Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia
A micro-histological analysis of composite faecal samples was used to determine the food plants consumed by the aoudad Ammotragus lervia (Barbary sheep) in the mountains of Bou Hedma National Park, as well as to study food preferences and seasonal variation of the diet of this ungulate. A total of 1...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2015-11-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3803 |
| _version_ | 1818619988715503616 |
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| author | Jamel Ben Mimoun Saïd Nouira |
| author_facet | Jamel Ben Mimoun Saïd Nouira |
| author_sort | Jamel Ben Mimoun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A micro-histological analysis of composite faecal samples was used to determine the food plants consumed by the aoudad Ammotragus lervia (Barbary sheep) in the mountains of Bou Hedma National Park, as well as to study food preferences and seasonal variation of the diet of this ungulate. A total of 19 plant species was identified in the faecal samples: 8 grasses, 6 browse types and 5 forbs. The annual diet of this ungulate is composed of approximately 67% grasses, 17% browse and 16% forbs. Two grass species, Stipa parviflora and Stipa tenacissima, comprised 97% of grasses consumed and 63% of the annual diet, and were eaten in the year with considerably greater frequency than any other plant species. The diet of the aoudad at Bou Hedma National Park showed a seasonal variation. For example, grasses were consumed the entire year with a preference in spring (72.57%) and summer (78.31%), but their occurrence in the diet dropped in winter (38.7%). Browse was eaten preferentially in autumn (21.86%) and forbs were utilised most during winter (43.22%) and least during summer (7.53%). Our results show the plasticity of the Tunisian aoudad’s diet and identify it predominantly as a grazer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:46:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a123b58146b24016930c4dfc4898593e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T17:46:14Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-a123b58146b24016930c4dfc4898593e2022-12-21T22:22:27ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892015-11-0111111/125510.17159/sajs.2015/201404483803Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, TunisiaJamel Ben Mimoun0Saïd Nouira1Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, TunisiaLaboratory of Animal Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, TunisiaA micro-histological analysis of composite faecal samples was used to determine the food plants consumed by the aoudad Ammotragus lervia (Barbary sheep) in the mountains of Bou Hedma National Park, as well as to study food preferences and seasonal variation of the diet of this ungulate. A total of 19 plant species was identified in the faecal samples: 8 grasses, 6 browse types and 5 forbs. The annual diet of this ungulate is composed of approximately 67% grasses, 17% browse and 16% forbs. Two grass species, Stipa parviflora and Stipa tenacissima, comprised 97% of grasses consumed and 63% of the annual diet, and were eaten in the year with considerably greater frequency than any other plant species. The diet of the aoudad at Bou Hedma National Park showed a seasonal variation. For example, grasses were consumed the entire year with a preference in spring (72.57%) and summer (78.31%), but their occurrence in the diet dropped in winter (38.7%). Browse was eaten preferentially in autumn (21.86%) and forbs were utilised most during winter (43.22%) and least during summer (7.53%). Our results show the plasticity of the Tunisian aoudad’s diet and identify it predominantly as a grazer.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3803Barbary sheepfood habitsnorth Africaseasonal variationungulate |
| spellingShingle | Jamel Ben Mimoun Saïd Nouira Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia South African Journal of Science Barbary sheep food habits north Africa seasonal variation ungulate |
| title | Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia |
| title_full | Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia |
| title_short | Food habits of the aoudad Ammotragus lervia in the Bou Hedma mountains, Tunisia |
| title_sort | food habits of the aoudad ammotragus lervia in the bou hedma mountains tunisia |
| topic | Barbary sheep food habits north Africa seasonal variation ungulate |
| url | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3803 |
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