Lek is a territorial mating strategy which is widely spread amongst males in the fallow deer, Dama dama high density population. A group of fallow deer in Březka park, Czech Republic, was studied where males exhibit a mixed mating system with territorial (single temporary stands, leks) and non-territorial strategies during the rut. Reproductive success was estimated indirectly by counting females/minute held per male both on the lek and single temporary stands. A total of 636 records were analysed (281 on leks and 355 on temporary stands). In contrast to other reports, males on leks were accompanied with significantly less females (LSMEANs ± S.E., 3.80 ± 1.10 does present per minute of observation) compared to those on single temporary stands (6.74 ± 1.10 does present per minute of observation). The results suggest that under specific conditions (over-abundance of adult males compared to females) attracting females on the lek need not be the most effective one.
During the 1997 rut, we tested the hypothesis that there are lekking and territorial stags in a herd of approximately 350 free-ranging sika deer living in 5 km2 area in Northern Austria. During five 2-hour observation sessions observers recorded the callings of the sika deer stags from three high seats and simultaneously recorded the direction from which each male was calling. We recorded 2167 calling bouts consisting of 3655 calls. A calling bout consisted of 1 to 9 calls (mean ± S.D., 1.69 ± 1.09). The distance between calling stags was 85.15 ± 3.10 m (LSMEAN ± S.D.) in the centre of the lek and 121.94 ± 4.33 m at its periphery. Our observations suggested that stags were not associated with fixed territories. Rather, all stags took part in lekking with some ‘satellite’ stags more frequently at the periphery of the moving lek. Our results suggest an existence of a large, transient ‘mega lek’ with up to 23 active male participants. The location of the lek varied considerably over the period of observation, but always was associated with feeding places attractive to hinds.