . .
Should we expect males and females to have the same R0? the
same T? the same
Is life tougher for a male red deer or for a female red deer? How might some wolves on the island of Rhum change things?
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