Evasive behaviours of female dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) during exploitative scramble competition

摘要: When males engage in scramble competition, are females non-evasive recipients of male coercion or evasive? Small groups dusky dolphins ( Lagenorhynchus obscurus) exploitative (non-interference) competition for access to oestrous near Kaikoura, New Zealand. We conducted behavioural sequence analyses videos 48 mating with continuous records and focal individual follows females. determined (1) the frequency type behaviours (non-evasive vs. evasive), (2) variation simple transition probabilities leading a copulatory position associated female resistance non-resistance (3) responses throughout follows. Females exhibited frequent active evasive manoeuvers following behaviours. Copulation sequences were highly variable most complex when terminated by altered signals, one aspect mate choice potentially favouring endurance.