Environmental and Genetic Factors Influencing Trait Variation in White-Tailed Deer
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| Publicado en: | ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (2025) |
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ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
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| Acceso en línea: | Citation/Abstract Full Text - PDF |
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| Resumen: | Trait variation in wild populations is shaped by the interaction of genetics and the environment. Given these interactions, this thesis explored trait variation in white-tailed deer from two angles: one focused on broad-scale environmental factors, the other on fine-scale genetic mechanisms. The first chapter investigated how climate and habitat variation influence antler size, morphology, and the distribution of record-scoring deer across Ontario, Canada. Our results showed that warmer temperatures and higher percentages of rangeland and forest landcover were linked to larger antlers, while harsher winters with more precipitation had negative effects. The second chapter described the development of novel SNP assays designed to target genetic markers associated with leucism and malocclusions in an isolated island population of white-tailed deer. Together, these results highlight the importance of considering both environmental and genetic factors to understand trait variation in white-tailed deer. |
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| ISBN: | 9798293876556 |
| Fuente: | ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global |