Diet Composition of Western Derby eland (Taurotragus Derbianus Derbianus) in the Dry Season in a Natural and a Managed Habitat in Senegal using Faecal Analyses

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavla Hejcmanová ◽  
Miloslav Homolka ◽  
Markéta Antonínová ◽  
Michal Hejcman ◽  
Veronika Podhájecká
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Dry Season

scholarly journals Trophic ecology and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in a caatinga area of northeastern Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo B. Ribeiro ◽  
Eliza M. X. Freire
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behavior ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Lepidopteran Larvae ◽  
Prey Items

This study aimed to analyze the seasonal variation in diet composition and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and T. semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825), as well as measurement of the foraging intensity (number of moves, time spent stationary, distance traveled and number of attacks on prey items) in a caatinga patch on the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Hymenoptera/Formicidae and Isoptera predominated in the diet of both species during the dry season. Opportunistic predation on lepidopteran larvae, coleopteran larvae and adults, and orthopteran nymphs and adults occurred in the wet season; however, hymenopterans/Formicidae were the most important prey items. The number of food items was similar between lizard species in both seasons; however the overlap for number of prey was smaller in the wet season. Preys ingested by T. hispidus during the wet season were also larger than those consumed by T. semitaeniatus. Seasonal comparisons of foraging intensity between the two species differed, mainly in the wet season, when T. hispidus exhibited less movement and fewer attacks on prey, and more time spent stationary if compared to T. semitaeniatus. Although both lizards are sit-and-wait foragers, T. semitaeniatus is more active than T. hispidus. The diet and foraging behavior of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus overlap under limiting conditions during the dry season, and are segregative factors that may contribute to the coexistence of these species in the wet season.

scholarly journals Patterns of Fish Assemblage, Growth, and Diet Composition in a Tropical River between Two Cascading Hydropower Dams

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lee Nyanti ◽  
Chen-Lin Soo ◽  
Afina-Yian Chundi ◽  
Elsa-Cordelia-Durie Lambat ◽  
Alvinna Tram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
The Impact

Construction of cascade dams has been shown to have impacts on fish assemblages and biodiversity. Yet, there is no literature on fish assemblages in the Murum River that connects the cascading Bakun and Murum dams in Sarawak, Malaysia. Hence, study on this modified ecosystem is necessitated to better understand the effects of the cascade dam construction on fish fauna. For this, fish samples were caught at five stations located along the river during both dry and wet seasons. Environmental parameters were taken concurrently with fish sampling. Length-weight relationship, condition factors, and diet composition of selected fish species in the river were also determined. The present study demonstrated that there are indications of the impact of cascading dams on the formation of a complex ecosystem in the Murum River, that is, changing from the shallow downstream of the Murum Dam to the deep transitional and inundated zone of the Bakun reservoir. The transitional zone in the Murum River exhibited the lowest fish species diversity, richness, and evenness during the dry season due to low pH and DO coupled with high turbidity. The biological indices improved when the water quality improved during the wet season. On the contrary, the diversity and evenness indices at the inundated tributary station decreased remarkably during the wet season, likely due to the migration of fish during the onset of the rainy season. This study showed that Barbonymus schwanenfeldii has a wider feeding habit which contributes to its higher distribution and abundance in the Murum River. The growth patterns of B. schwanenfeldii, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, Hampala macrolepidota, Lobocheilos ovalis, and Osteochilus enneaporos were better during wet than dry season. Overall, the condition factor of all native fish species in the Murum River was in poor to fair condition, whereas the exotic species, Oreochromis mossambicus, exhibited excellent condition (K value > 2) for both seasons. The increase in the number of O. mossambicus coupled with its high condition factor indicates biological intrusion and a potential threat to the native fish species in the Murum River. Continuous monitoring is essential to detect in-time risk issues associated with environmental degradation and biological invasion in this regulated and inundated river ecosystem.

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of Dash-dot Tetra Hemigrammus belottii(Steindachner 1882) (Characiformes: Characidae) in the streams of the Urucu River basin, central Amazonia, Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Felipe Gomes Gonçalves ◽  
Bruno da Silveira Prudente ◽  
Fernando da Silva Carvalho Filho ◽  
Luciano Fogaça de Assis Montag
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Central Amazonia

The present study describes aspects of feeding ecology of Dash-dot TetraHemigrammus belottii (Characiformes: Characidae) collected in the Urucu River basin in Coari, Amazonas (Brazil), aims to respond the following question: What is the influence of hydrological periods (dry and wet) and spatial distribution in the diet of H. belottii? The specimens were collected between 2006 and 2009 in seven streams in the Urucu basin using standard capture methods. Their stomachs were removed for diet composition analyses. The alimentary items were weighed and identified for subsequent analyzes related to feeding intensity by repletion index (RI%) and importance by alimentary index (AIi%). A total of 227 specimens were analyzed, with a mean standard length of 16.5±5.6 mm. The RI% values indicated that H. belottii fed more intensively during the dry season. The principal items in the diet were Formicidae (IAi% = 69.6), fragments of allochthonous exoskeleton (IAi% = 17.7), and Coleoptera (IAi% = 6.0). The composition of the diet did not vary significantly between seasons or among habitats, which may be related to the abundance of the items exploited by the species throughout the year. Hemigrammus belottii showed a generalist insectivore feeding habits which was mainly composed by allochthonous item.

scholarly journals Milk Composition of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in a Natural Environment in Myanmar during Late Lactation

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen S. Dierenfeld ◽  
Yadana A. M. Han ◽  
Khyne U. Mar ◽  
Aung Aung ◽  
Aung Thura Soe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Feeding Management ◽  
Captive Populations

The nutritional content of milk from free-living Asian elephants has not previously been reported, despite being vital for better management of captive populations. This study analyzed both milk composition and consumed plant species of Asian elephants managed in their natural environment in Myanmar. Longitudinal samples (n = 36) were obtained during both the wet and the dry season from six mature females in mid to late lactation in 2016 and 2017. Milk composition averaged 82.44% water, with 17.56% total solids containing 5.23% protein, 15.10% fat, 0.87% ash, and 0.18 µg/mL vitamin E. Solids and protein increased with lactation month. Total protein in milk was higher during the wet vs. the dry season. Observed factors linked with maternal (age, parity, size and origin) and calf traits (sex) had significant associations with milk nutrient levels. Primary forages consumed contained moderate protein and fiber. Higher dietary protein during the wet season (11–25%) compared to the dry season (6–19%) may be linked with increased milk protein observed. Our results call for further field studies of milk and diet composition, over entire seasons/lactation periods, and across maternal and calf traits, to improve feeding management, with an overall goal of maximized health and survival.

Resource partitioning among African savanna herbivores in North Cameroon: the importance of diet composition, food quality and body mass

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. de Iongh ◽  
C. B. de Jong ◽  
J. van Goethem ◽  
E. Klop ◽  
A. M. H. Brunsting ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Resource Partitioning ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Niche Separation ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Herbivore Species ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract:The relationship between herbivore diet quality, and diet composition (the range of food plants consumed) and body mass on resource partitioning of herbivores remains the subject of an ongoing scientific debate. In this study we investigated the importance of diet composition and diet quality on resource partitioning among eight species of savanna herbivore in north Cameroon, with different body mass. Dung samples of four to seven wild herbivore and one domesticated species were collected in the field during the dry and wet period. Diet composition was based on microhistological examination of herbivore droppings, epidermis fragments were identified to genus or family level. In addition, the quality of the faecal droppings was determined in terms of phosphorus, nitrogen and fibre concentrations. The results showed that there was no significant correlation between body mass and (differences in) diet composition for wet and dry season. When all species are considered, only significant relationships are found by the Spearman rank correlation analyses during the wet season between body mass and phosphorus and nitrogen, but this relationship did not exist during the dry season. When the analyses focuses on ruminants only (thus leaving out hippo), none of the relationships between body mass and diet quality was significant in either season. During the dry season the proportion of graminoids ranged between 10% (small unidentified herbivore species) to 90% (hippopotamus), during the wet season this proportion ranged from 60% (zebu) to 90% (hippopotamus). All species but zebu had more graminoids in their dung during wet season compared with dry season. However all species but hartebeest had more graminoids old stems in their dung during the dry season, compared with the wet season. The niche breadth for food categories consumed by kob (0.300), hippo (0.090), hartebeest (0.350), roan (0.510) and zebu (0.300) was much greater in the dry season than in the wet season for kob (0.120), hippo (0.020), hartebeest (0.190), roan (0.090) and zebu (0.200). When looking at grass taxa consumed, the niche breadth of kob (0.220), hartebeest (0.140), and roan (0.250) was also greater in the dry season when compared with the wet season for kob (0.050), hartebeest (0.120) and roan (0.120). The opposite was found for zebu and hippo. Comparison of the species’ diet compositions with randomized data showed that dietary overlap between different herbivore species was much higher than what would be expected on the basis of chance, demonstrating surprisingly limited niche separation between species. This offers potential for competition, but it is more likely that the high niche overlap indicates absence of competition, due to low herbivore densities and abundant food resources, permitting species to share non-limiting resources. With increasing herbivore densities and subsequent increasing scarcity of resources, the relationship between diet quality and body mass in combination with increased niche separation is expected to become more visible.

scholarly journals Comparison of the feeding ecology of Perisesarma eumolpe collected at the intact forest and gap areas of Can Gio mangrove forest after ten years of Durian typhoon

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Tran Ngoc Diem My ◽  
Tran Le Quang Ha
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Mangrove Forest ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Stomach Fullness ◽  
Crab Species ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Can Gio Mangrove ◽  
Positive Results

Perisesarma eumolpe is the dominant crab species in the Can Gio mangrove forest, which is affected by bidirectional interaction with the natural environment. After 10 years of Durian typhoon, Perisesarma eumolpe has had significant changes and adaptations on its growth in Can Gio mangrove forest. One of the main changes is their diets between the intact forest and the gap areas which are natural reforestation. The dry season results showed that the fullness of the stomach (S4) was the highest in the total analyzed stomaches. The fullness of the stomach of the P. eumolpe in the gap area (Hcut) is always higher than the rest area. The main diet composition of the P. eumolpe are seven food categories: decomposed leaves, bark, wood, animal debris, algae, sand, unidentified debris. Leaves are dominant food category in both forest and gap areas. To compare with the result obtained in 2007, the feeding ecology of P. eumolpe was initially recorded. These are the increase in stomach fullness, leaves are dominant in the gap area. There are the positive results from the natural reforestation of Can Gio mangroves in the gap area caused by Durian typhoon.  

scholarly journals Feeding behavior, microbial efficiency, and nitrogen balance of Nellore heifers supplemented with crude glycerin

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2437
Author(s):  
Gonçalo Mesquita da Silva ◽  
Fabiano Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Robério Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Fábio Andrade Texeira ◽  
Dicastro Dias de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Crude Glycerin ◽  
Brachiaria Brizantha ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Microbial Efficiency ◽  
Completely Randomized Design

This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of crude glycerin in diets for Nellore heifers grazing on a Brachiaria brizantha pasture, during the dry season, on urine and plasma urea concentrations, feeding behavior, and microbial protein synthesis. Sixty Nellore heifers with an average initial weight of 285.89 ± 18.74 kg, at approximately 19 ± 2 months of age, were distributed, in a completely randomized design, into the following five treatments with twelve replicates: 0.00, 4.00, 8.00, 12.00, and 16.00% inclusion of crude glycerin in the diet they were fed. Grazing time decreased linearly (P < 0.05) by 7.44 min with every percent of crude glycerin included in the diet. Microbial efficiency was not affected (P > 0.05), averaging 113.73g CP per kg TDN ingested. Plasma nitrogen concentration did not show any effects (P > 0.05), averaging 13.11 mg dL?1. Supplementing heifers during the dry season, at 0.7% BW, using up to 16% crude glycerin in the diet composition, did not elicit positive responses from feeding behavior and had little influence on microbial synthesis.

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