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Dominance Relations and Breeding Rate in Mature Male American Bison
Author(s) -
Lott Dale F.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
zeitschrift für tierpsychologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0044-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1979.tb00302.x
Subject(s) - dominance hierarchy , bison bison , dominance (genetics) , biology , social hierarchy , seasonal breeder , demography , body weight , zoology , ecology , aggression , social psychology , psychology , endocrinology , genetics , sociology , gene
The assumption of a linear dominance hierarchy accounted for 78% of the outcomes of aggressive interactions in a group of 26 mature male American bison ( Bison bison ) during a breeding season. All recorded interactions between bulls were initiated aggressively, and 88% of all interactions were won by the initiator. The dominant‐subordinant roles were reversed at least once in most dyads during the three weeks. Neither age nor body weight were correlated with high social standing. Bulls with higher social standing had higher breeding rates.