Relationship between dominance and antler cycle in white-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianus

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that there is a negative correlation between rank and order of casting antlers in white-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780) and that dominant individuals will start antler regrowth and velvet shedding earlier than subordinates. We assessed dominance relationship among 14 bucks (1.5 to 7.5 years-of-age) confined in a 0.6 ha enclosure and related hierarchal position to timing of antler casting, initiation of antler regrowth, and initiation of velvet shedding. During 66 observation sessions we recorded 2833 agonistic interactions. Bucks developed an unstable hierarchy with relatively frequent changes in rank, particularly in the upper half of the hierarchy. Antler casting dates were positively correlated with age and wins and losses of agonistic encounters; correlations with body mass approached significance. When age was eliminated as a confounding factor by partial correlation, no significant relationship between antler casting date and other characteristics occurred, except losses. When body mass was eliminated by partial correlation, the relationship between casting date and losses was more pronounced. Timing of antler regrowth was negatively correlated with age, body mass, rank and wins, while positively correlated with losses. The start of velvet shedding was negatively correlated with rank position. Our results are in apparent contrast with previous studies. However, our experimental group contained more individuals in a confined area than is typical for the species. Whitetails may be more susceptible to social stress in captivity than more gregarious species such as red deer, resulting in variable responses to rank position.