- Split View
-
Views
-
CiteCitation
Bruce L. Smith; Antler Size and Winter Mortality of Elk: Effects of Environment, Birth Year, and Parasites, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 79, Issue 3, 21 August 1998, Pages 1038–1044, https://doi.org/10.2307/1383113
Download citation file:
© 2018 Oxford University Press
Close -
Share
Abstract
Correlates with antler size of 215 male elk (Cervus elaphus) that died during 5 winters on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, were investigated. The elk were 1.5-14.5 (X̄ = 6.5, SE = 0.19) years old. Males with clinical infestations of scab mites (Psoroptes) had antlers with more points, greater beam circumference, and greater mass than males not afflicted with mites. Development of antlers and infestation with scabies were correlated positively with age. Controlling for age, antler size was correlated with March and April temperatures during the year that they grew (nutritional effect) and weather conditions while the males were in utero. Population size, adult sex ratio, and supplemental winter feeding of elk at the National Elk Refuge exhibited no apparent influences on antler size.
