title: Antlers and parasites.
abstract: Development of ornamental characters exposed to directional selection may be particularly sensitive to the effect of parasitic infections. Antlers are ornamental characters of importance in intraspecific interactions, and are in reindeer (Rangifer) developed by both males and females. By antihelmintic treatment of naturally infected female reindeer we show that parasite intensities affect development of antler asymmetry, but not antler length. These results suggest that asymmetry in antlers may reflect parasite intensities and thus be of importance in intraspecific assessment of genetic resistance towards infectious organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology/Zoology, IBG, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway. ivarf@ibg.uit.no.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Folstad
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology/Zoology, IBG, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arneberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology/Zoology, IBG, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Karter
keywords: Antlers; Fluctuating asymmetry; Parasites; Reindeer