1
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Milošević-Zlatanović S, Vukov T, Chovancová G, Anderwald P, Corlatti L, Tomašević Kolarov N. Cranial integration and modularity in chamois: The effects of subspecies and sex. J MAMM EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09644-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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2
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Walker RH, Hutchinson MC, Potter AB, Becker JA, Long RA, Pringle RM. Mechanisms of individual variation in large herbivore diets: Roles of spatial heterogeneity and state-dependent foraging. Ecology 2023; 104:e3921. [PMID: 36415899 PMCID: PMC10078531 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Many populations of consumers consist of relatively specialized individuals that eat only a subset of the foods consumed by the population at large. Although the ecological significance of individual-level diet variation is recognized, such variation is difficult to document, and its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Optimal foraging theory provides a useful framework for predicting how individuals might select different diets, positing that animals balance the "opportunity cost" of stopping to eat an available food item against the cost of searching for something more nutritious; diet composition should be contingent on the distribution of food, and individual foragers should be more selective when they have greater energy reserves to invest in searching for high-quality foods. We tested these predicted mechanisms of individual niche differentiation by quantifying environmental (resource heterogeneity) and organismal (nutritional condition) determinants of diet in a widespread browsing antelope (bushbuck, Tragelaphus sylvaticus) in an African floodplain-savanna ecosystem. We quantified individuals' realized dietary niches (taxonomic richness and composition) using DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples collected repeatedly from 15 GPS-collared animals (range 6-14 samples per individual, median 12). Bushbuck diets were structured by spatial heterogeneity and constrained by individual condition. We observed significant individual-level partitioning of food plants by bushbuck both within and between two adjacent habitat types (floodplain and woodland). Individuals with home ranges that were closer together and/or had similar vegetation structure (measured using LiDAR) ate more similar diets, supporting the prediction that heterogeneous resource distribution promotes individual differentiation. Individuals in good nutritional condition had significantly narrower diets (fewer plant taxa), searched their home ranges more intensively (intensity-of-use index), and had higher-quality diets (percent digestible protein) than those in poor condition, supporting the prediction that animals with greater endogenous reserves have narrower realized niches because they can invest more time in searching for nutritious foods. Our results support predictions from optimal foraging theory about the energetic basis of individual-level dietary variation and provide a potentially generalizable framework for understanding how individuals' realized niche width is governed by animal behavior and physiology in heterogeneous landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena H Walker
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Matthew C Hutchinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Arjun B Potter
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Justine A Becker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Ryan A Long
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Robert M Pringle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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3
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Li Z, Wang J, Khattak RH, Han X, Liu P, Liu Z, Teng L. Coexistence mechanisms of sympatric ungulates: Behavioral and physiological adaptations of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) in Helan Mountains, China. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.925465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying the coexistence mechanisms of sympatric wildlife helps to shed light on why the earth has so many different species. When ungulates share ranges, food and habitat requirements may partially or fully overlap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how sympatric ungulates share limited resources. Carcasses of 27 adult blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and three adult red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) were collected in the Helan Mountains, China. Nutritive indices of plant species foraged and morphometric measurements of the digestive system of the two sympatric ungulates were determined. In addition, 120 passive, infrared motion-triggered cameras recorded spatial overlap and temporal overlap between the two species. Camera trapping revealed relatively limited spatial overlap and significantly different activity rhythms between blue sheep and red deer. Differences were also observed in stomach weight, surface enlargement factor of the rumen, and intestine length between the two species. However, the combined relative weight of the stomach and intestine was not different between species. The low spatiotemporal overlap decreased opportunities for encounters between sympatric blue sheep and red deer, and significant differences in digestive systems allowed the two species to consume different plant species or different parts of the same species. Thus, the two sympatric ungulates coexist harmoniously in the Helan Mountains because of long-term evolutionary behavioral and physiological adaptations that eliminate negative effects on the survival of the other species.
