ANTLERS AND PARASITES

Development of ornamental characters exposed to directional selection may be particularly sensitive to the effect of parasitic infections. A ntlers are ornamental characters of importance in intraspecific intera ctions, and are in reindeer (Rangifer) developed by both males and fem ales. By antihelmintic treatment of naturally infected female reindeer we show that parasite intensities affect development of antler asymme try, but not antler length. These results suggest that asymmetry in an tlers may reflect parasite intensities and thus be of importance in in traspecific assessment of genetic resistance towards infectious organi sms.