Growth of Male White-Tailed Deer: Consequences of Maternal Effects

• DOI: 10.1644/08-mamm-a-191r1.1
• Publication Date: 2009-06-03T19:58:58Z
• Authors: Kevin L. Monteith; Lowell E. Schmitz; Jonathan A. Jenks; Joshua A. Delger; R. Terry Bowyer
• Keywords: Odocoileus; Antler; White (mutation)

Identifying maternal effects on offspring is critical to interpreting population dynamics, but the duration of and which life-history traits they influence not well understood. We quantified growth development male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) originating from Black Hills in southwestern South Dakota eastern a controlled environment with high-quality nutrition. Despite being good nutritional condition, males ceased rapid 41 days earlier, were 29% smaller at asymptotic body mass, grew significantly antlers than Dakota. Females 14.9 kg larger females Hills, yet birth mass was similar for 2 regions. Male 1st-generation attained 30% their sires. Body antler size 2nd-generation origin approached that maturity. Suppression increased by supported an grandmaternal condition during gestation subsequent highlighted significance nutrition gestation. These intergenerational indicate measures animal performance might reflect past rather current conditions, illustrate potential time lags responses populations improved environmental conditions.