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4
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Juhász E, Bede‐Fazekas Á, Katona K, Molnár Z, Biró M. Foraging decisions with conservation consequences: Interaction between beavers and invasive tree species. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8899. [PMID: 35600682 PMCID: PMC9108316 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Herbivore species can either hinder or accelerate the invasion of woody species through selective utilization. Therefore, an exploration of foraging decisions can contribute to the understanding and forecasting of woody plant invasions. Despite the large distribution range and rapidly growing abundance of beaver species across the Northern Hemisphere, only a few studies focus on the interaction between beavers and invasive woody plants. We collected data on the woody plant supply and utilization at 20 study sites in Hungary, at two fixed distances from the water. The following parameters were registered: taxon, trunk diameter, type of utilization, and carving depth. Altogether 5401 units (trunks and thick branches) were identified individually. We developed a statistical protocol that uses a dual approach, combining whole‐database and transect‐level analyses to examine foraging strategy. Taxon, diameter, and distance from water all had a significant effect on foraging decisions. The order of preference for the four most abundant taxa was Populus spp. (softwood), Salix spp. (softwood), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (invasive hardwood), and Acer negundo (invasive hardwood). The diameter influenced the type of utilization, as units with greater diameter were rather carved or debarked than felled. According to the central‐place foraging strategy, the intensity of the foraging decreased with the distance from the water, while both the taxon and diameter selectivity increased. This suggests stronger modification of the woody vegetation directly along the waterbank, together with a weaker impact further from the water. In contrast to invasive trees, for which utilization occurred almost exclusively in the smallest diameter class, even the largest softwood trees were utilized by means of carving and debarking. This may lead to the gradual loss of softwoods or the transformation of them into shrubby forms. After the return of the beaver, mature stages of softwood stands and thus the structural heterogeneity of floodplain woody vegetation could be supported by the maintenance of sufficiently large active floodplains. The beaver accelerates the shift of the canopy layer's species composition toward invasive hardwood species, supporting the enemy release hypothesis. However, the long‐term impact will also depend on how plants respond to different types of utilization and on their ability to regenerate, which are still unexplored issues in this environment. Our results should be integrated with knowledge about factors influencing the competitiveness of the studied native and invasive woody species to support floodplain conservation and reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Juhász
- Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology Institute of Biology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Centre for Ecological Research Institute of Ecology and Botany Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Ákos Bede‐Fazekas
- Centre for Ecological Research Institute of Ecology and Botany Vácrátót Hungary
- Centre for Ecological Research GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Tihany Hungary
- Faculty of Science Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Krisztián Katona
- Department of Wildlife Biology and Management Institute for Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Gödöllő Hungary
| | - Zsolt Molnár
- Centre for Ecological Research Institute of Ecology and Botany Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Marianna Biró
- Centre for Ecological Research Institute of Ecology and Botany Vácrátót Hungary
- Centre for Ecological Research GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Tihany Hungary
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5
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Lancaster A, Corti P, Fernández T, Moraga CA, Radic‐Schilling S, Hardenberg A. Changes in foraging behaviour suggest competition between wild and domestic ungulates: Guanaco and domestic sheep in southern Patagonia. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Lancaster
- Conservation Biology Research Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Chester Chester UK
| | - P. Corti
- Laboratorio de Manejo y Conservación de Vida Silvestre Instituto de Ciencia Animal y Programa de Investigación Aplicada en Fauna Silvestre Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
| | - T. Fernández
- Laboratorio de Manejo y Conservación de Vida Silvestre Instituto de Ciencia Animal y Programa de Investigación Aplicada en Fauna Silvestre Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
- Programa de Magister en Ecología Aplicada Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
| | - C. A. Moraga
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego‐Patagonia y Antártica (Fundación CEQUA) Punta Arenas Chile
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - S. Radic‐Schilling
- Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Magallanes Punta Arenas Chile
| | - A. Hardenberg
- Conservation Biology Research Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Chester Chester UK
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6
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van Beeck Calkoen STS, Deis MH, Oeser J, Kuijper DPJ, Heurich M. Humans rather than Eurasian lynx (
Lynx lynx
) shape ungulate browsing patterns in a temperate forest. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne T. S. van Beeck Calkoen
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Michele H. Deis
- Forest Research Institute of Baden‐Württemberg Freiburg Germany
| | - Julian Oeser
- Geography Department Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | | | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences Koppang Norway
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7
