Do leks limit the frequency of aggressive encounters in fallow deer? Linking local male density and lek occurrence

We suggest here that the formation of leks in ungulates is a mating tactic that aims at decreasing the number of aggressive encounters in which domina nt males are involved when the local male density becomes too high. Using a simulation model, we show that the spatial stability of territories in lek s should limit the number of aggressive encounters between males, despite a high number of males locally present. Data on the frequencies of aggressiv e interactions recorded in both lekking and nonlekking fallow deer (Dama da ma) populations under different local male densities support our hypothesis .