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Diet composition and habitat use of the West African bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus scriptus (Pallas, 1776) during the first half of the dry season

1986; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 21; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/02541858.1986.11447964

0254-1858

C.M.M. Smits,

Fish Ecology and Management Studies

AbstractDiet composition and habitat use of the West African bushbuck were investigated in three vegetation units (River, Riverine Forest, Woodland Savannah) along the Baoule River, during the first half of the dry season. Woody plants were the most frequently occurring species in faecal pellets and were thought to represent feeding in all vegetation units available to the study animals. Systematic direct observations on feeding behaviour were carried out in the River Unit only and yielded a preponderance of both woody plants and forbs. The plant species that appeared to be the staple forage species in the faecal analysis were absent in the River Unit. They were common on the Savannah and in the Riverine Forest and indicate the importance of these vegetation units as feeding areas. It is suggested that foraging on the Savannah occurs mostly at night. The vegetation types in the River Unit appear to be selected for foraging on woody plants, forbs and (or) green sedges.Die dieetsamestelling en habitatgebruik deur die Wes- Afrikaanse bosbok in drie veldtipes (rivier, oewerbos en savanne) langs die Baoulerivier is gedurende die eerste helfte van die droë seisoen ondersoek. Reste van houtagtige plante kom met die hoogste frekwensie voor in die misballetjies erj dit is aanvaar dat dit weiding in al die veldtipes waartoe hierdie spesies toegang het, verteenwoordig. Sistematiese waarnemings op die voedingsgedrag van hierdie bok is slegs in die rivierveldtipe gedoen en daar is gevind dat houtagtige sowel as tweesaadlobbige kruidagtige plante voorkeurvoedselitems is. Die plantspesies, wat by analise van die misballetjies die stapelweidingsgewasse blyk te wees, is afwesig in die rivierveldtipe. Hulle kom egter algemeen voor in die savanne en oewerbos wat 'n aanduiding is van die belangrikheid van hierdie veldtipes as weidingsgebiede. Die aanduidings is verder dat die spesies meestal gedurende die nag op die savanne wei. Houtagtige plante, tweesaadlobbige kruidagtiges en (of) groen biesies word selektief bewei in die rivierveldtipe.