Food Plant Species Research Articles

Ethnobotanical research in Cava de\u2019 Tirreni area, Southern Italy

BackgroundTo best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative ethnobotanical study with the aim of documenting the local knowledge and practices of using plants for curing diseases in the Cava de’ Tirreni area, Salerno Province, Campania Region, Italy. The present ethnobotanical field study, carried out during 2016–2017, documents the local uses of 119 plant species for medicinal, food and domestic purposes.MethodsEthnobotanical data were documented from 70 informants: field data were collected and information on the uses of plants was gathered through semi-structured and structured interviews with persons who still retain traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. Documented data were evaluated using the quantitative ethnobotanical index of use value (UV).ResultsOverall, the informants native of the area were interviewed and 277 use-reports have been recorded. The scientific names, local names, plant part used, preparation and administration processes are reported and compared with practices in other Southern Italian regions. In total, 101 species are documented as medicinal, 36 as food or food aromatizer, 29 for domestic and handicraft uses, 10 in veterinary medicine. More or less 64% of all species have more uses and over half of the food plants (23 species) are also used for medicinal purposes.ConclusionsThe comparison of the documented species and their uses with ethnobotanical literature of other Italian regions reveals that the traditional plant knowledge in this area shows strong similarities with adjacent Southern Italian areas. Some of the recorded species and administration processes however seem to be unique for the zone.

Community Composition and Diversity of Intestinal Microbiota in Captive and Reintroduced Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii)

Large and complex intestinal microbiota communities in hosts have profound effects on digestion and metabolism. To better understand the community structure of intestinal microbiota in Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) under different feeding regimes, we compared bacterial diversity and composition between captive and reintroduced Przewalski’s horses, using high-throughput 16S-rRNA gene sequencing for identification. Reintroduced Przewalski’s horses were sampled in two Chinese nature reserves, i.e., Dunhuang Xihu Nature Reserve (DXNR; n = 8) in Gansu Province and Kalamaili Nature Reserve (KNR; n = 12) in Xinjiang Province, and compared to a captive population at the Przewalski’s Horse Breeding Center in Xinjiang (PHBC; n = 11). The composition of intestinal microbiota in Przewalski’s horses was significantly different at the three study sites. Observed species was lowest in DXNR, but highest in KNR. Lowest Shannon diversity was observed in DXNR, while in KNR and PHBC had a moderately high diversity; Simpson diversity showed an opposite trend compared with the Shannon index. Linear Discriminant Analysis effect size was used to determine differentially distributed bacterial taxa at each study site. The most dominant phyla of intestinal microbiota were similar in all feeding regimes, including mainly Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Spirochaetes. Differing abundances of intestinal microbiota in Przewalski’s horses may be related to different food types at each study site, differences in diversity may be attributed to low quality food in DXNR. Results indicated that diet is one of the important factors that can influence the structure of intestinal microbiota communities in Przewalski’s horse. These findings combined with a detailed knowledge of the available and consumed food plant species could provide guidelines for the selection of potential future reintroduction sites.

Effect of mountain gorilla (<i>Gorilla beringei beringei</i>) population growth to their key food plant biomass in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

High densities of large herbivores can have detrimental effects on plant biomass. Understanding the relationship between animal densities and plant distribution and abundance is essential for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems. Mountain gorilla censuses conducted for different periods in the last three decades have revealed a steady increase of gorilla population in Virunga Massif whereby the recent number of gorillas has doubled compared to their number in the 1980s. It is unclear whether the continuous population growth of the herbivorous Virunga gorilla within an isolated forest ‘island’ has been affecting gorilla food plant biomass. This study investigated the effect of varying mountain gorilla densities on the biomass of the five key food plant species (Galium spp., Carduus nyassanus, Peucedanum linderi, Rubus spp., Laportea alatipes) that make up >70% of the mountain gorilla diet. We used plant biomass data collected in a central part of the Virunga massif, commonly known as Karisoke sector from 2009 to 2011, and GPS records of gorilla groups ranging in the same area nine months prior biomass assessment. Gorilla densities were estimated using the Kernel Utilization Distribution (KDE) analysis (functions: ‘kernelUD’ and ‘getvolumeUD’) from the Adehabitat package in R software, which provides the probability density of gorilla occurrence at each coordinate (x, y) of the study area. Analyses using GLMs suggest that gorilla densities (a proxy of previous gorilla utilization intensity) did neither affect the total biomass of key food plant species nor the biomass of each key food plant species (p>0.05). These results may indicate that current revisit rates of feeding sites by gorillas allow for complete plant regeneration, and no signs of overharvesting. Alternatively, feeding sites characterized by very high biomass may be preferred by gorillas and remain sites with the highest biomass even after being frequently used by gorillas. Findings also suggest that carrying capacity of the gorilla population in the study areas may not yet be reached if food is the driving constraint. However, monitoring of the relationship between gorilla densities and food plant biomass must continue while the Virunga population continues growing. Future studies also need to incorporate other sympatric large herbivores in the Virungas who share food plants with mountain gorillas.Keywords: habitat use, gorilla density, plants biomass

Meat eating in wild hamadryas baboons: Opportunistic trade-offs between insects and vertebrates.

