Contrasting levels of social distancing between the sexes in lions

Understanding sexual segregation is crucial to comprehend sociality. A comparative analysis of long-term lion data from Serengeti and Ngorongoro in Tanzania, and Gir in India, reveals that male-female associations are contingent upon male and female group size, prey-size and availability, and the number of prides that each male coalition currently resides. Males maintain proximity with females, whereas females are responsible for segregation except at large kills. Lions feed on the largest prey in Ngorongoro and the smallest in Gir, and females spend the most time with males in Ngorongoro and the least in Gir. Females roar less often in prey-scarce circumstances in Serengeti and throughout the year in Gir possibly to prevent being tracked by males that parasitize on female kills. However, females readily associate with males when available prey is large and abundant. Contrasting availability of resources between Gir and Serengeti/Ngorongoro helps explain the varying degrees of sexual segregation and appears to drive differences in mating systems between these lion populations. [Display omitted] •Sexual segregation in lion populations is driven by resource availability•Females are responsible for segregating from males, except at large kills•When prey is scarce, females reduce detection by males by roaring less frequently•Contrasting proximity between the sexes has led to variation in mating strategies in these populations of African and Asian lions Ecology ; Biological Sciences ; Zoology ; Animals ; Ethology