Thomas, 1908 were studied in the forests of northeastern China from 1991 to 1992. Night beds used by both cervids were higher in canopy closure than day beds. Roe deer selected night bedding sites with denser canopy closure and higher percentage of coniferous trees, and day beds with better concealment cover than red deer. Roe deer selected night beds with higher canopy closure during cold mid winter period than during early and late winter period, whereas no such difference existed in day beds. Red deer showed no significant difference in canopy closure over day and night beds between mid and late winter. Canopy closure, composition of coniferous species, average distance to the nearest tree, and ground cover were identified to discriminate night and day beds for both cervids. The difference in selection of bed-site may reflect different energy requirements of large-bodied red deer and small-bodied roe deer.College of Wildlife Resources,

. 1998. Seasonal composition and quality of red deer Cervus elaphus diets in northeastern China. Acta Theriologica 43: 77-94.Seasonal composition and quality of diets of red deer Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 were investigated, basing on microhistological analysis of composite fecal samples in the Less Xingan Mountains, northeastern China. Red deer consumed more graminoids (46%) in spring, shifted to forbs (45%) in summer, and returned to graminoids (35%) in autumn. Availability and high quality [high level of crude protein (CP), and low level of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in forbs in summer] appeared to be two key factors causing these changes in diets. Winter diets were dominated by browses (74%) and the horsetails Equisetum hiemale (21%). Three forbs (Oxalix corniculata, Caltha palustris, Agrimonia pilosa) were prevalent in diets during snow-free seasons, and aspen (Populus spp.) was an important browse species in all seasons, especially in winter (32%). Forage and diet quality changed seasonally. Dietary CP and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) declined significantly from spring to winter (from 19.6 to 6.4% and from 61.1 to 32.9%, respectively). In contrast, dietary NDF and ADF increased from 55.6 to 69.9% and from 27.9 to 54.3%, respectively. Red deer diets showed different patterns of seasonal variation in mineral contents. In most cases, dietary Ca, P and K were adequate, but Na appeared deficient all the year round. It is concluded that red deer in this region are typical mixed feeders and their diet shows seasonal changes in quality, similar to those of North American wapiti. Although red deer may have enough protein in most seasons, energy might be a key limiting factor in severe winters.College of Wildlife Resources,