ALLOZYMES AND THE GENETICS OF ANTLER DEVELOPMENT IN RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS)

In order to examine a previously hypothesized influence of selective h unting on allele frequency changes at some regularly polymorphic alloz yme loci in red deer (Cervus elaphus), antler characters, serving as c riteria for culling, were examined in relation to electrophoretic vari ation in two free-ranging populations of the Vosges, Eastern France, a nd an enclosure in Central France. When homozygous for the allele Idh- 2(125), stags greater than or equal to 2 years old had a significantly higher number of antler points (NAP). When homozygous for the allele Acp-2(100), slags older than 5 years had antlers that were significant ly larger for a number of traits (NAP, main beam length and circumfere nce, coronet circumference, brow tine length). Among younger stags, al l antler traits in Acp-2(100) homozygotes were significantly smaller t han in carriers of the alternative allele, Acp-2(85). Our data suggest the presence of at least two independent genetic components (one asso ciated with early development of a high NAP, the other with generally large antler size in adults), affecting antler expression in red deer. Those genetic components, possibly major genes which are chromosomall y linked with the allozyme loci studied, compensate or reinforce each other in their phenotypic effects. By playing a role in balancing bene fits and costs of male reproductive success, they may be part of a gen etic mechanism enabling the rapid adaptation of a population to variou s environmental and demographic conditions. The three populations stud ied originate from one another, and, based on an assessment of effecti ve population sizes, it could be demonstrated that selective hunting f or antler shape has changed allelic frequencies at the associated mark er loci within a few generations.