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Related Experiment Video

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Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

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Density dependence of developmental instability in a dimorphic ungulate.

Emmanuel Serrano¹, Jean-Marc Angibault, Bruno Cargnelutti

¹CEFS-INRA, Chemin de Borde Rouge-Auzeville, BP 27, Castanet-Tolosan Cedex 31326, France. emmanu@ozu.es

Biology Letters

|June 19, 2008

Summary

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in fallow deer jaw morphology indicates environmental stress from high population density. This biomonitoring tool shows density dependence, with males exhibiting greater FA changes than females.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Developmental Biology
Biomonitoring

Background:

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a potential indicator of environmental stress, but its response to specific stressors requires further investigation.
Understanding FA in relation to population density is crucial for effective biomonitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the density dependence of fluctuating asymmetry in juvenile fallow deer jaw morphology.
To assess the utility of FA in biomonitoring population-level environmental stress.

Main Methods:

Manipulating population density in an enclosed fallow deer (Dama dama) population.
Measuring fluctuating asymmetry in juvenile jaw morphology across different density conditions.

Main Results:

Demonstrated clear density dependence in the FA of juvenile jaw morphology for both male and female fallow deer.
Observed a stronger impact of high population density on FA in males (43.6% change) compared to females (28.5% change).
Found that the ability to buffer density-dependent stress was independent of individual body condition.

Conclusions:

Fluctuating asymmetry in juvenile jaw morphology is a reliable indicator of environmental stress caused by high population density in fallow deer.
High population density can impair the buffering capacity of developmental processes, affecting entire cohorts regardless of individual quality.
FA shows promise for indexing environmental stress in wildlife populations, with potential sex-specific responses.