Spatial and temporal variation in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in faeces from springbok in the Kalahari

Stapelberg, F. Hein

doi:10.3957/0379-4369-38.1.82

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…A comparison of fecal nutrition estimates among populations suggests that the nutritional concentration of forage ingested by herbivores in Etosha is similar to or better than what these species access in other savanna areas. Springbok in Etosha had similar quantities of fecal nitrogen and phosphorus to springbok in the Northern Cape (Mbatha and Ward 2006) and similar fecal nitrogen but higher phosphorus to springbok in the Kalahari (Stapelberg et al 2008). Fecal nitrogen and phosphorus levels recorded in elephants in Pilansberg, South Africa (Woolley et al 2009) were similar to those observed in this study.…”

Section: Seasonality Of Nutritionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Soil ingestion, nutrition and the seasonality of anthrax in herbivores of Etosha National Park

et al. 2013

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Abstract. Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a seasonally occurring infectious disease affecting primarily herbivorous wildlife and livestock. The seasonality of anthrax outbreaks varies among locations, making it difficult to develop a single consistent ecological description of this disease. Over 44 years of mortality surveillance, most anthrax cases in Etosha National Park, Namibia are observed in the wet season, although elephants have an anthrax mortality peak in the dry season. Focusing on three host species (plains zebra, Equus quagga; African elephant, Loxodonta africana; and springbok, Antidorcas marsupialis) occupying the endemic anthrax area of Etosha National Park, Namibia, we tested two commonly posited causes of anthrax seasonality in herbivores: increased pathogen exposure due to greater soil contact, and increased host susceptibility due to seasonal nutritional stress. These hypotheses were assessed using fecal sampling and measurement of the percentage of fecal silicates as an index of soil ingestion and fecal nitrogen, phosphorus and crude fiber as nutritional indices. Nutritional quality for all three species was higher in wet than dry seasons. Comparing among wet seasons, nutritional indices showed either a decline in nutrition with increasing rainfall or no significant pattern. All three species had greater soil ingestion in the wet season than the dry season. Higher soil contact during the anthrax peak suggests that anthrax seasonality may in part be due to heightened exposure to B. anthracis in wet seasons, for zebra and springbok. Elephant anthrax deaths do not correspond with the season of increased soil ingestion or grazing, suggesting that other behavioral mechanisms may overshadow foraging-based risk factors for this species. Nutritional stress is unlikely the primary causative factor in wet season anthrax systems, although nutritional stress sufficient to reduce resistance is difficult to assess non-invasively in wild herbivores. In contrast, increased soil ingestion may be an important predisposing factor for wet season anthrax outbreaks. Ultimately, the amount of soil ingested and its importance in the transmission of soil-borne pathogens will vary based on foraging behaviors, intake rates, grassland structure and on the likelihood that foraging areas intersect with pathogen aggregations in the environment.

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Section: Seasonality Of Nutritionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Soil ingestion, nutrition and the seasonality of anthrax in herbivores of Etosha National Park

et al. 2013

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“…Furthermore, this study only analysed a small selection of the plant species consumed by springbok. In a study undertaken to assess the nutritional status and diet quality of springbok in the Kalahari by means of faecal profiling, it was found that the faecal N concentration of springbok in the Auob riverbed was not below the critical level required for sustenance of normal metabolic processes (Stapelberg et al 2008) indicating that springbok may have the ability to select the food plant species with adequate N contents during this season. In contrast to the nutrient analysis of the food plant species, the faecal analysis showed that the N concentration of faeces collected in the dunes was below the critical level for rumen fermentation in the cold-dry season.…”

Section: Crude Proteinmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seasonal nutrient fluctuation in selected plant species in the Kalahari

Stapelberg¹,

Rooyen²,

Bothma³

2008

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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Seasonal changes in crude protein, phosphorus and calcium contents of five common plant species in the south-western Kalahari were investigated. Three species that are browsed by springbok (Acacia erioloba, Grewia flava and Rhigozum trichotomum) and two grass species (Schmidtia kalahariensis and Stipagrostis obtusa), were included in the study. Browse species had higher crude protein, phosphorus and calcium contents than the grass species, but the fluctuation range was similar to that of the grass species. In general, the crude protein content of the food plant species sampled in the present study was above the level required by African ungulates for maintenance. However, the diet of springbok in the south-western Kalahari appeared to be phosphorus deficient. Crude protein and phosphorus levels in plant food were especially low during the cold-dry season, when the crude protein content of the grass species was at or below that which is required by springbok for sustenance. The phosphorus content was below ruminant requirements in all plant species in all habitats during the cold-dry season. Faecal crude protein and phosphorus percentages higher than that of the selected plant species investigated imply that springbok have the ability to select the most nutrient-rich plant species and plant parts available. The Ca:P ratio of the plant species that were sampled in the present study fell outside the range that is considered to be healthy for ruminants in all instances, with calcium in excess.

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“…The FP, as an efficient marker of the P intake in sheep, was also observed by Mellado et al [61], with seasonal variations from 0.8% in autumn to 2.1% in spring, on dry matter basis. Studies in other ruminants such as springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), have also shown substantial changes in FP concentration according to the dry or rainy season in semi-arid grasslands [69,70]. The above equations to estimate nutrient intake in extensive grazing-sheep should be validated in different grassland types, since the type and number of consumed plants and the changes in nutrient concentration that they experience throughout their life cycle could affect these relationships.…”

Section: Faecal Nitrogen (Fn) Phosphorus (Fp) and 26-diaminomipelicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Fecal Indices as a Non-Invasive Tool for Nutritional Evaluation in Extensive-Grazing Sheep

Orellana

Parraguez

Arana

et al. 2019

Animals

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The aim of the present study was to assess the reliability of fecal indices as predictors of nutrient intake in sheep under extensive grazing conditions. Fecal concentrations of 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPAf), nitrogen (FN) and phosphorous (FP) were determined in four sheep kept in an extensive grazing system on annual Mediterranean grassland in the vegetative, reproductive and dry phenological stages. Metabolizable energy (MEI), crude protein (CPI) and phosphorus (PI) intake were calculated using the botanical composition, metabolizable energy, crude protein and phosphorus concentrations in each vegetal species making up the animal’s diet. Significant differences were observed in the nutrient intake for each phenological stage (p < 0.0001). The highest MEI, CPI and PI were observed during the vegetative stage (p < 0.0001). FN and FP were different in each phenological stage (p < 0.0001), with significant correlations observed between these variables (r = 0.916; p < 0.0001). Regressions among nutrient intake and fecal indices were significant, except in the cases of DAPAf and MEI, and DAPAf and CPI. Based on these results, fecal indices could be used to estimate nutrient intake in sheep under extensive grazing on annual Mediterranean grassland.

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Spatial and temporal variation in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in faeces from springbok in the Kalahari

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

Soil ingestion, nutrition and the seasonality of anthrax in herbivores of Etosha National Park

Soil ingestion, nutrition and the seasonality of anthrax in herbivores of Etosha National Park

Seasonal nutrient fluctuation in selected plant species in the Kalahari

Use of Fecal Indices as a Non-Invasive Tool for Nutritional Evaluation in Extensive-Grazing Sheep

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