Dissertation

[AntlerHunter]

Hi all,

I study wildlife biology at Manchester metropolitan university. Currently starting my dissertation on antler development. More specifically how element levels vary from soil to vegetation to the antlers. Wondering if anyone knew of any papers or articles that may be useful for figuring out which elements would be the most interesting to research (obviously calcium). I seem to remember reading an article on red deer antlers last summer published by the BASC society in their monthly or biweekly magazine. Was a great article but I've since lost the magazine and can't track it down. Any help would be great.
Thanks

Harry

 

[Dickie]

See if you can get some old Deer mags that the BDS do loads in them over the years

 

[JockStalk]

This may be a bit left field, but would any of the research into assimilation of heavy metals into hair be relevant?

 

[old man]

Try a PM to morena?

 

[Cootmeurer]

Granted the work is on white tails - but in the US I would look up Mississippi State University (H. Jacobson, et al) and Texas A&M (not sure who their lead PI is). Both Universities have large captive herds and have done extensive work on antler development (genetics, age structured, nutrition, etc....)

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Contact form The BDS may also have funds available for research. Regards JCS

 

[Dama]

Dietary protein, calcium, phosphorous, vitamins A and D are all critical for antler development. For a university dissertation you will need something better than the BASC magazine!

This was the proceedings of from one an early conference on antler development.

https://www.amazon.com/Antler-development-Cervidae-proceedings-international/dp/0912229047

There is a lot off research on minerals for antler development in both the North American Whitetail trophy industry and from the NZ velvet production.

https://www.qdma.com/minerals-for-whitetails/

Good luck....

 

[Tamar]

Fill yer boots: You'll need to consider the interacting influence of non-mineral factors as well

Grasman, B. T., & Hellgren, E. C. (1993). Phosophorus Nutrition in White‐Tailed Deer: Nutrient Balance, Physiological Responses, and Antler Growth. Ecology, 74(8), 2279-2296.
Pathak, N. N., Pattanaik, A. K., Patra, R. C., & Arora, B. M. (2001). Mineral composition of antlers of three deer species reared in captivity. Small Ruminant Research, 42(1), 61-65.

French, C. E., McEwen, L. C., Magruder, N. D., Ingram, R. H., & Swift, R. W. (1956). Nutrient requirements for growth and antler development in the white-tailed deer. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 20(3), 221-232.
Landete-Castillejos, T., Garcia, A., & Gallego, L. (2007). Body weight, early growth and antler size influence antler bone mineral composition of Iberian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus). Bone, 40(1), 230-235.
Suttie, J. M., Lincoln, G. A., & Kay, R. N. B. (1984). Endocrine control of antler growth in red deer stags. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 71(1), 7-15.
Suttie, J. M., Fennessy, P. F., Lapwood, K. R., & Corson, I. D. (1995). Role of steroids in antler growth of red deer stags. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 271(2), 120-130.
Suttie, J. M., Fennessy, P. F., Corson, I. D., Laas, F. J., Crosbie, S. F., Butler, J. H., & Gluckman, P. D. (1989). Pulsatile growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors and antler development in red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus) stags. Journal of Endocrinology, 121(2), 351-360.
Kruuk, L. E., Slate, J., Pemberton, J. M., Brotherstone, S., Guinness, F., & Clutton-Brock, T. (2002). Antler size in red deer: heritability and selection but no evolution. Evolution, 56(8), 1683-1695.
Baxter, B. J., Andrews, R. N., & Barrell, G. K. (1999). Bone turnover associated with antler growth in red deer (Cervus elaphus). The Anatomical Record, 256(1), 14-19.

 

[VSS]

The summer 2012 issue of the BDS magazine contains an article that might be of particular interest.

 

[AntlerHunter]

Thank you very much everyone! All great responses and Ideas, really appreciated!