Abstract
The food composition of the Four-horned Antelope Tetracerus quadricornis was studied in the Churia Hills of Nepal during summer, monsoon and the winter seasons of 2012–2013. Microhistological technique was used to determine the diet. The Four-horned Antelope was found to be a mixed feeder feeding on trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses and climbers. Trees and shrubs contribute the major percentage of diet in all the three seasons. The Gramineae family is consumed in highest proportion. Mitragyna parvifolia, Bridelia retusa, Bambusa vulgaris, Hymenodictyon sp. and Ziziphus mauritiana are major tree species while Barleria cristata, Pogostemon benghalensis, Achyranthes sp., Clerodendrum viscosum are among shrubs. Ageratum conyzoides and Blumea virens are the main forbs Eulaliopsis binata and Imperata cylindrica are the principal grass species. Climber Trachelospermum lucidum is consumed in a small proportion. Grasses in monsoon were consumed distinctly at a higher percentage than during the other two seasons. The Four-horned Antelopes are concentrated feeders and browsers with a generalized feeding strategy. Similar studies need to be conducted in other landscapes and with sympatric and potential competitor species to understand its niche overlaps and degree of competition.
Highlights
Quantifying diet is an important aspect of studying animal ecology
This paper aims to assess the diet composition of the Four-horned Antelope (F-hA) at the plant category and plant species level in Nepal
Study Area The study was conducted in the Churia Hills of the northern slopes of 968km2 Bardia National Park (28015’– 28040’N & 81015’–81040’E), located in western Tarai and Siwalik of Nepal (Fig. 1)
Summary
Quantifying diet is an important aspect of studying animal ecology. Without full understanding of what animals eat, why they eat, where they eat and variations in feeding over time, species specific management is nearly impossible. Efficient management of ungulates requires a detailed knowledge of their diets and food habits (Holechek et al 1982; Mofareh et al 1997; Sandoval et al 2005). Knowing the diet composition of herbivores is important for understanding their foraging ecology and for mediating the effects they have on vegetation and ecosystems (Barcia et al 2007). The dietary studies are more important for patchily distributed (Sharma et al 2013), threatened and low density species (Sharma et al 2009) like the Four-horned Antelope Tetracerus quadricornis (de Blainville 1816)
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