Autumn-winter diet overlap of fallow, red, and roe deer in forest ecosystems, Southern Poland

Abstract

The wild population of fallow deer in Central Europe has grown considerably over the last decade. However, information on feeding habits of this alien species in relation to the indigenous red deer or roe deer, in areas of their co-occurrence, is scarce. A prevailing view maintains that their food-niches are distinct, although direct comparative studies have not been carried out. Therefore, the aim of the research was to compare the diets of fallow, red, and roe deer feeding in the same habitat. Research was based on the rumen contents of 242 animals hunted in the autumn-winter season in the forests of Southern Poland. The analyses demonstrated that fallow deer are moderate grazers in such conditions and eat more graminoids in comparison to red or roe deer (36.4% vs. 16.1% or 5.5%, respectively). On the other hand, it feeds on less browse (17.2% vs. 41.4%) or dwarf shrubs (8.4% vs. 19.0%) than red deer, and on less bramble (10.9% vs. 34.6%) or forbs (4.0% vs. 7.6%) in comparison to roe deer (P=0.05). Although the diets of the three deer species differ in terms of the proportion of each food type in their diet, overlapping of their food-niches is high (52.6%).

Fatty acid profile of meat (Longissimus lumborum) from female roe deer (Capreolus capreolusL.) and red deer (Cervus elaphusL.)

“…They also choose "preferred foods" and avoid "non-preferred" foods. [32,33] The differences in the fatty acid profile of meat from livestock and game animals may also result from different IMF content. According to De Smet et al [34] , differences in fat content affect the fatty acid composition of meat regardless of animal species, breed or dietary factors.…”

The Effect of Fencing the Forest Regeneration Stages upon the Level of Damage Caused by Deer in the Lowland Forests of South-Western Poland

“…The studies on the food habits in Cervidae showed that the composition of their natural diet is principally formed of browse, i.e. the annual increments of shoots and twigs in trees shrubs and dwarf shrubs accessible during feeding by these animals, as well as the vegetation of forest undergrowth [45,46,47]. The additional elements of the diet could include bark [40], and -in mast years -acorns and beech nuts [48].…”

The bioaccumulation of lead in the organs of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.), red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) from Poland

“…Roe deer and red deer, as ruminants, consume mostly aboveground parts of plants, which are exposed to the deposition of dust pollutants. The diet of roe deer includes grass, herbs, tree and shrub buds and leaves, blackberry shoots and leaves, raspberry leaves, mushrooms, and food crops (Obidziński et al 2013). All these plants develop new tissues annually and, for this reason, are considered good indicators of current atmospheric pollutions.…”