Gazelles and Their Relatives: A Study in Territorial Behavior

Gazelles and their relatives are important game animals in Africa and Asia; they have been successfully introduced into the US and they are also kept in zoos throughout the world. The occurrence of territorial behavior and its importance for the reproduction of gazelles has been recognized for some time; thus specific information on their territorial behavior is desirable both for scientific and for practical reasons.

This book provides the first concrete information on territory size and shape, duration of territorial periods, reoccupation of territories, phases of territoriality, the process of becoming territorial and of abandoning the territory, favorable and unfavorable environmental factors for territorial establishment, and territoriality as antagonist of migratory behavior. Also included are many previously unknown details of traditional territorial behavior, such as differences in the aggression of owners of territories toward (male) conspecifics of different age and social class, the structure of a marking system within a territory, etc.

Introduction
On Classification of Antilopinae
Present Status of Research in Antilopinae Behavior
Definition of Territory
General Methods
Sex and Age Classes
Individual Identification
Animal Populations and Habitats: Study Areas
Indian Blackbuck
Mountain Gazelle
Thomson's and Grant's Gazelle
The Place of Territoriality within the Social System
Gregariousness and Isolation Tendency
The Social Groups
The Territorial Males
Territoriality vs. Gregariousness and Migratory Behavior
Shape, Size and Density of Territories: Territorial Periods
General Aspects
Environmental Requirements for Territoriality in Single Species
Structure of Territory
Resting Sites and Other Specific Activity Sites
Center and Boundary
Marking System
Male Behavior at Peak of Territoriality
Marking Behavior
Aggressive Behavior
Herding Behavior
Sexual Behavior
Behavioral Peculiarities of Territorial Males as Compared to Other Classes
Special Relations among Territorial Neighbors
The Day of a Territorial Buck
Variations in Territorial Behavior
Rise and Decline of Territoriality in Antilopinae
Becoming Territorial
Decline of Territoriality
Abandoning the Territory
Functions of Territoriality in Antilopinae
Functions in Reproduction
Functions in Social Organization and Spatial Distribution
Comparative Aspects of Antilopinae Territoriality
Management Implications