Male Deer Research Articles

Perilaku Harian Rusa Timor (Rusa timorensis) di Stasiun Penelitian Bu’at Kecamatan Mollo Selatan, Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur

A study that aims to determine the daily behavior of the Timor deer (Rusa timorensis) at the Bu'at Research Station, South Mollo District, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province; and to find out the daily behavior comparison between Timor deer (Rusa timorensis) individuals based on sex and age (adult male, adult female, male child and female child) at the Bu'at Research Station, South Mollo District, South Central Timor Regency, Nusa Tenggara Province. East from October - December 2019. The method used is the scan sampling method and the object of research is one adult male individual, one adult female individual, one male juvenile individual, and one female juvenile individual. The results of the study were ingestive/eating behavior (38.23%); resting/resting behavior (28.54%); locomotion/walking behavior (29.27%), vocalization/voice behavior (1.46%), eliminative behavior/pooping (0.61%); social behavior (1.82%); sexual behavior (0%); and other behaviors (0.07%); and the comparison of daily behavior between individuals of Timor deer (Rusa timorensis) which were significantly different were adult male deer and juvenile female deer on locomotion (walking) behavior. While in ingestive behavior, resting behavior, vocalization behavior, eliminative behavior, social behavior, and sexual behavior there are no significant differences or can be considered the same

Dancing to a different tune: changing reproductive seasonality in an introduced chital deer population

Male and female reproductive behaviour is typically synchronised. In species such as those in the family Cervidae, reproductive timing is often cued by photoperiod, although in females, it can be dependent on body condition. When a species is introduced to a novel environment, the environment changes, or responses of the sexes to such cues differ, asynchronous reproductive behaviour between males and females may occur. We investigated the seasonality of reproductive behaviour in introduced chital deer in northern Queensland by examining male antler phase in relation to female conception rates. We then analysed the influence of different variables likely to affect the timing of male and female reproductive physiology. The lowest percentage of chital in hard antler in any 1 month in this study was 35% (Fig. 1), but the average value was closer to 50%, thus there was a seasonal peak in antler phase linked with photoperiod. Females conceived at any time of year, but were strongly influenced by the amount of rainfall 3 months prior to conception. This resulted in varying conception peaks year-to-year that often did not correspond to the male’s peak in hard antler. In this system, a proportion of males and females were physiologically and behaviourally ready to mate at any time of the year. We predict that differences in the timing of the peaks between the males and females will lead to increased reproductive skew (variation in reproductive success among individual males). This pattern may select for different mating strategies or physiological mechanisms to increase reproductive success.Fig. 1The average percentage of male chital deer in hard antler by month from 2014 to 2019 in north Queensland. Values above the bars indicate the total number of males that were sampled in each month and the error bars indicate the standard error. In the month with the lowest % males in hard antler in the entire study (November, 2017), 35% of males were in hard antler

The repetition of semen collection does not affect the physiological and biochemical response to electroejaculation of anesthetized adult and yearling pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) males

The aim of this study was to determine if multiple captures, general anesthesia and electroejaculation (EE) modify the heart rate (HR), pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), oxygen saturation, and the cortisol, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and creatine kinase (CK) responses to EE in adult and yearling pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) males. Individuals were captured, anesthetized and electroejaculated on four occasions, once per season, from June to the following March (first to fourth collection respectively). Rectal temperature, as well as cortisol, AP and CK serum concentrations were determined before and after electroejaculation (BEE and AEE). The HR (P < 0 0.0001), PR (P < 0.0001), RR (P < 0.001), CK (P < 0.001) and cortisol concentration (P = 0.003) increased AEE, while RT (P = 0.004) decreased AEE. Heart rate increased in the first and third collections (P < 0.01), RR increased in the fourth collection (P < 0.001), and the highest values of RT were observed in the third and fourth collections (P < 0.0001). We concluded that repeated handling to collect semen did not have a sustained negative effect on the response to EE, which supports repeated semen collection from the same individuals.

Effect of Methionine Supplementation on Serum Metabolism and the Rumen Bacterial Community of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon).

