Response of antler growth to changing rank of fallow deer buck during the velvet period

Abstract

We examined how strongly any change in rank of a male fallow deer (Dama dama) during antler growth affected the pattern of development of his antlers. Rank was determined from victories in fights with other bucks and summarized as "dominance success," recorded at specific, well-defined stages of antler growth. We tested whether the size attained by various parts of the antler is more closely related to dominance success of the buck during their development than to average success over the whole velvet period. To test this hypothesis, 10 fallow deer bucks aged 4 years were observed throughout the velvet period. After the velvet was shed, the antlers were measured. Most of the measured characteristics of the antlers reflected dominance success during the time that they were developing rather than the average rank over the whole period of antler growth. Thus, changes in behaviour related to rank modified antler growth. Bucks gaining higher rank through fighting more bucks exhibited enhanced growth of that part of the antler that was just developing. This changed if the buck lost his position.