Feeding Ecology of Five Neotropical Ungulates: A Critical Review

Abstract

In addition to shedding light on underlying ecological processes, studies about animal diets are useful for guiding the design of species conservation projects. This study presents general characterizations of the diets of five neotropical ungulates, the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the red brocket deer (Mazama americana), the grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira), the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) and the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari). In addition, a critical review of methodological procedures used in this field of ecology is presented. A number of methodological limitations were identified in this review, which may help guide future research in this field. The predominant types of studies reviewed focused on analyses of fecal matter and stomach contents. Direct observation of foraging, while difficult to implement, has revealed interactions among ungulates and other mammals that are otherwise difficult to observe. The general foraging patterns of various species and the main ecological roles of the species in the various environments where they occur were also observed. A list of plant species and families is also presented here to aid researchers and conservation practitioners in accessing resources about the main items in the ungulate diets discussed in this study. Key words: Fauna; Diet; Methods; Foraging Patterns; Large Mammals. RESUMOAlém de revelar processos ecológicos subjacentes, estudos sobre a dieta de espécies da fauna também geram informações úteis para o delineamento de projetos visando a conservação das mesmas. Esta revisão apresenta uma caracterização geral da dieta de cinco ungulados neotropicais, a anta (Tapirus terrestris), o veado mateiro (Mazama americana), o veado catingueiro (Mazama gouazoubira), o cateto (Pecari tajacu), e o queixada (Tayassu pecari), juntamente com uma avaliação crítica dos procedimentos metodológicos que têm sido adotados nesse campo do conhecimento ecológico. Algumas limitações metodológicas foram identificadas, o que pode servir de base de reflexão para pesquisas futuras nessa área. As análises do conteúdo fecal e estomacal predominaram entre os estudos. Já o método de observação direta do forrageio, apesar da sua difícil aplicação, foi ímpar ao revelar interações entre ungulados e outros mamíferos ainda pouco conhecidas da Ciência. Padrões gerais no forrageio das espécies também foram evidenciados, assim como os principais papéis ecológicos que as mesmas podem desempenhar nos diferentes contextos ambientais em que ocorrem. Uma lista de espécies e famílias botânicas também é apresentada, e visa facilitar o acesso de pesquisadores e de ambientalistas aos recursos que até o momento são tidos como os principais itens da dieta desses animais.

Drivers of geophagy by red brocket deer (Mazama americana) at Amazonian interior forest mineral licks

“…There is some evidence that animals can detect Ca and Mg in soils (McCaughey & Tordoff, 2002; Tordoff, 2001), so it may be that cervids select soils with high Ca and Mg and derive other benefits, such as Cu supplementation, from that selection. The highly frugivorous diet of the red brocket deer (Bodmer, 1989; Danell et al., 2006; Gayot et al., 2004; Prado, 2013; Duarte et al., 2010) also supports that the main driver of geophagy is likely mineral supplementation, since plant‐based alkaloids are typically found in the mature leaves of plants (Julliot & Sabatier, 1993). The red brocket deer would only be consuming minor amounts of alkaloids.…”

“…It is most commonly found in terra firme forests, but can also inhabit swampy areas (Bodmer, 1991b;Tobler et al, 2009). The red brocket deer is primarily a frugivore (Danell et al, 2006;Lall et al, 2018;Prado, 2013) and seed predator (Gayot et al, 2004), though some small percentage of seeds may be dispersed (Bodmer, 1991b). The red brocket deer may consume browse seasonally as fruit becomes scarce (Emmons & Feer, 1997;Duarte et al, 2010).…”

Donkey skin trade: is it sustainable to slaughter donkeys for their skin?

“…However, one of the variables interfering in the conclusion about the ecological role of donkeys is the combination with other species, including cattle (Dias et al, 2019). In the Caatinga dry forest biome, the only large herbivore is a deer (Mazama gouazoubira), but it is much smaller than a donkey and not so general in feeding behavior (Kufner et al, 2008;Prado, 2013). For example, native deer Mazama gouazoubira and the exotic hare Lepus europaeus were studied to assess the risk of competition for food.…”

Seed Removal Rates in Forest Remnants Respond to Forest Loss at the Landscape Scale

“…Infructescence with ripe fruits that are not consumed entirely in the treetops are easily found on the ground, and may be intact, partially consumed, or sometimes broken due to the impact upon reaching the ground. It seems there are more terrestrial animal species interacting with fruits and seeds: Tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulatus (Linnaeus, 1766); seed disperser [54]), tapirs (Tapirus terrestris seed disperser [55]), peccaries (Pecari tajacu (Linnaeus, 1758) and Tayassu pecari; seed predator, [56]), grey brockets (Mazama gouazoubira (G. Fisher [von Waldheim], 1814); seed disperser and predator [57]), and agoutis (Dasyprocta (Illiger, 1811); seed disperser and predator [48]). To the best of our knowledge, H. tomentosa was rarely consumed by large frugivorous birds (only sometimes by curassows [52]).…”