Arena Behavior
By Dave Hanks
A lek is a strutting ground. It’s a Dutch word that science has adopted. The lek is comparatively small when compared against the whole habitat living area. Species that engage in Arena behavior display no sex drive or fighting drive outside of the arena.
This may seem strange to us. Perhaps nature has evolved a method to keep tensions at a minimum and promote harmony. Animals that engage in Arena Behavior do all their courtship, fighting, and mating within the arena (or Lek). It's like all the boys gathering at the gym to show off their prowess. The girls show up and select the male that appeals to them and then mate with him right there in the gym. It is interesting (from research) to see that the males in the center of the Lek - which is usually on ground slightly higher in elevation – are usually preferred more often. I wonder if the human drive to have their home in the higher areas of a city has any subconscious relationship to this.
I know, from being in athletics - that venting aggressions on the playing field made me, and others, very low keyed and easy going when away from
competition. This is one of the benefits that is no longer available to me, since I am no longer participating.
A male SAGE GROUSE (pictured) with chest and tail feathers extended and his yellow air sacs puffed up to make a booming sound. This is an early spring ritual.
(Strutting on the lek)
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