Scaling of antler size in reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus</i>): sexual dimorphism and variability in resource allocation

Melnycky, Natalka A.; Weladji, Robert B.; Holand, Øystein; Nieminen, Mauri

doi:10.1644/12-mamm-a-282.1

Cited by 24 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Our results indicated that males had significantly larger bone elements than females. This can be explained in particular by a strong sexual dimorphism in reindeer (Klein 1970 ; Reimers et al 1983 ; Weinstock 2000 ; Puputti and Niskanen 2009 ; Melnycky et al 2013 ). This difference was also significant within both subspecies, where male R.t. fennicus were the largest, female R.t. tarandus were the smallest and finally male R.t. tarandus were slightly larger than female R.t. fennicus .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia

Pelletier

Kotiaho

Niinimäki

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Reindeer herding probably developed during the Late Iron Age onwards and is still an important part of the subsistence and culture of many peoples in northern Eurasia. However, despite the importance of this husbandry in the history of these Arctic people, the period and place of the origin as well as the spread of domestic reindeer is still highly debated. Besides the existence of different breeding methods in these territories, identifying domesticated individuals in the archaeological record is complicated because reindeers are considered to still be in the early phases of the domestication process. Indeed, the traditional morphological markers used in zooarchaeology to decipher the domestication syndrome are hardly perceptible in these early stages. In this work, we propose solutions for identifying domestic reindeer bones using 3D geometric morphometrics on isolated elements from the long bones of the forelimb (i.e. humerus, radio-ulna and metacarpal). These bones are important to understand both the feeding behaviour and the mobility of reindeer, and the potential effect of load-carrying or draught in the case of domestic reindeer. We analysed 123 modern specimens from Fennoscandia, including the two interbreeding subspecies currently present in these territories: mountain reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ) and forest reindeer ( R.t. fennicus ); and where the sex and the lifestyle were known (i.e. free-ranging, racing or draught and captive individuals). A good level of discrimination between the size and shape variables of the bones of the forelimb was found among both subspecies and sexes. Moreover, individuals bred in captivity had smaller bone elements and a thinner and more slender morphology than free-ranging individuals. This demonstrates that the long bones of the forelimb can provide information on changes in feeding and locomotor behaviour prompted by the domestication process, like control and/or reduction of mobility and food of individual reindeer by humans. This also demonstrates that analysis in 3D geometric morphometrics is useful in detecting reindeer incipient domestication markers. Our results can be used by archaeologists to trace the early stages of domestication from fossil reindeer remains, and aid in reconstructing the socio-economic changes of past Arctic populations over time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia

Pelletier

Kotiaho

Niinimäki

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…Females may also be responsible for this disturbance. Given that adult females are almost as big as young males (Melnycky et al 2013), they are more likely to resist herding behaviours when performed by young males rather than by adult males. Regular chases of young males by female reindeer have, indeed, been reported (Kojola and Nieminen 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging competition in larger groups overrides harassment avoidance benefits in female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Uccheddu¹,

Body²,

Weladji³

et al. 2015

Oecologia

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Male harassment toward females during the breeding season may have a negative effect on their reproductive success by disturbing their foraging activity, thereby inducing somatic costs. Accordingly, it is predicted that females will choose mates based on their ability to provide protection or will aggregate into large groups to dilute per capita harassment level. Conversely, increasing group size may also lead to a decrease in foraging activity by increasing foraging competition, but this effect has rarely been considered in mating tactic studies. This study examined the importance of two non-exclusive hypotheses in explaining the variations of the female activity budget during the breeding season: the male harassment hypothesis, and the female foraging competition hypothesis. We used focal observations of female activity from known mating groups collected during the breeding season from a long-term (15 years) study on reindeer Rangifer tarandus. We found that females were more disturbed (i.e., spent less time feeding) in the presence of young dominant males, and marginally disturbed in the presence of satellite males, which supports the male harassment hypothesis. We also found that female disturbance level increased with group size, being independent of the adult sex ratio. Consequently, these results rejected the dilution effect, but strongly supported the foraging competition hypothesis. This study therefore highlights a potential conflict in female behaviour. Indeed, any gains from harassment protection were negated by an increase of 6-7 females, since adult males lead larger groups than young males.

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“…Luxurious and decorative structures are usually regarded as weapons or ornaments and are vital features in sexual selection, including feathers, antlers, pebbles, horns, jaws, etc ( Uy and Borgia, 2000 ; Melnycky et al., 2013 ; Emlen, 2008 ; Emlen et al., 2007 ; McCullough et al., 2014 ). Female mate choice and male-male competition further complicate and beautify male specialized characters ( Johnson et al., 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cretaceous bug with exaggerated antennae might be a double-edged sword in evolution

Chen

Tao

et al. 2021

iScience

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Sexual selection can favor production of exaggerated features, but the high cost of such features in terms of energy consumption and enemy avoidance makes them go to extinction under the influence of natural selection. However, fossils preserved with specialized features are very rare. Here, we report a new nymph from Burmese amber, Magnusantena wuae Du & Chen gen. et sp. nov., which has exaggerated leaf-like expanded antennae. Such bizarre antennae indicate that sensitive and delicate sensory system and magnificent appearance in Hemiptera have been already established in mid-Cretaceous. Our findings may provide evidence for Darwin's view that sensory organs play an important role in sexual selection. This nymph with the leaf-like antennae may also represents a new camouflage pattern. However, the oversized antennae are costly to develop and maintain, increasing the risks from predators. Such unparalleled expanded antennae might be the key factor for the evolutionary fate of the coreid.

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Scaling of antler size in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): sexual dimorphism and variability in resource allocation

Cited by 24 publications

References 64 publications

Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia

Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia

Foraging competition in larger groups overrides harassment avoidance benefits in female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

A Cretaceous bug with exaggerated antennae might be a double-edged sword in evolution

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