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Seigle-Ferrand J, Marchand P, Morellet N, Gaillard JM, Hewison AJM, Saïd S, Chaval Y, Santacreu H, Loison A, Yannic G, Garel M. On this side of the fence: Functional responses to linear landscape features shape the home range of large herbivores. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:443-457. [PMID: 34753196 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the consequences of global change for animal movement is a major issue for conservation and management. In particular, habitat fragmentation generates increased densities of linear landscape features that can impede movements. While the influence of these features on animal movements has been intensively investigated, they may also play a key role at broader spatial scales (e.g. the home range scale) as resources, cover from predators/humans, corridors/barriers, or landmarks. How space use respond to varying densities of linear features has been mostly overlooked in large herbivores, in contrast to studies done on predators. Focusing on large herbivores should provide additional insights to understand how animals solve the trade-off between energy acquisition and mortality risk. Here, we investigated the role of anthropogenic (roads and tracks) and natural (ridges, valley bottoms and forest edges) linear features on home range features in five large herbivores. We analysed an extensive GPS monitoring data base of 710 individuals across nine populations, ranging from mountain areas mostly divided by natural features to lowlands that were highly fragmented by anthropogenic features. Nearly all of the linear features studied were found at the home range periphery, suggesting that large herbivores primarily use them as landmarks to delimit their home range. In contrast, for mountain species, ridges often occurred in the core range, probably related to their functional role in terms of resources and refuge. When the density of linear features was high, they no longer occurred predominantly at the home range periphery, but instead were found across much of the home range. We suggest that, in highly fragmented landscapes, large herbivores are constrained by the costs of memorising the spatial location of key features, and by the requirement for a minimum area to satisfy their vital needs. These patterns were mostly consistent in both males and females and across species, suggesting that linear features have a preponderant influence on how large herbivores perceive and use the landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Seigle-Ferrand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
| | - P Marchand
- Off. Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Portes du Soleil, Juvignac, France
| | - N Morellet
- Univ. Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA Pyrénées Garonne, Auzeville Tolosane, France
| | - J-M Gaillard
- Univ, Lyon 1, CNRS, Lab Biometrie & Biol Evolut UMR 5558, Villeurbanne, France
| | - A J M Hewison
- Univ. Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA Pyrénées Garonne, Auzeville Tolosane, France
| | - S Saïd
- Off. Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Portes du Soleil, Juvignac, France.,Off. Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Flore et Végétation, Montfort, Birieux, France
| | - Y Chaval
- Univ. Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, France.,LTSER ZA Pyrénées Garonne, Auzeville Tolosane, France
| | - H Santacreu
- Univ. Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - A Loison
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
| | - G Yannic
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
| | - M Garel
- Off. Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, 5 Allée Bethleem, Gières, France
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8
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Espunyes J, Serrano E, Chaves S, Bartolomé J, Menaut P, Albanell E, Marchand P, Foulché K, Garel M. Positive effect of spring advance on the diet quality of an alpine herbivore. Integr Zool 2021; 17:78-92. [PMID: 34223702 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Changes in vegetation phenology related to global warming are having alarming effects on the life history traits of many herbivore species. Such changes are particularly critical in alpine ecosystems, where strong climate limitations on plant growth make seasonal synchronization imperative for the growth, reproduction and survival of herbivores. However, despite the pivotal role of resource-use strategies on the performances of such species, few studies have explicitly assessed the mechanistic impact of climate change on their diets. We aimed to fill this gap by studying the effect of spring onset on the dietary composition and quality of a medium-size alpine herbivore while considering density-dependent processes and age- and sex-specific differences in foraging behavior. Using an exceptional, long-term (24 years) direct individual-based dietary monitoring of a Pyrenean chamois population (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica), we showed that ongoing earlier onsets of spring are leading to an earlier access to high-quality forage and therefore a higher diet quality at a fixed date, without apparent changes in diet composition. We also showed that at high densities, intraspecific competition reduced diet quality by driving animals to feed more on woody plants and less on nutritious forbs and graminoids. By assessing the mechanistic effects of global warming on the dietary patterns of species at the center of trophic networks, this study is an essential step for predictive models aiming at understanding the ongoing ecosystem consequences of the global climatic crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Espunyes
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) i Servei d'Ecopatologia de la Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Research and Conservation Department, Zoo de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) i Servei d'Ecopatologia de la Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Sara Chaves
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) i Servei d'Ecopatologia de la Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Group of Ruminant Research (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jordi Bartolomé
- Group of Ruminant Research (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Pierre Menaut
- French Agency for Biodiversity, Direction Régionale Occitanie, Service d'Appui aux Acteurs et Mobilisation du Territoire, Villeneuve de Rivière, France
| | - Elena Albanell
- Group of Ruminant Research (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Pascal Marchand
- French Agency for Biodiversity, Direction de la Recherche et Appui Scientifique, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Gières, France
| | - Kévin Foulché
