Dietary overlap among axis, fallow, black-tailed deer and cattle
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Authors: H. W. Elliott III, and R. H. Barrett
Date: 1985
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 38
Number: 6
Pages: 435-439
Summary of Methods: The level of forage competition among axis, fallow, and black-tailed deer and the competition between deer and cattle were assessed at Point Reyes Peninsula, CA. Composition of diets, preferences, and dietary overlap were assessed using esophageal, rumen, and fecal samples from cattle and rumen samples from deer. Diet samples were taken over the course of four years at various intervals, along with monthly forage samples.
Article Summary / Main Points: Sixteen plants made up the majority of the diets for all four ungulates. When dietary overlap occurred there was no inhibition of foraging success. There was enough variety and abundance of plant species to satisfy all four ungulates. Axis and fallow deer had the most similar diet in terms of composition (grasses and forbs) and overlap. Diets of black-tailed deer (forbs and browse) varied from the other ungulates with little dietary overlap, and the least overlap occurred between cattle and black-tailed deer. Cattle diets had a higher percentage of grass and therefore had a higher dietary overlap with axis and fallow deer.
Vegetation Types: California Grasslands (including all annual grasslands)
MLRA Ecoregions: 15 Central California Coast Range
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing systems Herbivores Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: exotic species, food class, dietary preference, anatomical differences
Annotation: The findings of this study apply to productive rangelands where competition between wild and domestic ungulate species is a management concern. These results are not applicable to rangelands with limited resources, such as desert grasslands. The design of this study would have been stronger if dietary samples for all ungulates were taken at the same time and season. Deer samples were only taken from deer shot by Point Reyes park personnel, thus consistent sampling did not occur.
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