Simple SummaryDuring the antler-growing period, sika deer (Cervus nippon) need a large amount of protein from feed for rapid antler growth. Antlers are the most important economic product of sika deer. Methionine is the first or second limiting amino acid in the diets of sika deer, which greatly limits the effective utilization of protein in the feed, while methionine has biological functions such as antioxidant and immune function improvement. In this study, we evaluated for the first time the effect of methionine supplementation in the diet on antler-growing sika deer and tried to investigate the changes in rumen microorganisms and obtain better production efficiency through methionine regulation. The results showed that supplementation with appropriate methionine improved the antioxidant and immune function of the sika deer, while obtaining better antler weight.Methionine is the first or second limiting amino acid for ruminants, such as sika deer, and has a variety of biological functions such as antioxidant activity, immune response, and protein synthesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of methionine supplementation on antler growth, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation, and the bacterial community of sika deer during the antler-growing period. Twelve 4-year-old male sika deer were randomly assigned to three dietary groups supplemented with 0 g/day (n = 4, CON), 4.0 g/day (n = 4, LMet), and 6.0 g/day (n = 4, HMet) methionine. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found in the production performance between the three groups, but antler weight was higher in both the LMet and HMet groups than in the CON group. Methionine supplementation significantly increased the serum glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.05). The serum immunoglobulin G level was significantly higher in the HMet group than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). No significant effect was found on the apparent amino acid digestibility of the three groups, but cysteine and methionine digestibility were higher in the LMet group. The serum hydroxylysine level was significantly lower in the LMet and HMet groups, whereas the serum lysine level was significantly lower in the HMet group compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). The LMet group had the highest but a nonsignificant total volatile fatty acid content and significantly higher microbial protein content in the rumen than the CON group (p < 0.05). The phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were dominant in the rumen of the sika deer. The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) results showed a significant change in the bacterial composition of the three groups (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Prevotella and Rikenellaceae-RC9 was significantly higher in the LMet group compared with the CON group and CON and HMet groups, respectively. These results revealed that methionine supplementation improved the antioxidant activity and immune status, affecting amino acid metabolism and rumen microbial composition of the sika deer.

Bystander fallow deer engage in third-party behaviour based on similarities in contestant resource-holding potential

Competitive dyadic interactions frequently attract the attention of bystanders that follow and disrupt the ongoing contest. The motivation for bystanders to engage in such third-party behaviour is considered by several different theoretical approaches; one such model argues that bystanders intervene to prevent subordinates from gaining a winner effect, thereby becoming a threat to the individual's dominant status within the group. This study investigates the role of contestant morphology as a motivating factor in initiating third-party behaviour. We investigated whether two correlates of resource-holding potential, prerut body weight and antler weight, were associated with third-party behaviour in rutting male fallow deer, Dama dama . In addition, we examined whether a third factor, reproductive effort (weight loss during the rut) was associated with third-party behaviour. There was a positive relationship between antler weight and the number of times individual males experienced third-party behaviour during contests. This relationship was not evident for either prerut weight or weight loss. An analysis of third-party behaviour showed that as the difference in both prerut and antler weight between the competing males declined, there was an increase in the probability that the dyad would experience third-party behaviour. However, there was no such association between the difference in weight loss between contestants and third-party behaviour. Thus, dyads of males closely matched in terms of individual quality were likely to experience third-party behaviour. We show for the first time that morphological traits associated with resource-holding potential are important cues used by rivals as a basis for engaging in third-party behaviour. • Dyadic fights are often disrupted by third-party group members. • Larger weapons were associated with experiencing more third-party behaviour. • Dyads similar in body and antler weight experienced more third-party behaviour. • Bystander males gather information about fighting rivals' size and quality. • This information is used to inform decisions to engage in third-party behaviour.