- French Agency for Biodiversity, Direction Régionale Occitanie, Service d'Appui aux Acteurs et Mobilisation du Territoire, Villeneuve de Rivière, France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- French Agency for Biodiversity, Direction de la Recherche et Appui Scientifique, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Gières, France
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9
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Multivariate Abundance Analysis of Multi-Host/Multi-Parasite Lungworms in a Sympatric Wild Ruminant Population. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13060227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the analysis of a multi-host/multi-parasite system and its associated risk factors, it is particularly interesting to understand the natural dynamics among pathogens, their hosts, and the environment in wildlife populations. This analysis is particularly feasible in a scenario where multiple overlapping host populations are present in high densities, along with a complex community of parasites. We aimed to describe and analyze the naturally occurring lungworm polyparasitism in a wild ruminant community in Southeast Spain. The respiratory tracts of 250 specimens belonging to four different species (red deer, mouflon, Iberian ibex, and fallow deer) were studied. Almost half (48.0%) of the animals were infected with bronchopulmonary nematodes. Seven different nematodes were identified of which two genera (Protostrongylus spp. and Dictyocaulus spp.) and three additional species (Cystocaulus ocreatus, Muellerius capillaris, and Neostrongylus linearis) were recorded in at least two ruminants, with the mouflon as the commonest host. Our study shows a significant effect of host species and sampling area, plus a marginal effect of age, on parasite multivariate abundance at the host population level. Mouflon and adults of all hosts appear to carry the highest parasite load on average. From a spatial perspective, the highest parasite abundance was detected at the central part of the park.
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10
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Rautiainen H, Bergvall UA, Felton AM, Tigabu M, Kjellander P. Nutritional niche separation between native roe deer and the nonnative fallow deer—a test of interspecific competition. MAMMAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-021-00571-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractOn an evolutionary time scale, competition for food drives species formation by genetic adaptations to the environment and subsequent niche separation. On a short-term scale, animals use different strategies to meet their nutritional requirements, which ultimately influence their fitness. Understanding these adaptations in herbivores is especially important in temperate climates where animals have adapted both physiologically and behaviorally to seasonal variations in order to meet their nutritional requirements. The aim of this project was to investigate temporal variation in chemical composition of rumen content between two coexisting species of large herbivores, the native roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and the introduced fallow deer (Dama dama L.), as well as a potential effect of competition on niche separation (interspecific differences in rumen nutrient composition). We analyzed 345 rumen samples collected from animals at one 95 km2 estate, Koberg, in southwestern Sweden. Based on samples from all seasons, temporal variation in nutrient composition and interspecific differences between the two deer species were investigated under two contrasting fallow deer population densities. Results revealed that nutrient composition varied between species and across seasons. Roe deer had a higher proportion of rumen protein compared to fallow deer, with the highest proportions in spring. In contrast, fallow deer had a higher proportion of rumen hemicellulose compared to roe deer in spring, while no differences in nutrient composition between species could be found in fall. Overall, there were greater differences between the two species when fallow deer density was high and competition likely more pronounced than when fallow deer density was low. The results from this study can be used to understand interspecific competition and how it fosters niche separation between coexisting large herbivores.
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11
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Lee MA, Burger G, Green ER, Kooij PW. Relationships between resource availability and elevation vary between metrics creating gradients of nutritional complexity. Oecologia 2021; 195:213-223. [PMID: 33458802 PMCID: PMC7882561 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04824-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plant and animal community composition changes at higher elevations on mountains. Plant and animal species richness generally declines with elevation, but the shape of the relationship differs between taxa. There are several proposed mechanisms, including the productivity hypotheses; that declines in available plant biomass confers fewer resources to consumers, thus supporting fewer species. We investigated resource availability as we ascended three aspects of Helvellyn mountain, UK, measuring several plant nutritive metrics, plant species richness and biomass. We observed a linear decline in plant species richness as we ascended the mountain but there was a unimodal relationship between plant biomass and elevation. Generally, the highest biomass values at mid-elevations were associated with the lowest nutritive values, except mineral contents which declined with elevation. Intra-specific and inter-specific increases in nutritive values nearer the top and bottom of the mountain indicated that physiological, phenological and compositional mechanisms may have played a role. The shape of the relationship between resource availability and elevation was different depending on the metric. Many consumers actively select or avoid plants based on their nutritive values and the abundances of consumer taxa vary in their relationships with elevation. Consideration of multiple nutritive metrics and of the nutritional requirements of the consumer may provide a greater understanding of changes to plant and animal communities at higher elevations. We propose a novel hypothesis for explaining elevational diversity gradients, which warrants further study; the ‘nutritional complexity hypothesis’, where consumer species coexist due to greater variation in the nutritional chemistry of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Lee
- Natural Capital and Plant Health, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, UK.
