Investigating the costs of reproduction to link reproductive success and survival of male bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Hunting is a sport that is practiced all over the world and hunted species are usually chosen for a specific morphological trait. This discrimination between individuals may lead to an artificial selection that might have consequences for the whole population. Male bighorn sheep, rams, are hunted for their massive horns and studies suggest multiple negative impacts. In fact, horn length and body mass are really important for rams during the rutting season because the few biggest males will each protect a female while the others will try to copulate by bypassing the dominant rams. These mating strategies require a big effort and might have repercussions on survival. My project rely on the costs of reproduction of rams by trying to find a link between reproductive success and survival. (Co-supervisor: Prof Marco Festa-Bianchet, Université de Sherbrooke) |
Yanny RitchotCandidat à la maîtrise
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