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Abstract
Observations of the flight response in mammals are commonly used to test the behavioural
response to predation risk. Such a response is likely to be stronger in more sensitive
individuals such as females, and females with offspring in particular, as well as
during such periods as the birth season. From August 2005 to July 2006 we recorded
the flight distances of different mouflon group types in a natural population in Sardinia.
The comparison of the flight distances of the groups (n groups=375, n mouflons=1303)
provided evidence for the key role of lamb presence. Female groups with lambs fled
at greater distances than male groups and female groups without lambs. This difference
was linked to the females' priority to secure the survival of their offspring. Indeed,
the uniformity of the flight distances of males and non-reproductive females was in
contrast to the general expectations regarding ungulate species. In fact, smaller
females were expected to be more sensitive to predation risk than larger males. The
absence of major differences is probably due to the low sexual dimorphism of mouflon.
Flight distances were shorter during the rut than during the lambing season, arguably
because during the mating less time and energies were available for anti-predator
behaviour. However, during the rut females with lambs still fled at greater distances
than females without lambs, arguably because mothers took it as a priority to protect
their parental investment rather then to find a potential mate.