| | - Grace Burger
- Natural Capital and Plant Health, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, UK.,Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, UK
| | - Emma R Green
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Pepijn W Kooij
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, UK.,Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
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12
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Effect of Sex and Age on Nutritional Content in Wild Axis Deer ( Axis axis Erx.) Meat. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091560. [PMID: 32887479 PMCID: PMC7552240 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Game meat is perceived as more nutritious than meat originating from domestic farm-ranged animal species. However, meat composition is affected by numerous factors, and differences between game species can be found. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of sex and age on the content of macro- and micro-nutrients in meat from axis deer. Sixteen animals were hunt-harvested and assigned to groups according to sex and age. Samples of m. longissumus thoracis were examined to determine proximate chemical, fatty acid, amino acid and mineral composition. Minor differences were found in the analysed traits between sex and age groups. Regardless of sex and age, axis deer meat is characterised as having a high protein and low-fat content, favourable fatty acid composition and ratios. It is a good source of essential amino acids and micro-minerals. As data regarding axis deer meat are limited, the results of this study are a valuable contribution to describing the quality and nutritional composition of meat of different deer species. Axis deer meat can be recommended as a healthier substitute to red meat. Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the effect of sex and age on proximate chemical, fatty acid, amino acid and mineral content of axis deer (Axis axis Erx.) meat. Sixteen (n = 16) animals were hunt-harvested and assigned to groups according sex and age (sub-adult and adult). All analyses were made on m. longissimus thoracis sampled between the 9th and 13th ribs. Minor differences in nutritional composition of axis deer meat were found between analysed sex and age groups. Axis deer meat has a high protein (22.8%) and low fat (1.39%) content. Saturated fatty acids accounted for 44.97% and polyunsaturated for 29.66% of the total fatty acids. Ratios of fatty acids were within the recommended values. Glutamic and aspartic acid were the most abundant non-essential, and lysine and leucine the most common essential amino acids. The ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids was <1. Potassium and phosphorous were the dominant macro-minerals, while iron and zinc were the dominant micro-minerals. The results of this study show that regardless of sex or age, axis deer meat can be considered a good source of basic macro- and micro-nutrients, and can be recommended as a substitute for red meat from domestic animals.
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13
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Barrere J, Boulanger V, Collet C, Walker E, Siat V, Henry L, Saïd S. How does oak mast seeding affect the feeding behavior of sympatric red and roe deer? Basic Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Gamelon M, Filli F, Saether BE, Herfindal I. Multi-event capture-recapture analysis in Alpine chamois reveals contrasting responses to interspecific competition, within and between populations. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2279-2289. [PMID: 32654115 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding components of interspecific competition has long been a major goal in ecological studies. Classical models of competition typically consider equal responses of all individuals to the density of competitors, however responses may differ both among individuals from the same population, and between populations. Based on individual long-term monitoring of two chamois populations in sympatry with red deer, we built a multi-event capture-recapture model to assess how vital rates of the smaller chamois are affected by competition from the larger red deer. In both populations, mortality and breeding probabilities of female chamois depend on age and in most cases, breeding status the preceding year. Successful breeders always performed better the next year, indicating that some females are of high quality. In one population where there was high spatial overlap between the two species, the survival of old female chamois that were successful breeders the preceding year (high-quality) was negatively related to an index of red deer population size suggesting that they tend to skip reproduction instead of jeopardizing their own survival when the number of competitors increases. The breeding probability of young breeders (ages 2 and 3) was similarly affected by red deer population size. In contrast, in the second site with low spatial overlap between the two species, the vital rates of female chamois were not related to red deer population size. We provide evidence for population-specific responses to interspecific competition and more generally, for context-, age- and state-dependent effects of interspecific competition. Our results also suggest that the classical assumption of equal responses of all individuals to interspecific competition should be relaxed, and emphasize the need to move towards more mechanistic approaches to better understand how natural populations respond to changes in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlène Gamelon
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Flurin Filli
- Swiss National Park, Chaste Planta-Wildenberg, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ivar Herfindal
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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15
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Shik JZ, Dussutour A. Nutritional Dimensions of Invasive Success. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:691-703. [PMID: 32668214 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite mounting calls for predictive ecological approaches rooted in physiological performance currencies, the field of invasive species biology has lagged behind. For instance, successful invaders are often predicted to consume diverse foods, but the nutritional complexity of foods often leaves food-level analyses short of physiological mechanisms. The emerging field of nutritional geometry (NG) provides new theory and empirical tools to predict invasive potential based on fundamental and realized nutritional niches. We review recent advances and synthesize NG predictions about behavioral traits that favor invasive establishment, and evolutionary dynamics that promote invasive spread. We also provide practical advice for applying NG approaches, and discuss the power of nutrition to achieve a more predictive invasion biology that explicitly integrates physiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Z Shik
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama.
