RT Journal Article
T1 Fluctuating asymmetry of red deer antlers negatively relates to individual condition and proximity to prime age
A1 Mateos, Concha
A1 Alarcos, Susana
A1 Carranza, Juan
A1 Sánchez-Prieto, Cristina B.
A1 Valencia-Ruíz, Juliána
K1 Ciervos - España
K1 Cuernos
K1 Selección sexual en animales
AB After about 50 years of research on fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as a reliable indicator of both individual quality and environmental stress, the enthusiasm is beginning to decline. The findings of many studies are inconsistent and the relationship between FA and stress appears both weaker and more complex than first thought. To provide clarification of the debate, new studies should use more efficient and unified statistical protocols, large sample sizes and joint analysis of several related traits. In addition, fitness–FA associations should be tested at the individual level, in different populations and under different environmental conditions. To achieve these criteria, we describe a 9-year study in which we measured six antler traits of 3 000 Iberian red deer, Cervus elaphus hispanicus, from three study areas in southwest Spain. Males were harvested during hunting activities and measured, weighed and aged postmortem. We found evidence of correlations between traits in FA, an association between asymmetry and stress conditions and a weak but significant negative relationship between FA and fitness surrogates (body mass and antler size), thus supporting some assumptions of the FA hypothesis. As also predicted by theory, antler traits of less functional importance were more asymmetric and more sensitive to stress than those directly used in fighting behaviour. The relationship between age and antler asymmetry was U-shaped, suggesting an effect of sexual selection on antler development in favour of larger and more symmetrical antlers during prime age.
PB Elsevier
YR 2008
FD 2008-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/34466
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/34466
LA eng
NO Mateos, C., Alarcos, S., Carranza, J., Sánchez-Prieto, C.B. & Valencia, J. (2008). Fluctuating asymmetry of red deer antlers negatively relates to individual condition and proximity to prime age. Animal Behaviour, 75: 1629-1640
NO Financial support came from projects REN2001-1524, CGL2004-05993, PDT05A043 (FEDER/Junta de Extremadura), Junta de Extremadura (Consejería de Agricultura y Medio Ambiente) and Junta de Andalucía (Consejería de Medio Ambiente). Research of C.B.S.P. and S.A. was supported by predoctoral grants of the Autonomical Government of Extremadura (Consejería de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología). Research of J.V. was supported by Junta de Extremadura (contrato de reincorporación).
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 19 ene 2026