Seasonal variations in the diet of adult male Fallow Deer (Dama dama) in a submediterranean coastal area

Abstract

The results of rumen content analysis of adult male Fallow deer in the S. Rossore Preserve (along the Thyrrenian sea, Central Italy), are given. A curvilinear regression analysis gave the minimum representative number of fragments needing to be identified in each sample, and microhistological analysis allowed the identification of the plant species composition of the diet. The list of the recovered plant remains is given, and the top food plants in order of importance were trees and shrubs. In both spring and autumnal samples diet consisted mostly of tree and shrub remains ; in autumn, however, the consumption of trees and shrubs, as well as of legumes and other forbs was lower, whilst that of graminoids increased. The highest value of seasonal overlap index was shown by legumes. Significantly, the diet of male Fallow deer was found to be more nutritive in spring, when antler growth is completed.