The role of geological substrate for horn growth in ungulates: a case study on Alpine chamois

Chirichella, Roberta; Ciuti, Simone; Grignolio, Stefano; Rocca, Michele La; Apollonio, Marco

doi:10.1007/s10682-012-9583-1

Cited by 21 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…[56,58]). However, our findings are consistent with recent work on juvenile chamois showing that environmental conditions during the second year of life, which influence the ability of juveniles to acquire resources directly, have an important effect on investment in growth and energy storage [37,52]. Only in Brenta is there no evidence for density dependence in body mass (Figures 5 and 6).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…These differences may arise because calcareous vegetation, whilst being more nutrient-rich, varies more in quality in response to environmental variation than siliceous vegetation [74,77]. The variation in substrate in this study area has previously been shown to mediate differences in reproductive strategy, body mass [38] and horn length [37]; this study further highlights the importance of considering geological variation in studies of animal morphology, physiology and life history.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…The average altitude varies among the districts, though with considerable overlap (mean altitude ± SD: Adamello, 1,901 ± 616 m; Presanella, 2,098 ± 540 m; Brenta, 1,594 ± 603 m). Adamello and Presanella are characterised by nutrient-poor siliceous vegetation whilst Brenta is characterised by nutrientrich calcareous vegetation [37]. Typically, meadows in Adamello and Presanella are dominated by Festuca scabriculmis and Carex curvula, whilst those in Brenta are composed of Sesleria albicans and Carex firma.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal

et al. 2014

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Introduction: Climate and environmental change have driven widespread changes in body size, particularly declines, across a range of taxonomic groups in recent decades. Size declines could substantially impact on the functioning of ecosystems. To date, most studies suggest that temporal trends in size have resulted indirectly from climate change modifying resource availability and quality, affecting the ability of individuals to acquire resources and grow.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal

et al. 2014

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“…Furthermore, horn development may be affected by space-or time-dependent variations in environmental parameters such as precipitations (Chirichella et al, 2013), temperature (Giacometti et al, 2002) or food availability (Festa-Bianchet et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…calcareous vs. siliceous; cf. Chirichella et al (2013), who also called for an evaluation of potentially different patterns of compensatory growth across different environmental conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horn growth patterns in Alpine chamois

Corlatti

Gugiatti²,

Imperio

2015

Zoology

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Does selection on horn length of males and females differ in protected and hunted populations of a weakly dimorphic ungulate?

Corlatti

Storch

Filli

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Weaponry in ungulates may be costly to grow and maintain, and different selective pressures in males and females may lead to sex‐biased natural survival. Sexual differences in the relationship between weapon growth and survival may increase under anthropogenic selection through culling, for example because of trophy hunting. Selection on weaponry growth under different scenarios has been largely investigated in males of highly dimorphic ungulates, for which survival costs (either natural or hunting related) are thought to be greatest. Little is known, however, about the survival costs of weaponry in males and females of weakly dimorphic species. We collected information on horn length and age at death/shooting of 407 chamois Rupicapra rupicapra in a protected population and in two hunted populations with different hunting regimes, to explore sexual differences in the selection on early horn growth under contrasting selective pressures. We also investigated the variation of horn growth and body mass in yearling males (n = 688) and females (n = 539) culled in one of the hunted populations over 14 years. The relationship between horn growth and survival showed remarkable sexual differences under different evolutionary scenarios. Within the protected population, under natural selection, we found no significant trade‐off in either males or females. Under anthropogenic pressure, selection on early horn growth of culled individuals showed diametrically opposed sex‐biased patterns, depending on the culling regime and hunters’ preferences. Despite the selective bias between males and females in one of the hunted populations, we did not detect significant sex‐specific differences in the long‐term pattern of early growth. The relationship between early horn growth and natural survival in either sex might suggest stabilizing selection on horn size in chamois. Selection through culling can be strongly sex‐biased also in weakly dimorphic species, depending on hunters’ preferences and hunting regulations, and long‐term data are needed to reveal potential undesirable evolutionary consequences.

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The role of geological substrate for horn growth in ungulates: a case study on Alpine chamois

Cited by 21 publications

References 56 publications

Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal

Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal

Horn growth patterns in Alpine chamois

Does selection on horn length of males and females differ in protected and hunted populations of a weakly dimorphic ungulate?

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