| | - Audrey Dussutour
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Propre de Service (UPS), 31062, Toulouse, France.
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16
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Duparc A, Garel M, Marchand P, Dubray D, Maillard D, Loison A. Through the taste buds of a large herbivore: foodscape modeling contributes to an understanding of forage selection processes. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Duparc
- Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise Gières France
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Univ. de Savoie, Le Bourget‐du‐Lac France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise Gières France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise Gières France
| | - Dominique Dubray
- Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise Gières France
| | - Daniel Maillard
- Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise Gières France
| | - Anne Loison
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Univ. de Savoie, Le Bourget‐du‐Lac France
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17
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Corlatti L, Bonardi A, Bragalanti N, Pedrotti L. Long‐term dynamics of Alpine ungulates suggest interspecific competition. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Corlatti
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Stelvio National Park Bormio Italy
| | | | - N. Bragalanti
- Stelvio National Park, Sustainable Development and Protected Areas Service Autonomous Province of Trento Cogolo di Peio Italy
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18
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Espunyes J, Bartolomé J, Garel M, Gálvez-Cerón A, Fernández Aguilar X, Colom-Cadena A, Calleja JA, Gassó D, Jarque L, Lavín S, Marco I, Serrano E. Seasonal diet composition of Pyrenean chamois is mainly shaped by primary production waves. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210819. [PMID: 30673757 PMCID: PMC6343923 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In alpine habitats, the seasonally marked climatic conditions generate seasonal and spatial differences in forage availability for herbivores. Vegetation availability and quality during the growing season are known to drive life history traits of mountain ungulates. However, little effort has been made to understand the association between plant phenology and changes in the foraging strategies of these mountain dwellers. Furthermore, this link can be affected by the seasonal presence of livestock in the same meadows. The objective of this work was to study the seasonal changes in diet composition of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra p. pyrenaica) and its relationship to primary production trends in a Mediterranean alpine environment. Moreover, diet composition in two populations with contrasting livestock pressure was compared in order to study the effect of sheep flocks on the feeding behaviour of chamois. From 2009 to 2012, monthly diet composition was estimated by cuticle microhistological analysis of chamois faeces collected in the eastern Pyrenees. The primary production cycle was assessed by remote sensing, using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Additionally, the diet of sheep sharing seasonally the subalpine and alpine meadows with chamois was analysed. Diet selection of chamois and sheep and their overlap was also assessed. Our results show an intra-annual variation in the diet composition of Pyrenean chamois and demonstrate a strong relationship between plant consumption dynamics and phenology in alpine areas. In addition, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus spp. and Festuca spp., as well as forbs in the summer, are found to be key forage species for Pyrenean chamois. Furthermore, this study couldn’t detect differences between both chamois populations despite the presence of sheep flocks in only one area. However, the detection of a shift in the diet of chamois in both areas after the arrival of high densities of multi-specific livestock suggest a general livestock effect. In conclusion, Pyrenean chamois are well adapted to the variations in the seasonal availability of plants in alpine habitats but could be disturbed by the seasonal presence of livestock. Due to the key plants in their diet, we suggest that population management programmes should focus on the preservation of mixed grasslands composed of patches of shrubs and herbs. The effects of climate change and shrub expansion should be studied as they may potentially affect chamois population dynamics through changes in habitat composition and temporal shifts in forage availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Espunyes
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (JE); (ES)
| | - Jordi Bartolomé
- Ruminant Research Group, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Gières, France
| | - Arturo Gálvez-Cerón
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias, Universidad de Nariño, Pasto, Colombia
| | - Xavier Fernández Aguilar
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andreu Colom-Cadena
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Calleja
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Botánica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Diana Gassó
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Jarque
