Soay rams target reproductive activity towards promiscuous females’ optimal insemination period

摘要: Female promiscuity is thought to have resulted in the evolution of male behaviours that confer advantages sperm competition ensues. In mammalian species, males can gain a post-copulatory advantage this 'raffle' by inseminating females at optimal time relative ovulation, leading prediction should preferentially associate and copulate with these times. To best our knowledge, we provide first high-resolution test using feral Soay sheep, which mating system characterized for access highly promiscuous females. We find competitive their mate guarding (and hence copulations) occur close insemination period (OIP), when are also increasingly likely 'cooperate' copulation attempts. Subordinate practice an alternative tactic, where they break integrity consort pair force copulations on The timing forced targeted towards OIP. thus quantitative evidence female has reproductive strategies 'load' raffle targeting activity OIPs, probability sperm-competition success its greatest.