Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment
The present study was aimed to deepen the knowledge on diet and on feeding preferences of the Italian roe deer. The research was carried on in the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a protected area of Latium coast. Quadrat method was used to assess plant frequency, whereas diet composition was det...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| author | Pierangelo Freschi Simonetta Fascetti Francesco Riga Gabriella Rizzardini Mauro Musto Carlo Cosentino |
| author_facet | Pierangelo Freschi Simonetta Fascetti Francesco Riga Gabriella Rizzardini Mauro Musto Carlo Cosentino |
| author_sort | Pierangelo Freschi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study was aimed to deepen the knowledge on diet and on feeding preferences of the Italian roe deer. The research was carried on in the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a protected area of Latium coast. Quadrat method was used to assess plant frequency, whereas diet composition was determined by fecal micro-histological analysis. A total of 143 plant species were identified in the site and 109 of them were found in the feces of the <i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i>. All over the year, most of the <i>taxa</i> were ingested in low percentages (≤5%) and the most utilized plant species were <i>Quercus suber</i>, <i>Prunus spinosa</i>, <i>Rubia peregrina</i>, and <i>Crateaegus monogyna</i>. Fagaceae and Rosaceae plant families represented the bulk of the diet and were positively selected. In addition, a positive selection on Fabaceae and Oleaceae families was found in wet season but not in dry one. In both periods the Italian roe deer showed a positive selection for deciduous woody plants and evergreen woody plants, instead avoided wild forbs and wild graminoids. Our results confirmed that this subspecies behaved as a generalist highly selective feeder. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:41:01Z |
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| id | doaj.art-00a98ee1f25a4ec6bf13ce0c68287d15 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:41:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-00a98ee1f25a4ec6bf13ce0c68287d152023-12-03T14:40:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-01-0111230810.3390/ani11020308Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean EnvironmentPierangelo Freschi0Simonetta Fascetti1Francesco Riga2Gabriella Rizzardini3Mauro Musto4Carlo Cosentino5School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalySchool of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalySchool of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalySchool of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalySchool of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyThe present study was aimed to deepen the knowledge on diet and on feeding preferences of the Italian roe deer. The research was carried on in the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a protected area of Latium coast. Quadrat method was used to assess plant frequency, whereas diet composition was determined by fecal micro-histological analysis. A total of 143 plant species were identified in the site and 109 of them were found in the feces of the <i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i>. All over the year, most of the <i>taxa</i> were ingested in low percentages (≤5%) and the most utilized plant species were <i>Quercus suber</i>, <i>Prunus spinosa</i>, <i>Rubia peregrina</i>, and <i>Crateaegus monogyna</i>. Fagaceae and Rosaceae plant families represented the bulk of the diet and were positively selected. In addition, a positive selection on Fabaceae and Oleaceae families was found in wet season but not in dry one. In both periods the Italian roe deer showed a positive selection for deciduous woody plants and evergreen woody plants, instead avoided wild forbs and wild graminoids. Our results confirmed that this subspecies behaved as a generalist highly selective feeder.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/308Italian roe deerfeeding preferencesdietmicro-histological analysis |
| spellingShingle | Pierangelo Freschi Simonetta Fascetti Francesco Riga Gabriella Rizzardini Mauro Musto Carlo Cosentino Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment Animals Italian roe deer feeding preferences diet micro-histological analysis |
| title | Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment |
| title_full | Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment |
| title_fullStr | Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment |
| title_short | Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus italicus</i> Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment |
| title_sort | feeding preferences of the italian roe deer i capreolus capreolus italicus i festa 1925 in a coastal mediterranean environment |
| topic | Italian roe deer feeding preferences diet micro-histological analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/308 |
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