Distorted sex ratios in young ungulates: the role of nutrition
Hoefs M and Nowlan U. 1994. Distorted sex ratios in young ungulates: the role of nutrition. Journal of Mammalogy. 75(3):631-636
The long-held view that sex ratios of ungulates at birth are at or near parity has been the subject of considerable debate. Numerous examples of distorted sex ratios at birth have been reported, but the observations and their interpretation have not been consistent. Study of captive ungulates can provide valuable information on this contentious subject because relevant data are easy to obtain and are reliable. We assessed sex ratios of offspring from ungulates held in game farms in the Yukon Territory, Canada. Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), mountain goats (Oreamnus americanus), Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli), Stone's sheep (Ovis dalli stonei), and caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) were studied. Sample sizes among these species varied from 11 to 320 young, and observation periods varied between 2 and 23 years. All six ungulates showed a distorted sex ratio of neonates favoring females, which we attribute to the high-quality supplementary feed provided to these animals.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Hoefs, Manfred; Nowlan, Uli
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , WRST , YUCH
- Keywords
- bovidae, captive ungulates, Caribou, Cervidae, dall's sheep, Elk, Mountain Goats, Reindeer, secondary sex ratios, Stone's sheep, Subarctic, Yukon Territory