Grazing activity of breeding and non-breeding female Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva)

Abstract

We studied year-round grazing activity in female Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva, Cantabrian mountains, Spain), in relation to reproductive status: breeding and non-breeding. We considered three periods based on maternal care: pre-birth, from November to March; early post-birth, May; late post-birth, from June to October. Grazing activity did not differ between reproductive states (P > 0.05), but differences were found between pre-birth and late post-birth periods (P < 0.001). The percentage of time spent grazing was greater in the pre-birth period than in the late post-birth period (breeding females: 52% vs 37%; non-breeding females: 57% vs 33%; P < 0.05). In breeding females prebirth grazing activity was also higher than early post-birth (52% vs 27%, P < 0.05), but no information was available for non-breeding females in the early post-birth period. Breeding females shed their winter coat later than non-breeding females (P = 0.035), a likely indication of poor body condition. Breeding fema...