title: Developmental stability in relation to population density and breed of chickens Gallus gallus.
abstract: Bilaterally symmetrical morphological characters with fluctuating asymmetry usually have small, random deviations from symmetry that reflect the ability of individuals to cope with genetic and environmental stress. A comparison of the level of fluctuating asymmetry in two fast-growing breeds (ScanBrid, Ross 208) with that of a slow-growing breed (La Belle Rouge) and wild jungle fowl from India revealed a positive relationship between growth rate and asymmetry. Fast-growing chickens kept at three densities (20, 24, and 28 chickens per square meter) revealed a positive association between fluctuating asymmetry and density. Large individuals generally had higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry than small individuals. Tonic immobility, which is often used as a measure of fearfulness, was weakly positively associated with the degree of fluctuating asymmetry (P < .05). Measures of fluctuating asymmetry may provide information on levels of stress experienced by domesticated animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Biology, Copenhagen University, Denmark.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sanotra
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D011156:Population Density; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology