Sheep and goat browsing a tropical deciduous forest during the rainy season: why does similar plant species consumption result in different nutrient intake?

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ventura-Cordero ◽  
P. G. González-Pech ◽  
J. F. J. Torres-Acosta ◽  
C. A. Sandoval-Castro ◽  
J. Tun-Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

During the rainy season, the tropical deciduous forest (TDF) supposedly represents an abundance of biomass for sheep and goats. Nevertheless, quantitative estimations of feed intake during the rainy season are lacking. This study investigated the feeding behaviour of sheep and goats in a TDF in Mexico and quantified their nutrient intake during the rainy season. Plant species (PS) consumed, size and weight of bites, and nutritional quality were determined by continuous bite monitoring through direct observation. Adult ewes (n = 3) and goats (n = 3) were observed in their grazing circuits (4 h/day) for 12 days during the rainy season. Sheep and goats consumed 61 PS and performed a similar median number of bites (1751 vs 2053 bites/day, respectively; P > 0.05). Although they shared 52.5% of the PS consumed, only seven PS contributed most of the dry matter intake (DMI) for sheep (96.7%) or goats (90.5%). Sheep consumed more grass than goats (79.8% vs 48.3% of their DMI, respectively), whereas goats ate more shrubs than sheep (30.0% vs 7.6% of their DMI, respectively). The diet ingested by goats included more polyphenols (P < 0.05) and a higher frequency of larger and heavier bites than sheep (P < 0.05). Sheep reached 61.3% and 57.7% of their metabolisable energy and crude protein maintenance requirements. Similarly, goats covered 63.3% of their metabolisable energy and 108.2% of crude protein requirement. Although the main ration of sheep and goats was composed of similar PS, their different feeding behaviour resulted in different macronutrient consumption.

Feed resource selection by Criollo goats browsing a tropical deciduous forest

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 2314 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ventura-Cordero ◽  
P. G. González-Pech ◽  
C. A. Sandoval-Castro ◽  
J. F. J. Torres-Acosta ◽  
J. Tun-Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Resource Selection ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Monitoring Method ◽  
Biomass Availability ◽  
Selection Of

Goats browsing in a tropical deciduous forest (TDF) obtain a large proportion of their diet from a large number of plant species. Nevertheless, the goat’s feed resource selection has not been studied in such an ecosystem. This study aimed to determine whether goats browsing in a TDF display active feed resource selection. Two browsing sites were used (A = 2.2 ha and B = 2.6 ha). The effective availability (g) of all plant species available was measured for each site using 10 m × 20 m exclusion quadrants. Three non-pregnant adult goats (34.9 ± 2.4 kg liveweight) with browsing experience were observed using the continuous bite monitoring method to determine their respective dry matter intake. The selection of different plants was determined using the Jacobs’ selection index (JSI). The goats’ dry matter intake per day was 723 and 310.8 g for Sites A and B, respectively. At both browsing sites, the plant with the highest biomass availability was Gymnopodium floribundum (75.5% and 49.3% for Sites A and B, respectively). Nevertheless, the plant species most actively selected by goats were Eragrostis ciliaris at Site A (JSI = 0.99, P < 0.05) and Mimosa bahamensis at Site B (JSI = 0.96, P < 0.05). Some plant species were not consumed at Sites A and B (three and five species, respectively). In conclusion, feed resource selection was not associated with the biomass availability of the plants selected or refused. Goats were able to show active feed resource selection in the TDF, and this could change according to the characteristics of the browsing site.

scholarly journals Hábitos alimentarios del murciélago zapotero (Artibeus jamaicensis) en Yucatán.

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Jose Flores Martínez ◽  
Jorge Ortega ◽  
Guillermo Ibarra Manríquez
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Artibeus Jamaicensis ◽  
Rain Season ◽  
Anthropogenic Vegetation ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
First Time

Resumen: Se describió el hábito alimentario del murciélago zapotero (Artibeus jamaicensis) en dos cuevas del estado de Yucatán, México, rodeadas con pequeños parches de vegetación nativa (selva baja caducifolia) y vegetación antropogénica (cultivos y huertos familiares) A pesar de los frutos de 28 especies fueron consumidos por los murciélagos, solamente cinco de ellas resultaron dominantes durante todo el año (Cecropia peltata, Solanum hirtum, Ficus spp. (dos especies) y Vitex gaumeri). Diez de las plantas consumidas por A. jamaicensis en este trabajo se reportan por primera vez en su dieta. Cerca de 12 especies fueron registradas en promedio por mes, con el valor más alto hacia finales de la época de lluvias (septiembre) y los valores más bajos cuando se inicia la temporada de menor precipitación (diciembre y enero). Las especies nativas tuvieron siempre una mayor aportación en el número y peso de semillas en la dieta de A. jamaicensis que las cultivadas (75-100% de cada mes), pero el consumo de ambos recursos muestra el oportunismo de la especie para adecuarse a hábitats perturbados.Abstract:Food preferences for the Jamaican fruit-eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) was documented during a year round in two caves of Yucatan, Mexico. Vegetation around the sites was classified as anthropogenic vegetation (crops and backyard house) and scarce remains of original forest (tropical deciduous forest). In spite of 28 species eaten by the Jamaican fruit-eating bat, only five comprise the bulk of the diet (Cecropia peltata, Solanum hirtum, Ficus spp. (two species), and Vitex gaumeri). Ten plant species were reported as the first time in the diet of A. jamaicensis. Around of 12 species were recording each month, with the high values at end of rain season (September) and the lower in the beginning at dry season (December and January). Fruits produced by native plants were preferred over cropped plants (75-100% of each month), but the both kinds of fruits presented in the feces demonstrate the opportunism of the species in disturbed areas.Palabras clave: Artibeus jamaicensis, hábito alimentario, Yucatán, selva baja caducifolia, vegetación secundaria, dominantes, cultivadas, no cultivadas.

scholarly journals Differences of vegetation structure and diversity of a forest in an altitudinal gradient of the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 598
Author(s):  
Jesús Manuel Rascón-Ayala ◽  
Eduardo Alanís-Rodríguez ◽  
Arturo Mora-Olivo ◽  
Enrique Buendía-Rodríguez ◽  
Laura Sánchez-Castillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Protected Natural Area ◽  
Vegetation Species

<p class="Default"><strong>Background:</strong> The Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve is located which is considered an “island of vegetation” within an arid environment. Considering that this protected natural area has an altitudinal gradient that ranges from 500 to 2,100 meters above sea level.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Hypothesis:</strong> Higher altitudinal gradient decreases abundance, basal area and diversity of plant species.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Studied species and data description:</strong> The data analyzed in this study included the structural variables of abundance (N ha<sup>-1</sup>), basal area (m<sup>2</sup> ha<sup>-1</sup>) and diversity (alfa and beta) of arborous species in areas with different elevations.</p><p class="Pa8"><strong>Study site and dates: </strong>This study was carried out in four localities of the tropical deciduous forest and broadleaved forest.<strong> </strong>In the spring of 2016.<strong></strong></p><p class="Pa8"><strong>Methods:</strong> Five circular sampling plots of 500 m<sup>2</sup> for arborous vegetation and 1m<sup>2</sup> for herbaceous vegetation were established in every vegetation community, resulting in 20 sampling plots. <strong>Results:</strong> Sixteen families, 22 genera and 22 vascular plant species were recorded. The most diverse family was Fabacea with four species followed by Cactaceae with three species. The abundance, dominance and diversity of vegetation species did not show any decrease (or increase) tendency of values as the altitudinal gradient augmented.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The hypothesis is rejected because abundance, dominance and diversity of vegetation species do not show any decrease or increase tendency as the altitudinal gradient augmented. The vegetation communities showed a high similarity in the composition of species.</p>

Microbial activity in contrasting conditions of soil C and N availability in a tropical dry forest

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noé Manuel Montaño ◽  
Ana Lidia Sandoval-Pérez ◽  
Felipe García-Oliva ◽  
John Larsen ◽  
Mayra E. Gavito
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Nitrifying Bacteria ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
N Availability ◽  
C Mineralization ◽  
Net Nitrification ◽  
C And N

Abstract:We studied the relationships between soil nutrient availability and microbial biomass and activity of two contrasting soil conditions in a tropical deciduous forest in western Mexico. Hilltops have higher pH, water, dissolved organic C, and ammonium concentrations than hillslopes. Our main hypothesis was that soil microbial biomass, microbial activity and bacterium species richness would be higher in soils with high availability of nutrients. Fifteen soil cores, 0–5 cm depth, were taken in the dry, early rainy and rainy season, from each of the ten replicate plots in hilltop and hillslope positions located on three contiguous small watersheds. We measured moisture, C, N and P availability, potential C mineralization, net nitrification, microbial biomass and culturable heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria in composite samples from each plot. Microbial biomass, species richness of culturable heterotrophic bacteria and C mineralization were significantly higher on hilltops than on hillslopes. Net nitrification was, in contrast, significantly higher on hillslopes than on hilltops and counts of culturable nitrifying bacteria were also significantly higher in the rainy-season samples. Hilltops and hillslopes had low similarity in composition of culturable heterotrophic bacterial species, particularly during the rainy season. The results suggested that C and N availability and seasonal changes in soil moisture are important controlling factors for some soil culturable-bacterial species, which may affect both C mineralization and nitrification in these tropical deciduous forest soils.

scholarly journals Assessment of woody plant species composition in secondary deciduous forests of Odisha, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-339
Author(s):  
Subhashree Pattnayak ◽  
Rajendra Kumar Behera ◽  
Sudam Charan Sahu ◽  
Nabin Kumar Dhal
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Woody Plant Species

Plant species composition according to their functional types, distribution pattern are crucial for biodiversity conservation in tropical deciduous forest. The study assessed the woody plant species diversity, stand structure and population density in the secondary deciduous forest of Chandaka wildlife sanctuary, Odisha, India. A total of 70 species belonging to 63 genera and families were documented in this study.The stem density was found to be 1080 stems/ha with reverse J-shaped population structure indicating good regeneration potential of the forests. Shannon diversity Index varied from 0 to 2.31 whereas Simpson's index varied from 0 to 0.85. The correlation study between Importance Value Index and basal area were significant (p=40.63). The present study would be helpful for conservation and management of biodiversity in secondary dry deciduous forests of Chandaka Wildlife Sanctury in particular and tropical dry forests in general. 

Differentiation of new coenomorph in context of the Belgard’s ecomorph system development

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Baranovski
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
System Development ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Tabular Form ◽  
Ecological Scales ◽  
The One ◽  
Different Levels

Nowadays, bioecological characteristics of species are the basis for flora and vegetation studying on the different levels. Bioecological characteristics of species is required in process of flora studying on the different levels such as biotopes or phytocenoses, floras of particular areas (floras of ecologically homogeneous habitats), and floras of certain territories. Ramensky scale is the one of first detailed ecological scales on plant species ordination in relation to various environmental factors; it developed in 1938 (Ramensky, 1971). A little later (1941), Pogrebnyak’s scale of forest stands was proposed. Ellenberg’s system developed in 1950 (Ellenberg, 1979) and Tsyganov’s system (Tsyganov, 1975) are best known as the systems of ecological scales on vascular plant species; these systems represent of habitat detection by ecotopic ecomorphs of plant species (phytoindication). Basically, the system proposed by Alexander Lyutsianovich Belgard was the one of first system of plant species that identiified ectomorphs in relation to environmental factors. As early as 1950, Belgard developed the tabulated system of ecomorphs using the Latin ecomorphs abbreviation; he also used the terminology proposed in the late 19th century by Dekandol (1956) and Warming (1903), as well as terminology of other authors. The article analyzes the features of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs on vascular plants. It has certain significance and advantages over other systems of ecomorphs. The use of abbreviated Latin names of ecomorphs in tabular form enables the use shortened form of ones. In the working scheme of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs relation of species to environmental factors are represented in the abbreviated Latin alphabetic version (Belgard, 1950). Combined into table, the ecomorphic analysis of plant species within association (ecological certification of species), biotope or area site (water area) gives an explicit pattern on ecological structure of flora within surveyed community, biotope or landscape, and on environmental conditions. Development and application by Belgrard the cenomorphs as «species’ adaptation to phytocenosis as a whole» were completely new in the development of systems of ecomorphs and, in this connection, different coenomorphs were distinguished. Like any concept, the system of ecomorphs by Belgard has the possibility and necessity to be developed and added. Long-time researches and analysis of literature sources allow to propose a new coenomorph in the context of Belgard’s system of ecomorphs development: silvomargoant (species of forest margin, from the Latin words margo – edge, boundary (Dvoretsky, 1976), margo – margin, ad margins silvarum – along the deciduous forest margins). As an example of ecomorphic characterization of species according to the system of ecomorphs by Belgard (when the abbreviated Latin ecomorph names are used in tabular form and the proposed cenomorph is used), it was given the part of the table on vascular plants ecomorphs in the National Nature Park «Orelsky» (Baranovsky et al). The Belgard’s system of ecomorphs is particularly convenient and can be successfully applied to data processing in the ecological analysis of the flora on wide areas with significant species richness, and the proposed ecomorph will be another necessary element in the Belgard’s system of ecomorphs. 

