scholarly journals The dark ventral patch: A bimodal flexible trait related to male competition in red deer

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0241374
Author(s):  
Juan Carranza ◽  
Eva de la Peña ◽  
Concha Mateos ◽  
Javier Pérez-González ◽  
Susana Alarcos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Intrasexual Competition ◽  
Bimodal Distribution ◽  
Male Competition ◽  
Antler Size ◽  
Ventral Area ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Trait Size

Sexual signals play a central role in male-male competition in polygynous species. In red deer (Cervus elaphus), male’s ventral area become dark during the rutting season due to urine spraying behaviour and retains many chemical compounds potentially revealing individual features. Here we investigate the variation in size of this trait, exploring its relationship with age and male competitive features such as antlers or body size, as well as populational level of intrasexual competition for mates. We found that the size of the dark ventral patch followed a clearly bimodal distribution, i.e. males mostly expressed the full-size trait or just developed a very small one. For these two groups of males according to trait expression, the relationships of trait size with age and antler size differed. Populational level of intrasexual competition appeared to affect the relationship between antler size and the probability of a fully developed ventral patch. These results indicate that the trait encodes information on body size, antler size, age and populational level of mate competition, thus suggesting a role in signalling male’s competitive features and willingness to allocate reproductive effort within a particular season.

The influence of habitat on body size and tooth wear in Scottish red deer (Cervus elaphus)

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.J. Pérez-Barbería ◽  
S.L. Ramsay ◽  
R.J. Hooper ◽  
E. Pérez-Fernández ◽  
A.H.J. Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Mineral Components ◽  
Mandible Length ◽  
The Relationship

Body size has profound implications for ecology and life-history traits of mammalian species. Tooth wear is an indicator of food-processing investment and diet properties, with fitness consequences through differences in comminution efficiency, nutrient gain, and senescence. We investigate the relationships between mandible length (a proxy of skeletal body size), molar dentine thickness (a measure of tooth wear), and faecal neutral detergent fibre with residual ash (NDF–ash, a combined proxy of fibre and mineral components in the diet) in 874 male and female red deer (Cervus elaphus L., 1758) from 21 locations in moorland and woodland habitats across Scotland. Significant differences in mandible length occurred between habitats: woodland deer having larger mandibles than moorland deer. Within habitats, larger mandibles were related to higher rates of dentine wear, suggesting increased body size was associated with greater intake and processing of food. Both dentine wear and faecal NDF–ash were higher in moorland deer than in woodland deer, suggesting that fibre and (or) mineral abrasives in the diet may have contributed towards habitat differences in dentine wear. Between habitats, higher dentine wear was not associated with larger mandibles, in contrast to the relationship within habitats, indicating the precedence of additional environmental factors between habitats.

scholarly journals Selectivity of harvesting differs between local and foreign roe deer hunters: trophy stalkers have the first shot at the right place

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 632-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atle Mysterud ◽  
Piotr Tryjanowski ◽  
Marek Panek
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Evolutionary Processes ◽  
Antler Size ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Relationship

Harvesting represents a major source of mortality in many deer populations. The extent to which harvesting is selective for specific traits is important in order to understand contemporary evolutionary processes. In addition, since such data are frequently used in life-history studies, it is important to know the pattern of selectivity as a source of bias. Recently, it was demonstrated that different hunting methods were selected for different weights in red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), but little insight was offered into why this occurs. In this study, we show that foreign trophy stalkers select for larger antlers when hunting roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) than local hunters, but that close to half of the difference in selectivity was due to foreigners hunting earlier in the season and in locations with larger males. The relationship between antler size and age was nevertheless fairly similar based on whether deer was shot by foreign or local hunters.

scholarly journals Glycolytic potential and ultimate muscle pH values in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama)

Rangifer ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Wiklund ◽  
Timothy R. Manley ◽  
Roger P. Littlejohn
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Muscle Glycogen ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Glycogen Content ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Dama Dama ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
Total Glucose ◽  
The Relationship

