Abstract

The relationship between mating system and genetic variation in ungulates is examined in the light of behavioural and ecological data on selected species. Overall results confirm that a model based on increasing genetic variability with decreasing degree of polygyny is realistic. However, this generalization presents a number of difficulties due to (i) species with populations that adopt different mating systems (ii) populations with males adopting different mating strategies (iii) species with similar mating systems but different rut duration, and these must be considered. In conclusion, the difficulty in conducting this kind of comparative studies and the need to restrict comparisons to rather closely related taxa (ie within families) where sound behavioural and ecological data are available are evidenced.

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