6533b854fe1ef96bd12aeca9

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Antler Malformations of Cervidae Species in Opole Voivodeship

subject

description

Hunting Law regulations strictly determines which males of quarry species may be harvested during the season. The age and the antlers of the individual play here an important role. The exceptions are the individuals with malformed and long spiked antlers, that is in a form significantly different from the desirable forms described in guidelines by the Chief Hunting Council. Anomalies in shape, structure and size of antlers are obligatory condition for harvesting the individual. It is generally accepted that such individuals are weaker, less valuable, have defective genes, are sick or injured, and are dangerous for conspecific during the rut. The scientific explanations for the development of an antler abnormalities point out many different factors, including the environmental ones. For many years antlers are used to determine the environmental pollution by heavy metals accumulated in it’s bone tissue what gives precise annul data. The aim of this work was to check whether the frequency of antlers deformation in cervidae species present in the Opole Voivodeship correlate in any way with ontogenetic features (age and body weight), population features (density and size of population) and environmental factors (woodiness, competition). Results could set new directions in researches for causes of antler malformations in cervidae family