The diet of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the forest ecosystems of Zhytomirske Polesie of the Ukraine

Abstract

The botanical composition of the European roe deer diet in the radioactively contaminated forest ecosystems of Zhytomirske Polesie of the Ukraine was investigated. Deer were caught monthly over a two–year period on three plots in forest habitats typical for Zhytomirske Polesie (fresh and moist mixed coniferous forests and mixed broadleaved forests). An analysis of the stomach contents of hunted deer showed that they consumed leafy as well as leafless stems, grasses, fruits and mushrooms depending on the season and availability of forest plants. Each season was characterized by one major dietary component. In the spring, the main component of the deer diet was the stems of woody plants. 44 species of vascular plants (3% of the natural flora of the region) were identified in the roe deer diet including 41 species of Magnoliophyta, of which 34 species of Magnoliopsida and 7 species of Liliopsida, 2 species of Polipodiophyta and one species of Pinophyta. Species such as aspen (Populus tremula), oak (Quercus robur), blackberry (Rubus nessensis) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) were consumed year-round.

Diet composition of the Italian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus) (Mammalia: Cervidae) from two protected areas

“…The number of identified taxa is comparable to that found in previous studies on the European roe deer (e.g. Tixier et al 1997;Bartolomé et al 2002;Krasnov et al 2015). For instance, Bartolomé et al (2002), analysing the faecal pellets collected in a natural park located in Spain, found the diet of the European roe deer to be composed of 56 different plants.…”

“…The other plants identified in the present study have also been found to be components of the diet of the European roe deer. For example, the consumption of Hedera helix or various species of Rubus has been described in some previous studies (Jackson 1980;Tixier et al 1997;Moser et al 2008;Krasnov et al 2015). These results seem to indicate that the diet of roe deer C. capreolus and that of its subspecies C. c. italicus are similar.…”

“…Available information on its diet has been borrowed from studies on the European roe deer from forest areas of northern Europe (e.g. Duncan et al 1998;Latham et al 1999;Barančeková et al 2010;Krasnov et al 2015), where populations are more widespread and common, and vegetation characteristics are quite different compared to those of southern Europe. Since the feeding habits of roe deer may reflect the availability of food resources in a certain habitat (Gębczynska 1980;Cornelis et al 1999), information obtained from the above studies may prove poorly appropriate for establishing a re-introduction plan for the Italian roe deer.…”

Impact of supplemental winter feeding on ruminal microbiota of roe deer Capreolus capreolus

“…As highly selective feeders, they are especially sensitive to dietary changes (Toïgo et al 2006, Parker et al 2009. Nevertheless, during the winter months roe deer, like other wild ruminants, have to adapt their nutritional and physiological strategies to the seasonal variation of lower food quality and availability (Gębczyńska 1980, Tixier et al 1997, Arnold et al 2015, Krasnov et al 2015).…”

Forest land use discontinuity and northern red oak Quercus rubra introduction change biomass allocation and life strategy of lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea

“…Lingonberry is a source of food and water for birds (Jacquemart and Thompson 1996) and mammals (e.g. Baltrūnaitė 2001;Jaroszewicz et al 2008;Krasnov et al 2015). Numerous insect and other invertebrate species also feed on V. vitis-idaea, and use lingonberry dwarf-shrubs as shelter.…”