A study reveals that female caribou have antlers, which serve a significant role in their survival and nutrition, contradictory to the long-held belief that antlers are primarily for defense.
Caribou have been a subject of biological interest for years, particularly because they are unique among deer species in that both males and females possess antlers. Previously, researchers believed that antlers were mainly used for defense against predators. However, new research conducted in Alaska indicates that there is a more critical function of these antlers, especially concerning the survival and dietary needs of females during vital periods of their life. The recent study's findings were published in the journal ‘Ecology and Evolution.’
The research took place at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, home to the Porcupine caribou herd, where migrating females give birth to calves and shed their antlers annually. Over the years, scientists have collected antlers during various expeditions, discovering that many of them showed signs of being gnawed. These findings suggest interactions with the environment and may point to the importance of these antlers beyond mere protection, extending to nutritional aspects essential for the female caribou's lifecycle.
As Arctic ice melts, changes in hunting grounds may affect these animals' survival and food sources. The implications of this research highlight the need for further studies into the ecological interactions and adaptations of caribou as they face climate change pressures, emphasizing the critical ecological role they play in their habitats, and prompting closer examination of the impacts of a changing environment on wildlife behavior and physiology.
