Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks
Visually identifiable morphological features serve as distinctive signs of individuals and may indicate the state and sexage structure of populations of large mammals. The development and change of morphological structures may occur under the influence of various factors, including human economic ac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cherepovets State University
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Трансформация экосистем |
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| Online Access: | http://en.ecosysttrans.com/publikatsii/ecosystem-transformation-volume-5-no-4-2022/individual-variability-of-dewlap-and-antlers-of-the-european-elk-alces-alces-l-1758-on-the-territory/ |
| _version_ | 1797903962930675712 |
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| author | Nickolay V. Sedikhin |
| author_facet | Nickolay V. Sedikhin |
| author_sort | Nickolay V. Sedikhin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Visually identifiable morphological features serve as distinctive signs of individuals and may indicate the state and sexage structure of populations of large mammals. The development and change of morphological structures may occur under the influence of various factors, including human economic activity. The article proposes a classification of dewlap and antler morphotypes of the population of the European elk (Alces alces alces (L., 1758)), living on the territory of the Leningrad Province (North-West of Russia). Frequency of occurrence of observed morphotypes is analyzed and discussed considering the data of long-term observations conducted in 2015–2020 at 20 artificial salt licks located on 11 experimental sites in three districts of the region. Based on the studied material, the following morphotypes of the dewlap are identified: “icicle”, “drop”, and “fold” (halberd, triangular, rounded). In females, the dewlaps of the “icicle” and “drop” type dominate, the “fold” is noted very rarely. In males, on the contrary, the “fold” is most often encountered. The antlers may be palmated, cervine, intermediate, transitional, “spike”, “fork”, and abnormal. Palmate and cervine antlers are found with almost the same frequency of occurrence (about 25%), a lower number of cases is noted for “spikes” and “forks”, as well as for intermediate type of antlers; transitional and abnormal antlers are recorded the least. The analysis of literary sources devoted to the classification and variability of the studied morphological characters has been also carried out. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:41:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9651f29f29f4d30a87735fda7dff1a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2619-094X 2619-0931 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:41:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Cherepovets State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Трансформация экосистем |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9651f29f29f4d30a87735fda7dff1a72023-02-17T11:11:49ZengCherepovets State UniversityТрансформация экосистем2619-094X2619-09312022-12-0154577010.23859/estr-220528Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licksNickolay V. Sedikhin0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1444-4476Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of SciencesVisually identifiable morphological features serve as distinctive signs of individuals and may indicate the state and sexage structure of populations of large mammals. The development and change of morphological structures may occur under the influence of various factors, including human economic activity. The article proposes a classification of dewlap and antler morphotypes of the population of the European elk (Alces alces alces (L., 1758)), living on the territory of the Leningrad Province (North-West of Russia). Frequency of occurrence of observed morphotypes is analyzed and discussed considering the data of long-term observations conducted in 2015–2020 at 20 artificial salt licks located on 11 experimental sites in three districts of the region. Based on the studied material, the following morphotypes of the dewlap are identified: “icicle”, “drop”, and “fold” (halberd, triangular, rounded). In females, the dewlaps of the “icicle” and “drop” type dominate, the “fold” is noted very rarely. In males, on the contrary, the “fold” is most often encountered. The antlers may be palmated, cervine, intermediate, transitional, “spike”, “fork”, and abnormal. Palmate and cervine antlers are found with almost the same frequency of occurrence (about 25%), a lower number of cases is noted for “spikes” and “forks”, as well as for intermediate type of antlers; transitional and abnormal antlers are recorded the least. The analysis of literary sources devoted to the classification and variability of the studied morphological characters has been also carried out.http://en.ecosysttrans.com/publikatsii/ecosystem-transformation-volume-5-no-4-2022/individual-variability-of-dewlap-and-antlers-of-the-european-elk-alces-alces-l-1758-on-the-territory/ungulatesmorphological featuresmineral nutritionplaces of concentrationhuntingnorth-west of russia |
| spellingShingle | Nickolay V. Sedikhin Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks Трансформация экосистем ungulates morphological features mineral nutrition places of concentration hunting north-west of russia |
| title | Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks |
| title_full | Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks |
| title_fullStr | Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks |
| title_short | Individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the European elk Alces alces (L., 1758) on the territory of the Leningrad Province (Russia) according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks |
| title_sort | individual variability of dewlap and antlers of the european elk alces alces l 1758 on the territory of the leningrad province russia according to observations with camera traps mounted nearby artificial salt licks |
| topic | ungulates morphological features mineral nutrition places of concentration hunting north-west of russia |
| url | http://en.ecosysttrans.com/publikatsii/ecosystem-transformation-volume-5-no-4-2022/individual-variability-of-dewlap-and-antlers-of-the-european-elk-alces-alces-l-1758-on-the-territory/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nickolayvsedikhin individualvariabilityofdewlapandantlersoftheeuropeanelkalcesalcesl1758ontheterritoryoftheleningradprovincerussiaaccordingtoobservationswithcameratrapsmountednearbyartificialsaltlicks |