The ultimate pH value of meat (measured at approx. 24 hours post slaughter) gives information about the technological quality, i.e. shelf life, colour, water-holding properties and tenderness and is a direct consequence of muscle glycogen (energy) levels at slaughter. It may therefore also indicate whether or not the animal has been exposed to stressful energy depleting events prior to slaughter. In the present study, 141 animals (130 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 11 fallow deer (Dama dama) were included to investigate the relationship between ultimate pH and residual glycogen concentration in red deer and fallow deer M. longissimus. In addition, the muscle glycogen content and ultimate pH values in three red deer muscles (Mm. triceps brachii, longissimus and biceps femoris) were studied. M. triceps brachii had higher ultimate pH and lower glycogen content compared with the other two studied muscles. The frequency of intermediate DFD (5.8≤ pH<6.2) was 5.4% in red deer M. longissimus, compared with 9.1% in fallow deer, while the frequency of DFD (pH≥ 6.2) was much lower in red deer (3.8%) than in fallow deer (54.5%). A curvilinear relationship between ultimate pH and total glucose concentration (glycogen and glucose) 30 min post slaughter in red deer and fallow deer M. longissimus was found. The relationship between muscle pH and lactic acid concentration however, was indicated to be linear. A significant variation in total glucose concentration at ultimate pH below 5.80 was observed, including values in the range from 18 to 123 mmol/kg wet tissue. It was concluded that further studies are needed to further explore the relationship between muscle glycogen content and technological and sensory quality attributes of meat from different deer species.Abstract in Swedish / Sammanfattning:Köttets pH-värde (mätt ca 24 timmar efter slakt) har stor betydelse för den teknologiska kvaliteten som t. ex. hållbarhet, färg, vattenhållande förmåga och mörhet. Glykogenförrådet (energinivån) i djurens muskulatur vid slakt är helt avgörande för köttets slutliga pH-värde. Därför kan pH-värdet också indikera om hanteringen av slaktdjur varit skonsam eller om stora mängder muskelenergi har förbrukats vid stress. I vår undersökning ingick 141 hjortar (130 kronhjortar (Cervus elaphus) och 11 dovhjortar (Dama dama) för att studera sambandet mellan köttets pH-värde och glykogeninnehållet i M. longissimus. Glykogeninnehåll och pH-värden i 3 muskler från kronhjort (Mm. triceps brachii, longissimus och biceps femoris) undersöktes också. M. triceps brachii hade högre pH-värde och lägre glykogeninnehåll jämfört med de två andra musklerna. Det var inte så stor skillnad i frekvensen av intermediär DFD (pH-värden mellan 5,8 og 6,2) mellan de två hjortarterna (5,4% för kronhjort och 9,1% för dovhjort), däremot var frekvensen av DFD (pH-värden över 6,2) mycket låg hos kronhjort (3,8%) jämfört med dovhjort (54,5%). Det fanns ett kurvlinjärt samband mellan slutligt pH-värde i köttet och total glukoskoncentration (glykogen + glukos) mätt i M. longissimus 30 min efter slakt för både kron- och dovhjort. Ett linjärt samband mellan pH-värde och koncentration av mjölksyra i M. longissimus kunde också visas. Vi fann en mycket stor varitation i glukoskoncentration (18−123 mmol/kg våtvikt) när köttets pH-värdet var 5,8 eller lägre. Det behövs fler undersökningar för att vidare klargöra sambanden mellan glykogeninnehåll i muskulaturen och teknologisk och sensorisk kvalitet i olika typer av hjortkött.

Comparison of vocalisations of introduced European red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) in north-western Patagonia (Argentina) with native European populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 714 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Hurtado ◽  
J. M. Smith-Flueck ◽  
P. Black-Decima
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Acoustical Properties ◽  
Andean Cordillera ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Acoustic Study ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
European Populations

Polygynous deer are very vocal species, producing calls in various contexts. Male rutting calls in red deer (Cervus elaphus) have been most studied in captive and/or free-ranging European populations. The recent application of ‘source-filter theory’ has identified the independent roles of fundamental frequency (F0) and formants in the production of deer calls and demonstrated the relation between formant spacing and anatomical characteristics such as body size. The present paper describes and characterises the acoustical properties of male rutting vocalisations for a free-ranging red deer population located in the ecotone of the eastern Andean cordillera within the Nahuel Huapi National Reserve (Neuquén, Argentina), and is the first acoustic study of free-ranging red deer stags outside their historic distribution. Recordings were made of seven identified and several unidentified stags at the peak of the rut in 2007. Calculated F0 was found to be higher for these identified stags than for Scottish red deer on the island of Rhum. The analysis of formant spacing was used to calculate the length of the vocal tract (VTL) for the seven males studied; values were comparable to those found in stags from Rhum. The longest calculated VTLs within these males corresponded to those of the four stags with the largest antler racks and the only stags holding harems. Previous studies have shown that VTL correlates with body size, age and reproductive success and that these deer have the ability to lower their larynx and extend their vocal tracts to a maximum, which is probably under sexual selection. Our data fit with this explanation. The higher F0s recorded in this population may result from the influence of wapiti genes, known to be present in these deer, because wapiti have a much higher-frequency rutting call, namely, the bugle. Alternatively, they may be related to the mating strategy, which differs substantially from the northern European populations.

