Abstract
The chemical composition and digestibility of plants selected by Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus) on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia (SG) were investigated in the austral summer and compared with two qualities of standard grasses of Phleum pratense of European origin. Paridiochola flabellata, Poa pratense, Poa annua, Deschampsia antarctka, and Phleum alpinum collected on SG contained 14.8, 17.6, 22.8, 16.1 and 10.1% respectively of crude protein of dry matter (DM). Aceana magellanica also collected on SG contained 19.8% of crude protein and 18.8% of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) of DM, while the tussock grass P. flabellata, contained as much as 29-3% of WSC of DM. Total plant cell-wall contents (CWC), including cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin in P. flabellata, P. pratense, P. annua and P. alpinum were 53.2, 49.6, 41.7 and 40.4% of DM respectively, while A. magellanica contained only 17.5% of DM CWC. The lignin concentrations of plants analysed varied between 1.2 and 3.2% of DM. Mean in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of selected plants ranged from 70% in P. flabellata to 83% in P. alpinum after 48 h incubation in rumen fluid from these reindeer. In contrast, the IVDMD of the poor and high quality standard grass Phleum pratense were 54% and 73% of DM, respectively. The forage eaten by reindeer on SG in summer was of high quality, with low lignin content, moderate protein concentration and high degradability in rumen fluid.
Highlights
The first description of South Georgia and its flora was made in 1775 by Captain James Cook when he discovered this island, 200 km south of the Antarctic convergence, in the Atlantic Ocean (5455°S, 35-38°W)
Plant chemistry The chemical composition of selected plants eaten by reindeer on South Georgia in summer are shown in Tables 1 & 2
The flora on South Georgia is poor in species on South Georgia have a daily requirement of 57.5 because of the island's isolation and its extension g D M / k g B M 0 7 5 of P. flabellata with 70% in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD)
Summary
The first description of South Georgia and its flora was made in 1775 by Captain James Cook when he discovered this island, 200 km south of the Antarctic convergence, in the Atlantic Ocean (5455°S, 35-38°W). He wrote in his journal: «The wild rocks raised their lofty summits till they were lost in the clouds and the valleys laid buried in everlasting snow. The flora consists of few grasses and rushes and there is a lack of trees, shrubs and true woody plants. One dominant plant species is Paridiocholaflabellata,a winter green coastal tussock grass with high biomass and productivity, which does not occur in the northern hemisphere.
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