The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124(1):96-105, 2012 
SEXUAL SELECTION AND MATING CHRONOLOGY OF 
LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS 
ADAM C. BEHNEY, 157 BLAKE A. GRISHAM.' CLINT W. BOAL, * 2 * 
HEATHER A. WHITE AW.' 6 7 AND DAVID A. HAUKO 5 S 4 
ABSTRACT.—Little is known about mate selection and lek dynamics of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus 
pallidicinctus). We collected data on male territory size and location on leks. behavior, and morphological characteristics 
and assessed the importance of these variables on male Lesser Prairie-Chicken mating success during spring 2008 and 2009 
in the Texas Southern High Plains. Wc used discrete choice models and found that males that were less idle were chosen 
more often for mating. Our results also suggest that males with smaller territories obtained more copulations. 
Morphological characteristics were weaker predictors of male mating success. Peak female attendance at leks occurred 
during the 1 -week interval starting 13 April during both years of study. Male prairie-chickens appear to make exploratory 
movements to. and from, leks early in the lekking season; 13 of 19 males banded early (23 Feb-13 Mar) in the lekking 
season departed the lek of capture and were not reobserved (I I yearlings, 2 adults). Thirty-three percent (range = 26-51' h 
of males on a lek mated (yearlings = 44%. adults - 20%) and males that were more active experienced greater mating 
success. Received 2 May 2Oil. Accepted 2S July 2Oil. 
Males in lek mating systems aggregate on 
arenas (leks) which females visit for breeding; 
males provide no parental care or resources to 
females, other than genetic material (Hoglund and 
Alatalo 1995). Sexual selection is typically strong 
in lek mating systems where some individuals 
obtain many mating opportunities while others 
obtain none (Robel 1966, Gibson and Bradbury 
1985, McDonald 1989) and, in many species, 
males have evolved elaborate courtship displays 
and ornaments. Females are thought to select the 
highest quality males to maximize direct (survival 
or clutch size.) or indirect benefits (good genes) 
(Bradbury and Gibson 1983, Reynolds and Gross 
1990). 
Vocal, morphological, territorial, and behavior¬ 
al characteristics have been examined among 
lekking grouse species with regard to mate choice 
(e.g., Robel 1966. Gibson and Bradbury 1985, 
'Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 
Department of Natural Resources Management. Texas Tech 
University. Lubbock. TX 79409, USA. 
2 U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Cooperative Fish and 
Wildlife Research Unit. Department of Natural Resources 
Management, Texas Tech University. Lubbock, TX 79409, 
USA. 
'Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Tech 
University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. 
U.S. f ish and Wildlife Service, Texas Tech University 
Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. 
5 Current address: Cooperative Wildlife Research Labo¬ 
ratory. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. IL 62901 
USA. 
"Current address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. T< 
tech University, Lubbock. TX 79409 . USA 
7 Corresponding author; e-mail; abehney@siu edu 
Gibson et al. 1991, Gibson 1996. Hoglund et al. 
1997, Nooker and Sandercock 2008). Correlates 
of male mating status (mated vs. non-mated) for 
Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasia- 
nus) included display rate, lek attendance, and a 
vocal component (Gibson and Bradbury 1985). 
Gibson cl al. (1991) found that female choice in 
Greater Sage-Grouse was related to male vocal¬ 
ization performance, previous mating locations o? 
females, and choices of other females. Specifical¬ 
ly, initial attraction of female Greater Sage- 
Grouse to males was based on vocalizations while 
probability of mating was related to male display 
rate (Gibson 1996). Male Sharp-tailed Grouse 
(Tympanuchus phasianellus) holding central ter¬ 
ritories obtained more copulations than peripheral 
males (Gratson et al. 1991), although Gratson 
(1993) concluded that dance time and auditory 
characteristics were better predictors of matin;: 
success than territory' location. Alternatively, 
display and aggressive behaviors were better 
predictors of male mating success for Greater 
Prairie-Chickens (T. cupido) than territory char¬ 
acteristics (Nooker and Sandercock 2008). 
Lesser Prairie-Chickens (T. pallidicinctus) are a 
lek-mating gaxise. inhabiting short and mixed 
grass prairies of the southern Great Plains. Signit 
icant population declines throughout much of lher 
historic range (Hagen and Giesen 2005) have 
resulted in their designation as a 'candidate for 
protection under the Endangered Species Ad 
(USDI2008). Little is known about sexual selection 
and lek dynamics of Lesser Prairie-Chickens, and 
future research and conservation could benefit I rod 
information on when prairie-chickens mate, how 
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