White-tailed deer food habits in northeastern Mexico

Abstract

Microhistological analysis of feces was used to estimate the selection of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus, Tex.) in the state of Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico. Browse was the main component of deer diets (94% annual mean). Major species were blackbrush acacia ( Acacia rigidula Benth), guajillo ( Acacia berlandieri Benth) soapbrush ( Porlieria angustifolia Englem), cenizo ( Leucophyllum texanus Benth), huisache ( Acacia farnesiana L), popotillo ( Ephedra aspera Englem), palo verde ( Cercidium macrum I.M. Johnst) and honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa Torr). These species represented about 82% the total plant composition of deer diets on an annual basis. Forbs were numerous (23 species in deer diets), but represented only about 5% of the total annual diet. Major forbs in deer diets were Hibiscus spp., Zephyranthes arenicola Hansel, Agrythamnia neomexicana Muell and Dyssodia acerosa DC. Grasses were selected by deer in very low amounts; buffelgrass ( Cenchrus ciliaris L.) was the major grass in the annual diets of deer. Because of the nature of deer diets, it is concluded that browse should be considered an important part of the deer habitat, and that those shrub species that are used by deer for food and refuge should be preserved.