Experiment I studied the effect of dietary gossypol (G) on antler and body growth traits of red deer stags, whereas Experiment II studied the effect of exogenous melatonin on female red deer reproductive traits. Specifically in Experiment I, thirty mature red deer stags were randomly allotted by weight, body condition score, and age to one of three treatment groups (n=10 each): control (C; 5:6 soybean meal:corn), extruded cottonseed pellet (P; 0.04 percent Free G, 0.36 percent Total G) and whole cottonseed-soybean meal (WCS; 5:3 cottonseed:soybean meal, 0.96 percent Free G & Total G). The supplements were mixed to be isocaloric (1661g/d TDN) and isonitrogenous (620-637g CP/d). Stags were fed daily for 155 d from antler casting (2/26/09) until hard antler had been reached (7/31/09). Antlers were measured using the Safari Club International (SCI) scoring method once hard antler was achieved. Hard antlers where removed just above the burr and allowed to dry (60 d) before weighing. Average daily gain did not differ (P > 0.10) among dietary treatment groups. However, average antler weights from C (1.130 plus/minus 0.068 kg) and P (1.297 plus/minus 0.068 kg) were greater (P < 0.04) than WCS (1.041 plus/minus 0.068 kg) weights upon completion of the trial. Although SCI measurements were numerically lowest for WCS, differences were not significant. In Experiment II, 60 mature and 24 yearling red deer hinds were assigned to two treatments on August 3rd; one received melatonin implants (MEL: n=42), while the other served as a control group (CNTRL: n=42). Hinds were evenly distributed to treatment by lactation status, age and body condition score. Antlerless stags were placed with the hinds (1:14) to provide natural service breeding during the trial. Implants were verified to be functional by a serum melatonin assay. Pregnancy status was determined by ultrasonography on d 105 and verified again on d 150. MEL treatment hinds displayed lower ADG (0.003 plus/minus 0.007 kg/d) than CNTRL (0.020 plus/minus 0.007 kg/d) hinds during the trial (P < 0.01). No advancement of estrous cycles was observed in red deer hinds implanted in early August (P > 0.10); however, pregnancy rates for yearling hinds were increased 36.4 percent (P < 0.04).

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Uranium-lead (U-Pb) geochronology and Hafnium (Hf) isotope geochemistry of detrital zircons of the Harmony Formation of north central Nevada provide new insights into the tectonic evolution of the Late Paleozoic western Laurentian margin. Using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, 10 arenite samples were analyzed for U-Pb ages, and 8 of these samples were further analyzed for Hf isotope ratios. Three of the sampled units have similar U-Pb age peaks and Hf isotope ratios, including a 1.0-1.4Ga peak with epsilon Hf values of +12 to -3 and a 2.5-2.7Ga peak with epsilon Hf values of +7 to -5. The remaining seven samples differ significantly from these three, but are similar to one another; having age peaks of 1.7-1.9Ga with epsilon Hf of +10 to -20 and age peaks of 2.3-2.7Ga with epsilon Hf of +6 to -8. The data confirm the subdivision of the Harmony Formation into two petrofacies: quartzose (Harmony A) and feldspathic (Harmony B). The three samples with 1.0-1.4 and 2.5-2.7Ga peaks are the Harmony A, which originated in the central Laurentian craton. The other seven samples are the Harmony B, which originated in eastern Alberta-western Saskatchewan, north of the Harmony A source. We propose that all Harmony Formation strata were deposited near eastern Alberta and subsequently tectonically interleaved with Roberts Mountains allochthon strata. We interpret that the entire package was tectonically transported south along the western Laurentian margin and then emplaced eastward onto the craton during the Late Devonian-Early Mississippian Antler orogeny.

One of the major research challenges is the ability to test selective forces in a wild population. A recent discovery of a new dipteran species, Protopiophila litigata, can enable researches to test selection in the wild. Most research has focused on mating behaviour, male mating success and senescence. In this study a small sample of wild mating and non-mating flies were collected, cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted and morphometric traits were obtained to assess the strength of sexual selection. There was significant linear sexual selection on cuticular hydrocarbons and, mid tibia length, hind tibia length and wing length. Overall, further establishes P. litigata as a model species for studying selection in the wild. Earlier studies have demonstrated strong sexual selection on male cuticular hydrocarbons in Drosophila serrata. Recently wing interference patterns have been documented to be under sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster. A sample of cuticular hydrocarbons and wing interference pattern values were analyzed to understand the combined effects on male mating success. Cuticular hydrocarbons were under sexual selection, however wing interference patterns were not. Overall, this study confirms selection on cuticular hydrocarbons, but highlights the difficulty in accurately capturing and measuring wing interference patterns.

Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that is used to detect symmetry and asymmetry of surface temperature gradients. DITI can examine many different aspects of thermal physiology and diagnose injury and disease. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the use of DITI to determine whether differences in temperature gradients exist between late gestation and non-pregnant mares, (2) to evaluate whether velvet antler (VA) temperature gradients, as measured by DITI would pattern VA growth, and (3) to determine if “normal” temperature gradients of the foot exist among elephants as detected using DITI. To investigate these objectives, three experiments were conducted to determine the value of DITI for research on mammals. Results obtained from the first study indicate DITI was able to detect pregnancy in the horse during late gestation. In the second study DITI successfully patterned the growth and hardening of VA. While in the third study DITI demonstrated its value as a tool to increase overall welfare for captive elephants. In summary these studies suggests that DITI may have value in conducting research with domestic and non-domestic species that are not able to be restrained.

Purpose: To examine the effects of deer antler velvet on muscular strength, performance, and markers of delayed onset muscle soreness following a 10-week resistance training period. Participants: 16 resistance-trained males (18-35) volunteered. Measures: DEXA, 1-RM, a power test, and a 70% performance trial were measured. Creatine kinase and self-reported soreness levels were measured following an eccentric trial. Results: No pre-experimental significant differences existed between the groups for any of the variables measured. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding body composition, strength, muscular performance, or improvements in creatine kinase and soreness levels from pre to post-intervention. Both groups demonstrated significant (p<0.05) increases in creatine kinase and soreness levels immediately post-exercise and 48 hours following the eccentric trial at the 0 and 10-week measurement periods. Conclusions: Deer antler velvet does not improve muscle size, strength, or performance. Nor does it reduce markers of DOMS following a 10-week supplementation period.

Hormonal aspects of antler growth regulation Erika Kužmová Abstract Deer antlers are the only mammalian organ that completely regenerates and therefore they became an object of rising interest as a potential model for bone growth and development. In recent years, it has been confirmed that annual regeneration of the antler is initiated from the stem cell niche localised in the pedicle periosteum. Antlers grow to the length at the tip. Only a little is known about endocrine stimulation of antler growth and some discrepancy has arisen between in vivo and in vitro studies over the decades. As the secondary sexual character, the antler cycle timing and growth are linked to seasonal levels of testosterone. Since the levels are at their minimum during the antler growth phase, according to many mainly in vitro studies, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) tends to be accepted as the "antler stimulating hormone". Since the conclusion about the role of IGF-1 was contradictory to previous opinions and also in contrast with our own experience, we aimed to verify the role of IGF-1 in vitro. Our ex- periments were based on existing in vivo studies demonstrating the importance of testosterone, even in its low levels, and on the hypothesis that testosterone should be the "antler stimulating hormone". We performed in vitro...