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Ruminant Research Group, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Marco
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (JE); (ES)
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19
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Péron G, Duparc A, Garel M, Marchand P, Morellet N, Saïd S, Loison A. Circadian periodicity in space use by ungulates of temperate regions: How much, when and why? J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:1299-1308. [PMID: 29873399 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
When they visit and revisit specific areas, animals may reveal what they need from their home range and how they acquire information. The temporal dimension of such movement recursions, that is, periodicity, is however rarely studied, yet potentially bears a species, population or individual-specific signature. A recent method allows estimating the contribution of periodic patterns to the variance in a movement path. We applied it to 709 individuals from five ungulate species, looking for species signatures in the form of seasonal variation in the intensity of circadian patterns. Circadian patterns were commonplace in the movement tracks, but the amount of variance they explained was highly variable among individuals. It increased in intensity during spring and summer, when key resources were spatially segregated, and decreased during winter, when food availability was more uniformly low. Other periodicity-inducing mechanisms supported by our comparison of species- and sex-specific patterns involve young antipredator behaviour, territoriality and behavioural thermoregulation. Model-based continuous-time movement metrics represent a new avenue for researchers interested in finding individual-, population- or species-specific signatures in heterogeneous movement databases featuring various study designs and sampling resolutions. However, we observed large amounts of individual variation, so comparative analyses should ideally use both GPS and animal-borne loggers to augment the discriminatory power and be based on large samples. We briefly outline potential uses of the intensity of circadian patterns as a metric for the study of animal personality and community ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Péron
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Antoine Duparc
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université de Savoie, Le Bourget-du-Lac, France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise, Unité ongulés sauvages, Gières, France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise, Unité ongulés sauvages, Gières, France
| | | | - Sonia Saïd
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise, Unité ongulés sauvages, Gières, France
| | - Anne Loison
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université de Savoie, Le Bourget-du-Lac, France
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20
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Lee MA. A global comparison of the nutritive values of forage plants grown in contrasting environments. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2018; 131:641-654. [PMID: 29550895 PMCID: PMC6015622 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-018-1024-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Forage plants are valuable because they maintain wild and domesticated herbivores, and sustain the delivery of meat, milk and other commodities. Forage plants contain different quantities of fibre, lignin, minerals and protein, and vary in the proportion of their tissue that can be digested by herbivores. These nutritive components are important determinants of consumer growth rates, reproductive success and behaviour. A dataset was compiled to quantify variation in forage plant nutritive values within- and between-plant species, and to assess variation between plant functional groups and bioclimatic zones. 1255 geo-located records containing 3774 measurements of nutritive values for 136 forage plant species grown in 30 countries were obtained from published articles. Spatial variability in forage nutritive values indicated that climate modified plant nutritive values. Forage plants grown in arid and equatorial regions generally contained less digestible material than those grown in temperate and tundra regions; containing more fibre and lignin, and less protein. These patterns may reveal why herbivore body sizes, digestion and migration strategies are different in warmer and drier regions. This dataset also revealed the capacity for variation in the nutrition provided by forage plants, which may drive consumer species coexistence. The proportion of the plant tissue that was digestible ranged between species from 2 to 91%. The amount of fibre contained within plant material ranged by 23-90%, protein by 2-36%, lignin by 1-21% and minerals by 2-22%. On average, grasses and tree foliage contained the most fibre, whilst herbaceous legumes contained the most protein and tree foliage contained the most lignin. However, there were individual species within each functional group that were highly nutritious. This dataset may be used to identify forage plant species or mixtures of species from different functional groups with useful nutritional traits which can be cultivated to enhance livestock productivity and inform wild herbivore conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Lee
- Natural Capital and Plant Health, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, UK.
