Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China
Global climate change, habitat fragmentation, and human interference have resulted in a significant, ongoing decline in the population of goitered gazelles. Effective conservation strategies require an understanding of resource requirements of threatened species, such as dietary needs. Therefore, we...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/663 |
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| author | Nan Zhang Zhirong Zhang Chao Liu Zeqin Xiong Yaoyun Wei Dehuai Meng Meiling Zhan Zongzhi Li Yao Zhao Liwei Teng Zhensheng Liu |
| author_facet | Nan Zhang Zhirong Zhang Chao Liu Zeqin Xiong Yaoyun Wei Dehuai Meng Meiling Zhan Zongzhi Li Yao Zhao Liwei Teng Zhensheng Liu |
| author_sort | Nan Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global climate change, habitat fragmentation, and human interference have resulted in a significant, ongoing decline in the population of goitered gazelles. Effective conservation strategies require an understanding of resource requirements of threatened species, such as dietary needs. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the food composition and seasonal dietary changes of goitered gazelles through microhistological analyses of fresh feces. Fabaceae (11.5%), Gramineae (9.4%), Chenopodiaceae (20.2%), Asteraceae (10.1%), and Rosaceae (19.5%) formed the primary dietary components of goitered gazelle. Additionally, <i>Krascheninnikovia arborescens</i> (13.4%) and <i>Prunus sibirica</i> (16.3%) were identified as the key forage plants. Forbs (50.4%) were the predominant plants for grazing throughout the year, particularly in the spring (72.9%). The proportion of trees in the diet was highest in the autumn (36.7%) and comparatively lower in other seasons. Furthermore, the proportions of shrubs (22.0%) and graminoids (14.8%) both reached their peaks in the winter. Our findings indicate that goitered gazelles strategically forage seasonally to cope with resource bottlenecks, enhancing their adaptability to arid and semi-arid habitats. Our study provides essential ecological information for the conservation of goitered gazelles and emphasizes the importance of dietary studies of species of ecological significance in environmentally sensitive areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:36:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d0fc38b89f14024823e21962d95315d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:36:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d0fc38b89f14024823e21962d95315d2024-03-12T16:37:45ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-02-0114566310.3390/ani14050663Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western ChinaNan Zhang0Zhirong Zhang1Chao Liu2Zeqin Xiong3Yaoyun Wei4Dehuai Meng5Meiling Zhan6Zongzhi Li7Yao Zhao8Liwei Teng9Zhensheng Liu10College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaLuoshan National Nature Reserve Management Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wuzhong 751999, ChinaLuoshan National Nature Reserve Management Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wuzhong 751999, ChinaLuoshan National Nature Reserve Management Bureau of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wuzhong 751999, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaGlobal climate change, habitat fragmentation, and human interference have resulted in a significant, ongoing decline in the population of goitered gazelles. Effective conservation strategies require an understanding of resource requirements of threatened species, such as dietary needs. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the food composition and seasonal dietary changes of goitered gazelles through microhistological analyses of fresh feces. Fabaceae (11.5%), Gramineae (9.4%), Chenopodiaceae (20.2%), Asteraceae (10.1%), and Rosaceae (19.5%) formed the primary dietary components of goitered gazelle. Additionally, <i>Krascheninnikovia arborescens</i> (13.4%) and <i>Prunus sibirica</i> (16.3%) were identified as the key forage plants. Forbs (50.4%) were the predominant plants for grazing throughout the year, particularly in the spring (72.9%). The proportion of trees in the diet was highest in the autumn (36.7%) and comparatively lower in other seasons. Furthermore, the proportions of shrubs (22.0%) and graminoids (14.8%) both reached their peaks in the winter. Our findings indicate that goitered gazelles strategically forage seasonally to cope with resource bottlenecks, enhancing their adaptability to arid and semi-arid habitats. Our study provides essential ecological information for the conservation of goitered gazelles and emphasizes the importance of dietary studies of species of ecological significance in environmentally sensitive areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/663dietgoitered gazellemicrohistologyseasonal diet |
| spellingShingle | Nan Zhang Zhirong Zhang Chao Liu Zeqin Xiong Yaoyun Wei Dehuai Meng Meiling Zhan Zongzhi Li Yao Zhao Liwei Teng Zhensheng Liu Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China Animals diet goitered gazelle microhistology seasonal diet |
| title | Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China |
| title_full | Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China |
| title_short | Seasonal Diet Composition of Goitered Gazelle (<i>Gazella subgutturosa</i>) in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region of Western China |
| title_sort | seasonal diet composition of goitered gazelle i gazella subgutturosa i in an arid and semi arid region of western china |
| topic | diet goitered gazelle microhistology seasonal diet |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/663 |
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