Daily Behavior of the Timor Deer (Cervus timorensis) at The Tahura of Wan Abdul Rachman Lampung of Tahura in Year 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia may affect changes in the daily behavior of the Timor deer in the Deer Captivity at the Grand Forest Park, Wan Abdul Rachman. The purpose of this study was to determine the daily behavior of the Timor deer (Cervus timorensis) during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Wan Abdul Rachman (WAR) Forest Park Deer Captivity (Tahura). The objects used are 4 male and female Timor deer. This study uses the Scan Sampling method with an interval of 10 minutes and starts from 08.00 - 17.00 WIB. Based on observations of the behavior of the Timor deer in captivity of the Tahura WAR Deer, it can be concluded that the most common behaviors are resting behavior (54.42%), eating behavior (34.95%), shifting behavior (6.37%), other behavior (2 ,6%), sleeping behavior (1,28%), self-playing behavior (0.79%) and social behavior (0.37%). During the COVID-19 pandemic (in 2021) there was an increase in the percentage of resting behavior (54.42%), sleeping (1.28%), social (0.37%), playing alone (0.79%) and others ( 2.6%) compared to the results of research before the covid-19 pandemic (in 2018) namely resting behavior (33.1%), sleeping (0.05%), social (0.26%), playing alone (0.6%) 1%) and others (2.45%). Meanwhile, the results of observations of the daily behavior of the Timor deer at the Tahura WAR Deer Captivity during the covid-19 pandemic (in 2021) showed a decrease in the percentage of eating behavior (34.95%) and moving (6.37%) compared to before the covid-19 pandemic (year). 2018) with the value of eating behavior (54.05%) and shifting behavior (9.99%). The difference in daily behavior shown to Timor deer in captivity is due to a decrease in the number of visitors due to the pandemic.

Velvet Antler Production and Hematological Changes in Male Sika Deers Fed with Spent Mushroom Substrate.

Simple SummaryVelvet antler from sika (and other deer species) is a highly valued nutraceutical in traditional Chinese medicine, a market of hundreds of million dollars. Thus, in this case, and in deer breeding in general, reducing the feeding cost of male sika deer is important to improving the profitability of breeding for velvet antlers. Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a waste culture medium for mushrooms. The improper handling of SMS causes environmental pollution. Since SMS can be digested and absorbed by ruminants such as sika deer, replacing SMS with a sika deer concentrate supplement can fully utilize the waste resource of SMS and reduce the production cost of velvet antler.At present, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a waste resource that is producing a pollution problem in China, and which has some use as animal feed or fertilizer, has not been assessed as a feed for deer. The purpose of this study is to expand the feed of male sika deer and reduce the feeding cost by using the waste resource of SMS. The 10% concentrated supplement was replaced with SMS and the feed intake, apparent digestibility, blood index and velvet production of male sika deer were measured. As the results showed, compared to the control group, the substitution of SMS for 10% of the concentrate supplement decreased the concentration of IgA (p < 0.01), replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP) reduced the intake of organic matter (OMI) and improved the digestibility of ether extract (EE), while replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Flammulina velutipes (SMS-MF) had no effect on apparent nutrient digestibility, feed intake, velvet antler production, and biochemical indexes. In conclusion, SMS had no effect on serum biochemical indexes and the ratio of the feed weight of the deer supplement to the weight of velvet antler (p > 0.05). At the same time, SMS could reduce the feed consumption and improve the economy by using SMS as a waste resource.

A Preliminary Investigation of Myostatin Gene (MSTN) Variation in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Its Implications for Venison Production in New Zealand.

Simple SummaryMyostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Despite variation in the myostatin gene having been reported in livestock species, little work has been undertaken in red deer (Cervus elaphus). This study describes the presence of two nucleotide sequences of the myostatin gene in New Zealand red deer, but no association was found between this variation and selected muscle and growth traits.Myostatin (MSTN), also known as growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF-8), is a negative regulator of lean muscle tissue growth. Variation in the gene has been studied in many domesticated species, because of its potential to dramatically increase muscle mass. It has, however, not been investigated in red deer (Cervus elaphus). In this study, variation in MSTN intron 1 was investigated in 211 male New Zealand red deer, for which phenotypic measurements of M. Longissimus dorsi (eye muscle) (width, depth, and area, together with 12-month weight) were recorded. Two sequence variants (named A and B) differing by one nucleotide (c.373 + 224) were identified in the intron 1 region of the gene resulting in three genotypes (AA, AB, and BB; frequencies of 63.5%, 30.8%, and 5.7%, respectively), but no association between this variation and any of the quantitative measurements was detected. These results suggest that the deer MSTN is less variable than for other livestock species and that its activity may be controlled to maintain a size–growth equilibrium.

Colonization of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Urban and Suburban Environments with Cephalosporinase- and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales.

