Relationship between predation-risk factors and sexual segregation in Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli)

Using a population of Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli), we examined two of the four main sexual-segregation hypotheses proposed: (1) the reproductive-strategy hypothesis, which proposes that males feed in the best foraging areas to enhance their reproductive fitness and females use areas with lower predation risk to raise offspring; and (2) the sexual dimorphism – body size hypothesis, which proposes that females use the areas with best forage to satisfy the nutritional demands of gestation and lactation, and that males, owing to their larger body size, have greater absolute metabolic requirements and therefore have to feed on forages which are more abundant but of lower quality. In our study, males were found farther from cover, in gentle terrain, and at lower altitude than were female groups, which were near cliffs or talus at higher altitudes. Female groups without lambs left cover, but were always active (feeding or moving). Forage density index values were higher in areas used by males than in areas used by female groups. Nutritional components were generally similar, but fibre content was higher in male areas. Signs of wolves (Canis lupus) and predation on Dall's sheep were recorded only at male areas. The results support the reproductive-strategy hypothesis, indicating that predation plays a key role in the development of sexual segregation in Dall's sheep.