Seasonal variations of Red Deer selectivity on a mixed forest edge

Dumont, Bertrand; Renaud, Pierre‐Cyril; Morellet, Nicolas; Mallet, Christophe; Anglard, Frédéric

doi:10.1051/animres:2005030

Cited by 28 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…In our study site, as in other areas, the red deer were mainly browsers from spring to autumn and grazers in winter (Gebczynska 1980;Clutton-Brock and Albon 1989;Van Wieren 1996;Homolka and Heroldova 2001;Dumont et al 2005 for our site). Despite an annual diet dominated by browse (Gebert and Verheyden-Tixier 2001), the proportion of grasses eaten by red deer ranges from 5 to 95% of the diet between diVerent localities and seasons (CluttonBrock and Albon 1989).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

“…Moreover, these authors noted a drop in protein concentration during winter compared to other seasons, whereas we obtained similar values in winter and summer. One explanation could be that grasses with a relatively high level of protein were available in winter, and were consumed (Dumont et al 2005), which was not the case in the two former studies. As generally stated in the literature, grasses appeared to have a higher NDF concentration than browse and forbs, browse appeared to contain more lignin than forbs and grasses, and tannins mainly occurred in browse.…”

Section: Quality Of the Available Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…The remaining third was covered by meadow (Agrostis tenuis, Festuca rubra, Plantago lanceolata, Vicia cracca) and shrubs (Sarothamnus scoparius, Prunus spinosa). Site characteristics and observation methods are detailed by Dumont et al (2005).…”

Section: Food Selection Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, searching for these foods could be costly enough to cause hinds to eat less selectively (Parsons and Dumont 2003) and, as a result, ingest more tannins and ADL. In our enclosure, dog rose (Rosa canina) and/or willow (Salix caprea) were the main preferred deciduous browse species in spring, summer and autumn (Dumont et al 2005). These species contained particularly high concentrations of soluble sugars, but also of ADL and tannins (see "Electronic supplementary material").…”

Section: Minimisation Of the Intake Of Anti-nutritional Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selection for nutrients by red deer hinds feeding on a mixed forest edge

et al. 2008

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We studied the nutritional behaviour of hinds foraging on a mixed-forest edge by direct observation of their choices at each season and by measuring nutrient concentration in the plants. We compared nutrient concentrations in the observed diets with those in the total available vegetation, and with those of 1,000 randomly simulated diets in which we included only those plants that were actually eaten by the animal. Whether the available or the consumed feeds were used as the basis for comparisons had important consequences due to the presence of conifers and ferns, which were high in soluble sugars but were never eaten by the animals (potentially due to their toxicity). The selected diets were lower in sugars than the total available vegetation in summer, but were actually higher in sugars than the random diets generated from consumed forage species only. Hind diets contained more soluble sugars but not more protein than simulated diets in all seasons. Contrary to our prediction, anti-nutritional compounds (ADL and tannins) were avoided only in winter. Compared to simulated diets, hinds consumed more tannins in spring and summer and more ADL in summer and autumn. We suggest that this was a consequence of selection for soluble sugars, because the preferred plant species, which had high soluble sugar concentrations, also contained a large proportion of the anti-nutritional compounds eaten. In winter, the grass-dominated diets contained more fibre (NDF) and less ADL than the simulated diets, indicating that hinds orient their feeding towards digestible fibres. The switch from a browser to a grazer diet was related to a change in the availability of the nutrients, mainly soluble sugars. In our study, grasses contained more soluble sugars and proteins than deciduous browse during winter. This calls into question the dichotomy usually assumed in the literature between grass and browse in terms of nutrient content.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Quality Of the Available Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Food Selection Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Minimisation Of the Intake Of Anti-nutritional Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selection for nutrients by red deer hinds feeding on a mixed forest edge

et al. 2008

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“…Changes in the diet composition of red deer following phenological stages of vegetation were reported by Jiang et al (2006). Adaptation to varying feeding conditions throughout the seasons or years was also confi rmed by Dumont et al (2005). In our study the comparison of diet qualities between agricultural and forest habitats supports the hypothesis on nutritive benefi ts of agricultural environments.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The Importance of Cultivated Plants in the Diet of Red and Roe Deer and Mouflon

Kamler¹,

Homolka²

2016

Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun.

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The botanical composition of red and roe deer and moufl on diet was studied in the mosaic landscape in Drahanská vrchovina highlands, Czech Republic. We focused on the proportion and quality of agricultural crops and natural forest plants and estimated quality of the herbivore diet. Diet quality was monitored by the near infrared refl ectance spectroscopy on the basis of nutritional quality of diet items. Red deer, roe deer and moufl on ingested all cultivated plants growing close to forest. However, the proportion of cultivated plants varied between seasons and herbivore species. The peak of crops consumption occurred in summer -when cereals spikes were ripe. The average proportion of corn for red deer was 40%. Cultivated plants were well accessible for herbivores in the study area and during vegetation period formed an important part of their diet, but the importance of cultivated plants for herbivores was lower compared with natural food resources present in forests during vegetation period. Although the main natural food sources had lower nutritional value, they formed the main part of herbivore diet in the study area. The availability of cultivated plants increases the quality of food supply during the growing season, but for herbivores the natural food sources are crucial, forming the main part of their diet both in summer and in winter. Wildlife management should reckon with feeding preferences of herbivores.

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Shift to Litterfall as Year-Round Forage for Sika Deer after a Population Crash

Miyaki

Kaji

Sika Deer

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Seasonal variations of Red Deer selectivity on a mixed forest edge

Cited by 28 publications

References 46 publications

Selection for nutrients by red deer hinds feeding on a mixed forest edge

Selection for nutrients by red deer hinds feeding on a mixed forest edge

The Importance of Cultivated Plants in the Diet of Red and Roe Deer and Mouflon

Shift to Litterfall as Year-Round Forage for Sika Deer after a Population Crash

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