Fluctuating asymmetry and blood parameters in three endangered gazelle species

There is currently no agreement about the suitability of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as an estimate of individual quality. We investigated the relationship between FA and health, a proxy for individual quality, in captive populations of three endangered gazelle species: Gazella cuvieri, G. dama, and G. dorcas. FA indices including information from sexual (horns) and/or non-sexual ordinary traits were calculated for each individual. Health was assessed using 15 blood parameters, and inbreeding coefficient was also included in the analyses. In the three species, the FA index was significantly related to at least one blood parameter (platelets, mean platelet cell volume, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase), with levels indicating unhealthy condition in more asymmetric individuals. The exception was the negative relationship between FA and aspartate aminotransferase in ordinary traits of G. cuvieri and G. dama. FA was related to different blood parameters in every species and type of trait. As a large number of diseases can cause abnormal blood parameter levels in humans, we assumed that this also might be the case in gazelles. In general, the results suggest that FA is related to health in the three gazelle species studied, and thus, we concluded that FA can provide useful information about individual quality.