3 ms·
Not an expert but if I was to guess logically, it's because of their function in the first place: it's an immense waste of resources to grow them, so being able
by flavius29663 4y ago
Not an expert but if I was to guess logically, it's because of their function in the first place: it's an immense waste of resources to grow them, so being able to do so proves the individual is a healthy male, worthy of passing on his genes. Growing a new set of antlers each year (and each year it's a larger structure) proves how many resources you can accumulate and then waste, kinda similar to how lawns were maintained by medieval English lords: just to show that they can waste valuable land for nothing of value.
So if you think of the evolutionary pressure, there MUST have been some deer at some point that didn't shed their antlers. The question is: would a female choose a male that tries to be economical about it's resources and save the antlers for next year? Or would the female choose the male that can take that resource hit every year? It's kindof like asking present day women: do you prefer a male with a wasteful Lamborghini or a male with an economical VW or Toyota hybrid? I think we know what the answer is...
Also, biology has another angle to it, but I think this could have been overcomed evolutionary: the antlers grow form the top, so in order to keep the current antlers and then still grow them, the deer would have had to keep the velvet healthy. Being such large sharp tools, used for seasonal combat, keeping the velvet could be hard. I think this wouldn't have been un-surmountable if the deer chose this strategy, but I think my first explanation might be the most likely one.
- pazimzadeh 4y agoSo, proof of work?
- jancsika 4y ago> It's kindof like asking present day women: do you prefer a male with a wasteful Lamborghini or a male with an economical VW or Toyota hybrid? I think we know what the answer is... Would love to hear how "common knowledge" like this deals with circular dependencies. And since this is HN, please reply as quickly as possible, and only from first principles. Problem: "present day woman" turns her head to the man stepping out of the lambo, who is shorter than the man in the hybrid, so she turns her head toward the taller man, who is driving a hybrid, so she turns her head toward the man stepping out of the lambo, who is shorter...
- flavius29663 4y agoYou're confounding variables here. If everything else is equal(height, beauty, wit etc.), which man would a woman choose: lambo man or prius man?
- woleium 4y agoProbably the one driving the BMW
- chrisco255 4y agoI get that the velvet would have to die off, but the antlers are firm enough all mating season for battles, why not keep it year round? I think I may have a theory: deer antlers evolved to be too elaborate to maintain all year without hindering the animal's survival. Antlers can get caught in brush and trees when fleeing from a predator and prohibit escape through tight spaces. Horns on prairie / savannah creatures like bulls, ox and buffalo prob do not have to worry as much about fleeing through densely wooded environments. I suspect it also ensures the males will cooperate when not "in the rut".
- flavius29663 4y agoAlso, they're quite heavy and don't really offer protection like cows or buffalo's horns. They shed them so they can save energy to prepare for the next year's pair.