Wildlife play a role in the acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This is especially true at the human-domestic animal-wildlife interface, like urbanized areas, where interactions occur that can promote the cross-over of AMR bacteria and genes. We conducted a 2-year fecal surveillance (n = 783) of a white-tailed deer (WTD) herd from an urban park system in Ohio to identify and characterize cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenemase-producing bacteria using selective enrichment. Using generalized linear mixed models we found that older (OR = 2.3, P < 0.001), male (OR = 1.8, P = 0.001) deer from urbanized habitats (OR = 1.4, P = 0.001) were more likely to harbor extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales. In addition, we isolated two carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), a Klebsiella quasipneumoniae harboring blaKPC-2 and an Escherichia coli harboring blaNDM-5, from two deer from urban habitats. The genetic landscape of the plasmid carrying blaKPC-2 was unique, not clustering with other reported plasmids encoding KPC-2, and only sharing 78% of its sequence with its nearest match. While the plasmid carrying blaNDM-5 shared sequence similarity with other reported plasmids encoding NDM-5, the intact IS26 mobile genetic elements surrounding multiple drug resistant regions, including the blaNDM-5, has been reported infrequently. Both carbapenemase genes were successfully conjugated to a J53 recipient conferring a carbapenem-resistant phenotype. Our findings highlight that urban environments play a significant role on the transmission of AMR bacteria and genes to wildlife and suggest WTD may play a role in the dissemination of clinically and epidemiologically relevant antimicrobial resistant bacteria. IMPORTANCE The role of wildlife in the spread of antimicrobial resistance is not fully characterized. Some wildlife, including white-tailed deer (WTD), can thrive in suburban and urban environments. This may result in the exchange of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and resistance genes between humans and wildlife, and lead to their spread in the environment. We found that WTD living in an urban park system carried antimicrobial resistant bacteria that were important to human health and resistant to antibiotics used to treat serious bacterial infections. This included two deer that carried bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics which are critically important for treatment of life-threatening infections. These two bacteria had the ability to transfer their AMR resistance genes to other bacteria, making them a threat to public health. Our results suggest that WTD may contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the environment.

Cellular prion protein distribution in the vomeronasal organ, parotid, and scent glands of white-tailed deer and mule deer

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious and fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting species of the cervidae family. CWD has an expanding geographic range and complex, poorly understood transmission mechanics. CWD is disproportionately prevalent in wild male mule deer and male white-tailed deer. Sex and species influences on CWD prevalence have been hypothesized to be related to animal behaviours that involve deer facial and body exocrine glands. Understanding CWD transmission potential requires a foundational knowledge of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in glands associated with cervid behaviours. In this study, we characterized the presence and distribution of PrPC in six integumentary and two non-integumentary tissues of hunter-harvested mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (O. virginianus). We report that white-tailed deer expressed significantly more PrPC than their mule deer in the parotid, metatarsal, and interdigital glands. Females expressed more PrPC than males in the forehead and preorbital glands. The distribution of PrPC within the integumentary exocrine glands of the face and legs were localized to glandular cells, hair follicles, epidermis, and immune cell infiltrates. All tissues examined expressed sufficient quantities of PrPC to serve as possible sites of prion initial infection, propagation, and shedding.

Distribution, prevalence, and intensity of Sarcocystis infections in sika deer (Cervus nippon) of free-ranging populations in Germany and Austria.

Sika deer (Cervus nippon), which are native to the Japanese islands and the adjacent mainland of eastern Asia, have been introduced into Europe and established free-ranging populations in several countries. Various Sarcocystis species have been identified recently from farmed "mainland sika" deer in Lithuania and native "Japanese sika" deer in Japan. To study the distribution, prevalence and intensity of Sarcocystis infection in free-ranging sika deer outside of their natural range heart and/or diaphragm samples of 311 animals from nine populations in Germany and Austria were examined by histology.Overall, sarcocysts were detected in either heart or diaphragm of 107/311 deer (34.4%) with prevalence ranging roughly from 5 to 50% among the populations. Considering the 263 animals with both heart and diaphragm available, prevalence varied significantly (p < 0.0001) among calves (20.2%), yearlings (40.3%), and adult deer (49.1%) but did not differ between male and female deer (48.3% vs. 43.7%; p = 0.6483). Occurrence of sarcocysts in heart vs. diaphragm indicated a marginal difference (27.8% vs. 20.9%; p = 0.0839). Intensity of infection in all but one heart positive and all diaphragm positive animals was low (< 10 sarcocysts per square centimeter muscle cut). While heart sarcocyst counts of yearlings and adult deer were higher than those of calves and were higher in male compared to female sika deer, diaphragm sarcocyst counts did not differ significantly between age groups and sexes. Sarcocystis infection was demonstrated at variable prevalence in sika deer in all populations but intensity is apparently low. Further studies are needed to identify the species of Sarcocystis infecting sika deer naturalized outside their natural range.