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21
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Wam HK, Herfindal I. Subtle foodscape displacement of a native ungulate by free-ranging livestock in a forest agroecosystem. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hilde Karine Wam
- Division of Forestry and Forest Resources; NIBIO; N-1431 Ås Norway
| | - Ivar Herfindal
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); N-7491 Trondheim Norway
- Department of Landscape and Biodiversity; NIBIO; N-1431 Ås Norway
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22
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Ferretti F, Lovari S, Stephens PA. Joint effects of weather and interspecific competition on foraging behavior and survival of a mountain herbivore. Curr Zool 2018; 65:165-175. [PMID: 30936905 PMCID: PMC6430973 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Weather variations have the potential to influence species interactions, although effects on competitive interactions between species are poorly known. Both weather and competition can influence foraging behavior and survival of herbivores during nursing/weaning, a critical period in the herbivore life cycle. We evaluated the joint effects of weather and competition with red deer Cervus elaphus on the foraging behavior of adult female Apennine chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata in summer, and on winter survival of chamois kids. High temperature and low rainfall during the growing season of vegetation had negative effects on bite rate. Effects of weather were greater in forb patches, including cold-adapted, nutritious plants of key importance to chamois, than in graminoid ones. Our results confirm previous indications of a negative effect of competition on bite rate of female chamois and on kid survival. Furthermore, harsh weather conditions and competition with deer had additive, negative roles on foraging behavior and survival of chamois. Growing temperatures are expected to influence distribution, growth, and/or nutritional quality of plants; competition would reduce pasture quality and food availability through resource depletion. Both factors would limit food/energy intake rates during summer, reducing survival of the youngest cohorts in winter. We suggest that interspecific competition can be an important additive factor to the effects of weather changes on behavior and demography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ferretti
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandro Lovari
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy.,Maremma Natural History Museum, Strada Corsini 5, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Philip A Stephens
- Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, UK
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23
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Scornavacca D, Lovari S, Cotza A, Bernardini S, Brunetti C, Pietrocini V, Ferretti F. Pasture Quality Affects Juvenile Survival through Reduced Maternal Care in a Mountain-Dwelling Ungulate. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Scornavacca
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Sandro Lovari
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Antonella Cotza
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Sara Bernardini
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Claudia Brunetti
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Venusta Pietrocini
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Francesco Ferretti
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology; Ethology and Wildlife Management; Department of Life Sciences; University of Siena; Siena Italy
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24
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Andreoli E, Roncoroni C, Gusmeroli F, Marianna GD, Giacometti G, Heroldová M, Barbieri S, Mattiello S. Feeding ecology of alpine chamois living in sympatry with other ruminant species. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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25
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Abstract
The "niche variation hypothesis" (NVH) predicts that populations with wider niches should display higher among-individual variability. This prediction originally stated at the intra-specific level may be extended to the inter-specific level: individuals of generalist species may differ to a greater extent than individuals of a specialist species. We tested the NVH at intra- and inter-specific levels based on a large diet database of three large herbivore feces collected in the field and analyzed using DNA metabarcoding. The three herbivores (roe deer Capreolus capreolus, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra and mouflon Ovis musimon) are highly contrasted in terms of sociality (solitary to highly gregarious) and diet. The NVH at the intraspecific level was tested by relating, for the same population, diet breadth and inter-individual variation across the four seasons. Compared to null models, our data supported the NVH both at the intra- and inter-specific levels. Inter-individual variation of the diet of solitary species was not larger than in social species, although social individuals feed together and could therefore have more similar diets. Hence, the NVH better explained diet breadth than other factors such as sociality. The expansion of the population niche of the three species was driven by resource availability, and achieved by an increase in inter-individual variation, and the level of inter-individual variability was larger in the generalist species (mouflon) than in the specialist one (roe deer). This mechanism at the base of the NVH appears at play at different levels of biological organization, from populations to communities.
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26
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Gaudry W, Saïd S, Gaillard JM, Chevrier T, Loison A, Maillard D, Bonenfant C. Partial migration or just habitat selection? Seasonal movements of roe deer in an Alpine population. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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27
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Ferretti F, Corazza M, Campana I, Pietrocini V, Brunetti C, Scornavacca D, Lovari S. Competition between wild herbivores: reintroduced red deer and Apennine chamois. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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