Abstract

ARELLANO-ALAVEZ, Tania et al. Dietary overlap among white tailed deer and other herbivores at la Mixteca Poblana. Ecosistemas y recur. agropecuarios [online]. 2021, vol.8, n.3, e3091.  Epub Oct 31, 2022. ISSN 2007-901X.  https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a8n3.3091.

The objective of this study was to determine the dietary overlap between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and other herbivores (lagomorphs, cattle, and horses). Vegetation and excreta found in 15 transects 300 m long and 6 m wide were sampled. Using the micro histological technique, a plant reference catalog was elaborated and the fecal samples by species were analyzed to determine the botanical composition of the diet. It can be seen that, of 65 plant species collected presumably consumable by cervids, only 16 were consumed by them. The microhistological analysis revealed that the diet of deer and lagomorphs coincides in a single arboreal species, a shrub and a herbaceous one; However, in the diet of lagomorphs, the consumption of these three plant groups represents more than 50% of the diet, while, in the case of horses and cattle, the diet consisted mainly of a single species of herbaceous or grasses, respectively. The Pianka index between white-tailed deer and lagomorphs was 0.26, while compared to cattle and horses it was 0.04 in both cases. As expected from microhistological analysis, the dietary overlap between deer and other herbivore species was relatively low. However, the overlap between white-tailed deer and lagomorphs is 26% and considering the estimated number of individuals in the UMA it may be an important element of competition.

Keywords : Arid zones; density; dry season; feed interactions; micro histology; ungulate.

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