Characterization of volatile compounds of cooked wild Iberian red deer meat extracted with solid phase microextraction and analysed by capillary gas chromatography - mass spectrometry

Wild Iberian red deer meat demand and interest are increasing and, therefore, an in-depth characterization of meat quality is needed to meet consumer demands. The objective of the present work was to assess, for the first time, the volatile profile of cooked wild sport-hunted Iberian red deer meat. Twenty-three loin samples from male red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) were cooked and the volatile profile was analysed using solid phase microextraction, followed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fifty-five volatile compounds were found. The major ones in number and relative abundance were aldehydes (84%), followed by alcohols (11%), hydrocarbons (2.4%), ketones (1.7%), furans (0.34%) and sulphur compounds (0.18%). Hexadecanal was the major compound and other long-chain compounds such as (E)-2-tetradecen-1-ol or 2-pentadecanone were also reported in considerable abundance. Several compounds related to grass-based diets were identified (2,3-octanedione, hexadecane or 1-pentadecanol). Odour impact ratio of volatile compounds was calculated and dimethyl trisulphide, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, decanal and dodecanal were the most odorant compounds affecting the flavour of the cooked deer meat.

Status Nutrisi Mineral Rusa Totol (Axis axis) di Lingkungan Istana Kepresidenan Bogor

The study aimed to determine the effect of mineral status (Ca, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Pb) in soil, grass, and hair of spotted deer in the Bogor Presidential Palace. Fifteen male deer were randomly selected with an age of ± 2.5‒6 years. Soil was collected from ten points representing land, and grass samples were obtained by sampling from several points of the grazing area. Mineral content in soil, grass, and deer hair were analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the level of Ca (0.03%) and P (0.016%) in the soil are deficient, Mn (1960 ppm), Zn (33.89 ppm), and Cu (77.23 ppm) are considered in the normal range, and Fe and Pb elements are high. Mineral levels of Ca, P, Cu, and Zn in grasses do not meet the daily requirements, whilst high levels of Fe and Mn minerals exceed the requirements for the spotted deer. The Pb content in grass is 0.94 ppm, which is within the normal limit. The levels of Ca (0.02%), Fe (308.11 ppm). and Mn (6.18 ppm) minerals in deer hair are high, however, zinc (44.68 ppm) and Cu (3.08 ppm) levels are low. High Pb level (14.38 ppm) is due to the long-term impact of Pb accumulation.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Bogor Palace, mineral status, Axis axis

Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Bone Marrow in Farmed Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Depending on Diet.

Simple SummaryThe bone marrow is regarded as an indicator of the health status in ungulates, because it is not only a source of fat but also it contains minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids. These substances affect the functioning of the organism, especially in unfavorable conditions such as winter. However, the relevant concentrations of fatty acids for healthy deer bone marrow are not known; their contents can be modified by various nutrition, although for ruminants there are some limitations. Unfortunately, studies on the composition of bone marrow fatty acids or their changes are scarce, especially in relation to the youngest deer. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the fatty acid composition of the bone marrow of farmed fallow deer fawns after the pasture period and the winter feeding. The results obtained in the study indicate that, notwithstanding inclement weather conditions in winter, providing the animals with appropriate housing conditions on the farm as well as their optimal feeding resulted in better condition and nutritional status of the animals, which is indicated by a more favourable composition and profile of fatty acids in bone marrow, compared to the optimal summer grazing period for ruminants.There are few studies on the composition of fatty acids and how they change the bone marrow fat of young animals depending on nutrition. Therefore, the proximate and fatty acid composition of metatarsal bone marrow from fawns of farm fallow deer after a summer of grazing and the winter feeding was compared. Due to the size and nature of the data, parametric or nonparametric tests were used. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatographic analysis. After the winter feeding, bone marrow contained more fat (83.11% vs. 75.09%, p < 0.05) and less fat free dry matter (5.61% vs. 13.76%, p < 0.05) compared to the pasture period. Moreover, there was a significantly higher amount of saturated fatty acids (23.34% vs. 21.60%, p < 0.001), more trans fatty acids (2.99% vs. 2.34%, p < 0.005), and conjugated linoleic acid isomers (1.04% vs. 0.83%, p < 0.01), compared to post winter feeding, which in turn contained significantly more total cis-monounsaturated fatty acids (54.65% vs. 58.90%, p < 0.001). The percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (including n-3 and n-6) was not affected by feeding season. In conclusion, it was shown that young male farm fallow deer were better nourished after the winter period, during which they were kept in properly prepared rooms and fed fodder prepared by people.