Iophenoxic acid as a serum marker for red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus)

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Sweetapple ◽  
G. Nugent
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Serum Concentration ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Iodine Concentration ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Serum Marker ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
The Relationship

As part of a study investigating the efficacy of toxic foliage baits for controlling red deer in New Zealand, a pen trial was conducted to determine whether red deer could be marked by oral dosing with the serum marker iophenoxic acid. The doses required to mark red deer, retention times, and the relationship between dose and serum concentration of the marker were also investigated. Three groups of three deer were fed baits containing 0.26, 2.32, and 6.10 mg iophenoxic acid per kilogram of bodyweight. Mean serum iodine concentration was significantly greater in deer fed marked baits for at least 40 days after dosing than in deer fed unmarked baits. The level of marking in each group was proportional to the dose, suggesting that iophenoxic acid may be used to quantify the amount of bait consumed by red deer. Iophenoxic acid is, therefore, an effective serum marker for red deer and could be used in short- and medium-term ecological and bait technology development field trials.

Social rank and reproductive performance in a herd of farmed red deer females (Cervus elaphus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Villagrán ◽  
L. Alvarez ◽  
R. Ungerfeld
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Offspring Sex Ratio ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Rate Female

Hierarchical relationships between individuals determine unequal access to recourses like food and individuals of the other gender, resulting in a higher reproductive success of high-social ranked individuals. Environmental conditions and food availability may determine how strong these effects are. The aim of this work was to determine if social rank of farmed red deer females affect the reproductive results of a hormonal oestrous synchronisation treatment with ad libitum food. The studied responses included the time to oestrus onset, percentage of females that came into oestrus, conception and calving rates, gestation length, and calf gender. The study was performed during autumn on a research farm located in Mexico (20°36ʹ N, 99°55ʹ W). Forty-nine adult red deer females were assigned to two replications of 21 and 28 animals respectively and were allocated into independent paddocks with ad libitum food and water availability. Oestrous cycles were synchronised with a traditional protocol of intravaginal devices impregnated with progesterone. Agonistic behaviours between females were recorded (total = 1626 interactions), hierarchical position (Success Index = SI) of each animal was calculated and individuals were categorised as high (n = 13), medium (n = 20) or low-ranked (n = 16) individuals. Reproductive data were recorded during the 5 days after the oestrous synchronisation treatment and during the calving period. Any of the recorded responses differ between HR, MR and LR females. Female SI, age and bodyweight were not related with the probability of coming into oestrus, result pregnant, and giving birth to a male calf. Thirty-seven (78.5%) females of this study gave birth. From these calves, 15 were males and 22 were females. Due to high percentage of females in oestrus that gave birth (85.7%), it was not possible to detect the relationship between female SI, age, and bodyweight with the conception rate. Female SI, age and bodyweight were unrelated to time to oestrus onset (r2 = 0.09; P = 0.17), and to gestation length (r2 = 0.10; P = 0.20). In conclusion, with ad libitum high quality food, the social rank of red deer hinds did not affect the time to oestrus onset, percentage of females that came into oestrus, gestation length, calving and conception rates, and offspring sex ratio after an oestrous synchronisation hormonal treatment.

Relationships between rank-related behaviour, antler cycle timing and antler growth in deer: behavioural aspects

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bartoš ◽  
G. A. Bubenik
Keyword(s):  
Red Deer ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Antler Growth ◽  
Antler Size ◽  
Antler Cycle ◽  
Agonistic Activity ◽  
Higher Rank ◽  
Behavioural Aspects ◽  
The Relationship

In this review we offer a synthesis of a 30-year-long investigation focussed on the relationship between dominance rank-related behaviour and the timing and growth of antlers in deer. Our studies related primarily to red and fallow deer. We present evidence to suggest that dominance-related behaviour in male deer is strong enough to influence both antler cycle timing and antler growth. In a study on captive red deer we observed that the males of higher rank cast their antlers first and also tended to shed the velvet earlier. In a subsequent series of studies on the same species we found evidence that social position and related agonistic activity of males during the period of antler growth influence antler size and branching. Changes in behaviour related to rank modified antler growth. For example, fallow deer bucks gaining higher rank through fighting other bucks exhibited enhanced growth of that part of the antler that was growing at that particular time. That substantially altered the entire antler growth. Understanding the relationship between rank, agonistic behaviour and hormone levels is crucial for the interpretation of previous results that showed a link between dominance rank and antler growth in deer.

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