scholarly journals Macrophytes of the lowland wetlands in Morang district, Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umesh Koirala ◽  
Sasinath Jha
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Summer Season ◽  
Rural People

In total, 149 species of macrophytes (angiosperms 138, pteridophytes 7, bryophytes 2, algae 2) were recorded among which 117 species were emergent, 12 floating-leafed, 14 submerged and 6 free-floating on the basis of life form. In general, 68% species had flowering-fruiting during the rainy season, 17% in winter and 15% in the summer season. Many of the plant species were observed to play important role in meeting day to day requirements of the rural people. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njbs.v1i0.7480 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 1: 131-139 (2011)

Supplementation of grazing dairy cows with a brewers grains/treated straw mixture

1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 ◽  
pp. 46-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Leaver ◽  
R.C. Campling
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Similar Cost ◽  
Friesian Cows

Supplementary feeding of grazing dairy cows is often uneconomic, and whilst supplementation with silage (buffer feeding) can be worthwhile, this often leads to a depletion of winter forage stores. In this study, a mixture of brewers grains and treated straw was used as a supplement. Offered as a 1:1 mixture in the dry matter (DM), it is a purchased substitute for grass silage, having a similar cost, and similar metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) contents. The high seasonality adjustments to milk price in mid-late season make supplementation potentially worthwhile.Experiments were carried out from April to September in 1988 and 1989, which had moderate and very low rainfall respectively. Each year 20 British Friesian cows which calved December to March (1988 experiment) and February-April (1989) were allocated at random to either treatment B or C. In B, the cows were offered a 1:1 mixture (DM basis) of brewers grains and NaOH treated chopped barley straw for 60 minutes after morning milking. In C, the cows received no supplement. Both groups were fed 1.0 kg/day of concentrates in the milking parlour. Due to the severe drought in 1989, concentrate feeding was increased to 5.0 kg/day for all cows during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Also, urea-treated whole crop wheat was fed at a level of 2.5 kg DM/day during the last 7 days.

Paleoecological and archaeological implications of a Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene record of vegetation and climate from the Pacific coastal plain of Panama

2003 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores R. Piperno ◽  
John G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Early Holocene ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Core Sediment ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Holocene Record

AbstractA phytolith record from Monte Oscuro, a crater lake located 10 m above sea level on the Pacific coastal plain of Panama, shows that during the Late Pleistocene the lake bed was dry and savanna-like vegetation expanded at the expense of tropical deciduous forest, the modern potential vegetation. A significant reduction of precipitation below current levels was almost certainly required to effect the changes observed. Core sediment characteristics indicate that permanent inundation of the Monte Oscuro basin with water occurred at about 10,500 14C yr B.P. Pollen and phytolith records show that deciduous tropical forest expanded into the lake’s watershed during the early Holocene. Significant burning of the vegetation and increases of weedy plants at ca. 7500 to 7000 14C yr B.P. indicate disturbance, which most likely resulted from early human occupation of the seasonal tropical forest near Monte Oscuro and the development of slash-and-burn methods of cultivation.

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