Harem size should be measured by more than the sum of its parts: Phenology‐based measurements reveal joint effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on a polygamous herbivore under non‐stationary climatic conditions

A 15-year study of Przewalski horses in Hortobágy National Park reveals that harem size stability in reintroduced populations is influenced by complex interactions between demography and climate, even under non-stationary conditions. Despite an eightfold increase in population size—from 21 to 174 individuals—and a corresponding rise in the number of harems from three to 23, harem sizes remained consistent. The research identifies adult sex ratio, annual mortality rates, mean number of harems, stallion age, and drought severity as key predictors of harem dynamics. These findings underscore the importance of intrinsic population processes in regulating social structures, offering critical insights for conservation strategies in semi-free-ranging species.

Szemán, K., Végvári, Z., Gőri, S., Kapocsi, I., Székely, T., & Manning, J. A. (2024). Harem size should be measured by more than the sum of its parts: Phenology‐based measurements reveal joint effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on a polygamous herbivore under non‐stationary climatic conditions. Ecology and Evolution, 14(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10865