Himalayan musk deer (Moshcus leucogaster) behavior at latrine sites and their implications in conservation.

Elusive species often use latrines which also serves as communication and information hubs. Thus, studying behavior at latrines may provide critical insights into the species’ ecology and behavior. While it is established that musk deer use latrines for defecating, very little is known about the endangered Himalayan musk deer (Moschus leucogaster) and their latrines. We examined musk deer behavior from the various video clips lasting 238 min altogether, captured at latrine sites during both breeding and non‐breeding seasons in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. A total of 428 visits by musk deer and 479 behavioral events by them were captured. We constructed an ethogram to describe musk deer behavior and compared behavior across individuals and sex using parametric and non‐parametric tests. We found that musk deer are crepuscular and nocturnal animals. Both male and female musk deer repeatedly and independently visited shared latrine sites as well as exclusively used latrine sites. The proportion of male musk deer visited latrine sites were significantly higher than that of female musk deer. Hence, male musk deer were found more active (>2 times) than females during both seasons. The most frequently observed behavioral activities at the latrine sites were defecating, sniffing and browsing, followed by scrapping and covering, and ignoring the latrine sites. The defecating and sniffing activity were performed throughout breeding and non‐breeding seasons to establish communication among peers and to claim territory. Based on the behaviors observed at the latrine sites, we can presume that Himalayan musk deer likely use latrines to convey various messages, including personality, maturity, sexual status, and territory marking among conspecifics. These findings of this study can be used for the conservation of musk deer in its natural habitat and replicated in captivity to enhance breeding performance that improves long‐term conservation prospects for this species.

High expression of canines in some Mediterranean roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations against the general evolutionary trend

Upper canines do not usually appear in the roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and their occasional appearance represents the expression of a tooth, as a rudimentary canine, which has been suppressed in the evolution of the group. These dental anomalies could be potentially useful for tracing ancestral genes in local ecotypes and populations. We studied the skulls of 517 adult roe deer males from seven Iberian Peninsula hunting populations looking for canine occurrence and the variations depending on region and ecomorphological variety. A total of 18 specimens had canines (3.48%), but a relationship was detected between the geographic origin and the canine presence. We found upper canines in three populations that were located in the Tagus River Basin, with 6.08%, 10.91%, and 20% prevalences, respectively. In the population with the highest prevalence, we also found a case of duplicated canines on either side of the upper jaw. Here, the high prevalence of upper canines against the evolutionary trend may be a sign of atavistic populations, possibly adapted to a less fibrous diet, in a geographical area connected through the Tagus River Basin, and probably regarding one of the glacial refuges of the Iberian Peninsula.

Effect of dietary fiber on fecal androgens levels: An experimental analysis in brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

