Food Habits and Dietary Preferences of Attwater's Pocket Gopher, Geomys attwateri

Abstract

Fifty-one plant species were available in the habitat of Geomys attwateri . Thirtysix of these species were common to diets of both sexes; five additional species were unique to the diet of males. Species richness of the diet generally reflected that of the habitat, important dietary species were similar, and the amount of root material in the diets was similar (about 60% annually) for both sexes. Few plant species were preferred or avoided. Both sexes avoided annual dicots in winter and preferred perennial dicots seasonally. Females preferred perennial monocots in spring and males avoided them in summer. Thirty-four plant species were common to the diets of reproductive and non-reproductive females; one additional, minor species was unique to the diet of the former. Species richness of the diets reflected that of the habitat and important dietary species were similar for both groups. Reproductive females preferred perennial dicots and avoided annual monocots, whereas non-reproductive females did not.