Sexual Segregation in Ungulates: A Reply

Abstract

In response to Gross (1998), I clarify predictions of hypotheses of sexual segregation in Main et al. (1996) as they relate to forage quality and security of offspring. I respond to comments by Gross (1998) regarding the importance of shea-term rate of intake as a mechanism driving sexual segregation and of using forage biomass as a measure of site quality and clarify my perspective on the role of intersexual competition. Finally, I identify a philosophical difference between Gross (1998) and Main et al. (1996) regarding the evolution of behavior and structure and discuss the relevance of this difference to understanding sexual segregation in ungulates.