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THE PATTERN OF REPRODUCTION IN FEMALE COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER, ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS COLUMBIANUS

Summary.: Ovarian cycles and the pattern of reproduction in female black-tailed deer in British Columbia were ascertained largely through examination of the ovaries from 444 females.

Cyclic development and degeneration of single follicles of ovulatory size occurred several weeks before first ovulation. As the breeding season approached, a second or third large follicle developed in each cycle but in 48% of adult females the follicles were at different stages of maturation. Those failing to rupture at first ovulation luteinized 1 to 2 days thereafter.

The first ovulation of the season, in November, never resulted in a lasting pregnancy even though some ova were penetrated by spermatozoa and began to cleave. First ovulation was apparently 'silent' in five of seven females for their ova lacked spermatozoa.

Of sixty-one pregnant females, fifty-nine conceived at second ovulation; the other two conceived at subsequent ovulations more widely spaced than the 8- to 9-day interval between first and second ovulations. The synchrony of ovulatory cycles among adult females was such that half of them ovulated for the second time in a span of 7 or 8 days. Primary CL that formed after first ovulation grew to an average maximum volume of only about 45 mm³, whereas those originating at second ovulation grew to twice that size within 5 to 8 days. First generation CL shrank from 35 mm³ to 10 mm³ within 2 days. They disappeared within 18 months but corpora albicantia persisted for the life of the female.

The possible ecological significance of the reproductive pattern is discussed.