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Ce travail documente l’utilisation des matières dures d’origine animale, en Provence entre le Moyen Âge et l’avènement de l’industrialisation. Ces matériaux sont employés dans l’élaboration d'objets fonctionnels ou ornementaux tant luxueux et onéreux qu’ordinaires et économiques. Ils sont parfois incorporés à des recettes pharmaceutiques ou culinaires, employés dans l’aciérage ou pour la production de colle. Notre analyse se fonde principalement sur l’étude conjointe des sources archéologiques (plus de 4000 pièces), des sources écrites et iconographiques. Elle livre une vision de l’emploi de ces matériaux et de leur insertion dans les économies provençales médiévale et moderne. Notre approche met en évidence les propriétés et caractéristiques physiques des matériaux, la morphologie des pièces anatomiques et les possibilités formelles et techniques du travail artisanal, selon les périodes et les objets produits. De l’analyse des contextes de découverte et de l’observation des traces d’outils visibles sur les éléments étudiés découle une approche technique caractérisant, les modes de transformation des matériaux et de fabrication des objets. Le dépouillement des sources écrites apporte des informations relatives aux artisans travaillant ces matériaux, à l'approvisionnement, à la vente et à la circulation des objets et des matières premières. L’approche interdisciplinaire permet de mieux comprendre la genèse des objets produits, de restituer leur évolution morphologique, d’estimer leur valeur vénale pour cerner la catégorie sociale à laquelle ils sont destinés, de réfléchir à la symbolique qui leur est conférée et de décrire la manière dont ils sont perçus et réglementés. / This doctoral work documents the use of the "hard materials from animal origin » (matières dures d’origine animale), in the Provence region from the Middle Ages until the advent of industrialization. These materials are used for manufacturing many functional or decorative objects either luxurious and expensive or ordinary and cheap. They sometimes also constitute ingredients incorporated in pharmaceutical formula or culinary recipes, are used in steel making or for glue production. Our analysis is based on the joint study of archaeological sources (more than 4000 pieces), written and iconographic sources. It provides a vision of these materials use and their qualitative and quantitative integration in medieval and modern Provençal economies. Our approach highlights the mechanical properties of the raw materials, the morphology of anatomical pieces as well as the craft work technical development along the different periods. From discovery contexts and observation of the tools marks on the objects, blanks and waste, when the technical approach was feasible, we characterized the manufacturing processes and places. Detailed analysis of the written sources also provides information on the craftsmen working these materials, on the sale and circulation of objects and raw materials. The interdisciplinary approach helps better understand the produced objects genesis, reproduce their morphological evolution, estimate their market value and therefore identify the social category they are intended for, put forward assumptions about the symbolism conferred upon them, and finally describe the way they are perceived and therefore sometimes regulated.

Shed antler hunting has increased in popularity during the past decade, but little is known about how this recreational activity affects ungulate movements and space use. We placed geographic positioning system (gps)-collars on 133 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), bison (Bison bison), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) to quantify their movements, space use, and resource selection during shed antler hunts on Antelope Island Utah, USA, from 2012 to 2015. In Chapter 1, we calculated means and 95% confidence intervals for distance moved during 90-minute segments (16 points/day); pre-event (control, seven consecutive days prior to event), event (one to two days), and post-event (seven consecutive days after event) for shed hunts and helicopter surveys. We also compared each species use of space during these events. Female bighorn sheep did not increase distance moved or substantially change space use during shed hunts and helicopter surveys. Male bighorn sheep increased distance moved 41% on average during shed hunts and by 2.02 times during helicopter surveys but did not change space use during those events. Female bison increased distance moved 15% on average during shed hunts and 30% during helicopter surveys. Mule deer increased distance moved and altered space use the most during shed hunts; females increased distance moved 97%, and 54% of females moved a mean distance of 742 ± 642 (SD) m outside of their home ranges during those hunts for a mean of 9.2 ± 9.4 hours (range = 1.5 to 41 hr). Male mule deer increased distance moved by 2.10 times on average during shed hunts, and 82% of males moved a mean distance of 1,264 ± 732 m outside of their home ranges during those hunts for a mean of 12.6 ± 7.6 hours. In Chapter 2, we analysed 177,138 gps locations to quantify space use and movements of 12 mule deer and 25 bighorn sheep in response to shed hunting. Twenty-five percent of mule deer and 44% of bighorn sheep responded differently to shed antler hunting across two years. We tracked four mule deer for three and four consecutive years, and all those deer responded to shed hunting differently across subsequent years. Mule deer increased movement (paired t-test = -3.9, p < 0.001) during shed hunts compared to pre-event movement. Bighorn sheep increased movement (paired t-test = -6.9, p < 0.001) during shed hunts compared to pre-event movement. In Chapter 3, we placed gps-collars on 27 mule deer and 29 bighorn sheep to quantify habitat selection during shed hunts compared with resources selection seven days prior and seven days following these hunts. Mule deer (n = 6) remained in the same area (response 1), moved to another area within their home range (n = 7; response 2), or moved beyond their home range boundaries (n = 14; response 3). Bighorn sheep (n = 17) remained in the same area (response 1), moved to another area within their home range (n = 11; response 2), or moved beyond their home range boundaries (n = 1; response 3). Shifts in resource selection by mule deer and bighorn sheep were detected during shed hunts regardless of the initial response of the individual animal during those hunts.