No evidence of juvenile body mass affecting dispersal in male red deer

摘要: Dispersal is an important mechanism in population dynamics with a sparse empirical basis. Environmental causes of dispersal may work directly or indirectly. In documented negative density-dependent male dispersal, we investigated if the effect density on was indirectly mediated through body mass. We analysed probability 170 juvenile red deer males Snillfjord municipality, Norway, during 20-year period rapid growth (1977–1997). Body mass and propensity were not related. Thus, changes act are affected by mass-dependent occurs species strong antagonistic interactions high cost dispersal. Our result suggests that low terms energy expenditure survival. conclude likely to vary mating system