lek¹ / lek/ • n. the basic monetary unit of Albania, equal to 100 qintars.lek² • n. a patch of ground used for communal display in the breeding season by the males of certain birds and mammals, esp. black grouse. Each male defends a small territory in order to attract females for mating.• v. [intr.] [usu. as adj.] (lekking) take part in such a display: antelopes mate in lekking grounds.

lek An area of ground divided into territories that are vigorously defended by males for purposes of sexual display and mating during the breeding season. Such a system occurs in various bird species, for example the black grouse and peafowl, and also in some mammals. The most dominant males occupy the smallest territories at the centre of the lek, where they are most likely to attract and copulate with visiting females. The peripheral, and larger, territories are occupied by subordinate males, who have less mating success. Over successive breeding seasons, the younger subordinate males gradually displace older individuals from the most desirable territories and become dominant themselves. The lek territories contain no resources of value to the breeding female, such as food or nesting materials, although males of some species may construct bowers or similar structures used in their display.

lek Territory that is held and defended against rivals by males of certain species during the breeding season. The male displays within its lek in order to attract females into the lek for mating. Females move among the leks, mating with males to whose displays they respond. Consequently, for a local population of a species, leks are usually grouped together within a breeding area and dominant males tend to occupy the more central leks where their displays can be seen by the largest number of females.

lek A territory that is held and defended against rivals by males of certain species during the breeding season. The male displays within its lek in order to attract females into the lek for mating. Females move among the leks, mating with males to whose displays they respond. Consequently, for a local population of a species, leks are usually grouped together within a breeding area and dominant males tend to occupy the more central leks, where their displays can be seen by the largest number of females.

Lek

a gathering or congregating, as in sport; as many as fifty birds gathered together.

Example: lek of black grouse, 1884.