The consumption of meat may provide herbivorous animals with important nutrients that are scarce in their plant-based diet. Seasonal variation in plant food availability has been suggested to motivate dietary flexibility in a range of species and thus primates may seek more prey when key plant resources are unavailable. Alternatively, prey encounter rate may drive meat eating. Here we investigate patterns of meat eating in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) at Filoha, Awash National Park, Ethiopia. The Filoha baboons rely largely on doum palm fruit (Hyphaene thebaica), which are available most months of the year, and the young leaves of Acacia senegal, which are more abundant during the wet season. We hypothesized that the baboons would consume more meat when H. thebaica and A. senegal were less available, which we tested by comparing meat eating and consumption of these plant food species from March 2005 through February 2006. Our results reveal a high rate of vertebrate meat eating at Filoha (0.028/hour of observation) compared with other hamadryas sites. We found no relationship, however, between meat eating (either insect or vertebrate) and either rainfall or consumption of H. thebaica or A. senegal, indicating that availability of preferred plant resources does not drive meat consumption. Vertebrate consumption and time spent feeding were significantly negatively associated; there was no relationship, however, between the consumption of animal matter and either home range size or daily path length. Vertebrate and insect consumption alternated throughout the year such that the baboons maintained a small amount of animal matter in their diet year-round. Our results suggest that the baboons do not often actively seek animal matter, but consume it opportunistically, with the presence of locust and dragonfly swarms driving insect consumption, and both prey availability and the availability of feeding time shaping vertebrate predation.

Succession matters: Community shifts in moths over three decades increases multifunctionality in intermediate successional stages

Species composition strongly depends on time, place and resources. In this context, semi-natural grasslands belong to the most species-rich habitats of Europe, and succession may eventually cause local extinction of typical grassland species, but conversely increase species richness due to habitat diversification. Here, we analyse potential effects of succession of calcareous grasslands on moths. Our studied community, assessed over three decades in south-eastern Germany, comprised >1000 species. We compiled data on the ecology of each of these species, considering the larval and adult stages. We assigned Ellenberg indicator values to each main larval food plant species used by these lepidopterans. Changes in the community means of these indicators were applied to test for possible consequences of the changes in habitat structure and quality. Our data revealed increasing multifunctionality of community structure, higher variability of habitat association over time, the appearance of range expanding species, but also local extinction of various typical grassland moth species. These shifts in species composition mirror effects of succession, which frequently transform previously homogenous semi-natural grasslands into a heterogeneous habitat mosaic.

Non-reproductive effects of two parasitoid species on the oriental armyworm Mythimna separata on wheat and maize plants

Non-reproductive effects of parasitoids on their hosts and their associated mechanisms are poorly known. We carried out laboratory studies to measure non-reproductive mortality (NRM) and reproductive mortality (RM) caused by two different larval parasitoids to the oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) that fed on either wheat or maize plants. We then examined non-lethal effects of the parasitoids on developmental performances of the surviving hosts on the two plant species. We found that NRM was as high as RM for Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) while lower than RM for Microplitis mediator (Haliday), on both wheat and maize plants. The exposure of the host larvae to either of the two species of parasitoids had non-lethal effects on the surviving hosts on both wheat and maize plants, impairing some of host developmental performances as measured by larval developmental time, larval body weight, pupal duration, pupal body weight, and adult longevity. These non-lethal effects did not vary between the two parasitoid species: they varied somewhat between the two plant species. The results from the present study suggest that different parasitoid species in the same guild can have different levels of non-reproductive effects on the same host, and such effects may vary somewhat across host’s food plant species.

Ethnomedicinal uses of the local flora in Chenab riverine area, Punjab province Pakistan

BackgroundBecause of diverse topographical habitats, the Chenab River wetland harbors a wealth of medicinal and food plant species. This paper presents first quantitative assessment on the ethnobotanical use of plants by the local peoples residing in the Chenab riverine area.MethodsThe ethnobotanical data were collected from six parts of the Chenab River wetland: Mandi Bahuddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sargodha, and Sialkot during 2014 to 2015, using semi-structured interviews. Quantitative indices including informant consensus factor (FCI), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance level (RIL), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), and corrected fidelity level (CFL) were used to analyze the data.ResultsOn the whole, 129 medicinal plant species belonging to 112 genera of 59 families were reported, with herbs as dominant life forms (51%). Poaceae was the leading family with 13 species, and leaves were the most frequently utilized plant parts (28%). Herbal medicines were mostly used in the form of powder or decoction, and were mainly taken orally. Withania somnifera, Solanum surattense, Solanum nigrum, Azadirachta indica, Ficus benghalensis, Morus nigra, Morus alba, Polygonum plebeium, and Tribulus terrestris were among the highly utilized plant species, with highest UV, RFC, RIL, FL, and CFL values. The reported ailments were grouped into 11 categories based on FCI values, whereas highest FIC was recorded for gastrointestinal diseases and glandular diseases (0.41 and 0.34, respectively). The use report (UR) and frequency of citation (FC) depicted strong positive correlation (r = 0.973; p = 0.01). The value of determination (r2 = 0.95) indicating 95% variation in UR can be explained in terms of the FC.ConclusionThe significant traditional knowledge possessed by local communities depicts their strong relation with phytodiversity. Reported data could be helpful in sustainable use and protection of plant species in the Chenab wetland, with special emphasis on medicinal plants. Furthermore, screening of plant-borne active ingredients and in vivo/in vitro pharmacological activities could be of interest for novel drug synthesis.