Non-invasive endocrinology is an important tool for animal conservation, but its success depends on many factors (e.g. adequate hormonal extraction, diet, antibody used in the assay). Dietary fiber is one of the main sources that can lead to erroneous interpretation of the endocrine status provided by EIA analysis. This study aimed to evaluate the dietary fiber effect on the fecal androgen metabolites (FAM) detection, on the daily defecation rate and fecal production, as well as to analyze the gastrointestinal passage and retention time of the experimental diets. Eight brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) males were randomly assigned to two groups and submitted to both isocaloric and isoproteic experimental diets for 10 days, in a crossover system: low fiber percentage feed (LF, 7% fiber) and high fiber percentage feed (HF, 19% fiber). Such groups were alternated in the middle of this period, with an interval of 10 days between them. In addition, there was a five-day adaptation phase at the beginning of each diet. Fecal collection for FAM measurement was performed during 10 days of treatment, whereas,the defecation rate and fecal production were performed every two hours, for 6 days. The mean FAM level in the HF group was 5038.0 ± 1529.1 ng/g, while for LF, 2178.7 ± 824.9 ng/g (p < 0.05). The mean HF fecal production was 182.6 ± 36.2 g DM/day and 117.5 ± 12.6 g DM/day for LF (p < 0.05). There were no differences in terms of mean defecation rate, passage, and retention times between groups. The results suggest that dietary fiber affects the FAM detection, and this should be taken into consideration before conducting experiments using fecal samples as a source of reproductive hormones profiling.

New fossils of the early Miocene stem-cervid Acteocemas (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia) from the Iberian Peninsula shed light on the evolutionary origin of deer antler regeneration

ABSTRACT Acteocemas, a very poorly documented early Miocene stem-cervid, is one of the first ruminants bearing antler-like appendages, which has provided a ground for discussion on the origin of antlers. We describe a new and very complete appendage from the site of Sant Andreu de la Barca (Spain) together with some other unpublished specimens from the nearby Costablanca attributed to Acteocemas aff. infans, compare with fossils from elsewhere in Europe (including the A. infans holotype), and perform micro-CT scans. The findings provide new empirical data that Acteocemas protoantlers were able to be cast and re-grown. However, microstructural analyses suggest that the protoantler lifespan could be longer than that of modern antlers, preventing it from assuming a similar cycle. Results support that increased seasonality associated with a drop in global temperatures played a role in the origin of antler regeneration, and that deciduousness (through bone shedding) was an efficient way for (male)deer to reduce the seasonal leftover of bone mass. The early evolution of deciduousness, as in the probable irregular protoanter cycle of Acteocemas, was limited by the warming ca. 17–15 Ma, whereas the emergence of antlers with coronet was concomitant with the second increase in seasonality associated to the cooling ca. 15–13 Ma.

Genomic architecture of phenotypic extremes in a wild cervid

Identifying the genes underlying fitness-related traits such as body size and male ornamentation can provide tools for conservation and management and are often subject to various selective pressures. Here we performed high-depth whole genome re-sequencing of pools of individuals representing the phenotypic extremes for antler and body size in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Samples were selected from a tissue repository containing phenotypic data for 4,466 male white-tailed deer from Anticosti Island, Quebec, with four pools representing the extreme phenotypes for antler and body size after controlling for age. Our results revealed a largely homogenous population but detected highly divergent windows between pools for both traits, with the mean allele frequency difference of 14% for and 13% for antler and body SNPs in outlier windows, respectively. Genes in outlier antler windows were enriched for pathways associated with cell death and protein metabolism and some of the most differentiated windows included genes associated with oncogenic pathways and reproduction, processes consistent with antler evolution and growth. Genes associated with body size were more nuanced, suggestive of a highly complex trait. Overall, this study revealed the complex genomic make-up of both antler morphology and body size in free-ranging white-tailed deer and identified target loci for additional analyses.

Limited resources shape home range patterns of an insular ungulate in a semi-arid ecosystem

Understanding patterns of home range size and selection are critical to protect vulnerable wild populations, particularly in semi-arid regions with increasing land use pressures. Using movement data from 64 GPS-collared southern mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus fulinginatus), monitored over two years in San Diego County, we assessed patterns and drivers of home range following a two-step approach. First, we implemented seasonal home range selection functions to examine variation in selection and avoidance of environmental factors. We then used these results to evaluate the relative impact of environmental factors in combination with intrinsic factors on home range size. We found that deer use of high-quality forage and water sources varied seasonally. These variations in resource use, along with sex and age, played a role in determining home range size of the southern mule deer. Home range size was larger for male deer, and smaller among older females. Home ranges for both sexes were smaller when forage quality increased and larger with greater variability in water proximity. The limited resources of semi-arid environments, like water and forage, affect southern mule deer populations and highlight the importance of evaluating combined intrinsic and extrinsic factors of home range size and composition to inform management practices.