The energy-maintenance strategy of goitered gazelles Gazella subgutturosa during rut.
In many polygynous ruminant species, males decrease their food intake considerably during the rut. To explain this phenomenon of rut-reduced hypophagia, two main hypotheses, the Foraging-Constraint Hypothesis and Energy-Saving Hypothesis, have been proposed. In our research, we assessed the behavioral strategy of goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa) through the rutting period. According to our findings, male goitered gazelles spent less time feeding during the rut compared to pre- and post-rut feeding times, but then maximized their energy intake during the rutting season when they were not engaged in rut-related behaviors. Females, in contrast, did not change their time budgets across the different stages of the rut. Therefore, rut-induced hypophagia is mainly arising from the constraints of rut-related behaviors for male goitered gazelles, so that the Foraging-Constraint Hypothesis better explains their strategy during rut.
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
Canjun
C
Xia
College of Life Science and Technology, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610043, China.
Wei
W
Liu
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
Wenxuan
W
Xu
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China. Electronic address: yangwk@ms.xjb.ac.cn.
Weikang
W
Yang
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
Feng
F
Xu
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
David
D
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D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
Energy strategy; Feeding; Lying; Rut-related