Determination of resource based stocking density of wild ungulates living in the floating meadows of Keibul Lamjao National Park, India

The stocking density of the globally threatened Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii eldii) and hog deer (Axis porcinus), living in the floating meadows of Keibul Lamjao National Park, India, were derived from the forage demand of each species and the availability of forage biomass in the meadows. The biomass production was estimated by harvesting the above-ground biomass every month for 2 years from 432 plots of size 1 m × 1 m that were protected by ungulate-proof enclosures. The actual intake of the ungulates was estimated from the percentage of dry matter consumed for each food plant species through micro-histological analysis. The populations of Eld's deer and hog deer that the meadows can support were calculated on the basis of the consumable dry matter available in the park, considering the variable thickness of the floating meadows. The estimated overall stocking densities of Eld's deer and hog deer were 0.141 ± 0.06 and 0.265 ± 0.12 individuals ha−1 or 15,581.54 ± 1171.6 kg of ungulate biomass. The stocking density varied significantly with meadow type for both the species, being higher for thick meadows. The best available areas of the park having 864.29 ha, can support 170.41 ± 11.4 Eld's deer and 319.36 ± 22.94 hog deer or 17,356.38 ± 912.02 kg of ungulate biomass with a maximum of 173.6 ± 4.21 Eld's deer and 325.46 ± 9.45 hog deer or 17,684.56 ± 697.3 kg of ungulate biomass in the monsoon season. The thin meadows with an area of 732.34 ha can support another 119.37 ± 12.78 and 225.44 ± 23.88 Eld's deer and hog deer respectively or 12,201.35 ± 922.74 kg of ungulate biomass. In similar resource constraint habitat, this study will be helpful in determining the optimal stocking density for the science based management of rangelands, especially for the conservation of wild grazers.

Feeding ecology of primates in Pandam wildlife park, Plateau State, Nigeria

Primates are ecologically flexible and generalist feeders yet selective in choice of diet. Insufficient information on the plants consumed by primates hinders appropriate and deliberate conservation measures. I therefore seek to identify the plants species, dominant part consumed in Pandam Wildlife Park (PWLP). Direct observation method was adopted along 2km line transect to record food plants species and part consumed by primates for a period of 6 months. Proximate composition of food plants were determined using standard procedures. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and ANOVA at (p<0.01). Feeding sites were identified along riparian strata, savanna woodland and the swampy strata and four primates species belonging to one family (Cercopithecidae) were encountered, which include Cercopithecus mona, Erythrocebus patas, Papio anubis and, Chlorocebus tantalus, all primates were observed to feed in group. Seventeen food plants beonging to 14 families, one grass species (Andropogon gayanus), four invertebrates (Lumbrucis terrestris, Eurymerodesmus spp and Chinocectes opilio) and two crop plants (Zea mays and Sorghum vulgare) were identified. Plant parts consumed by primates include fruit, (75%) and leaves (25%). Among the food plant species, the highest crude proteins (11.86±0.07a), fats/oil (13.57±0.06a), ash (10.67±0.03a), moisture (13.63±0.07a), and crude fiber (27.85±0.48a) where obtained in Piliostigma thonningii, Rafia sundanica, Piliostigma thonningii, Stryhtinos spinose, and Tamarindus indica. Primates in the study area fed on variety of food items, predominantly on fruits irrespective of the season. Their frugivorous tendency has far ranching ecological implication with attendant effect on seed dispersal, seed treatment, seed predation, food predation, food competition, food provision, food scarcity among other sympatric animals that have fruits constituting a portion of their diet.Key words: Feeding, behavior, primates, ecology

Differences in food plant species of the polyphagous herbivore Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) influence host searching behavior of its larval parasitoid, Cotesia kariyai (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

In tri-trophic interactions among plants, herbivorous insects, and parasitoids, the food plant species of herbivores may affect parasitoid performance, such as host searching behavior and development and survival of immature parasitoids in the host body. Here, we tested the effects of food plant species of the host Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on host searching behavior (i.e., flight responses to host-infested plant volatiles [HIPVs] and antennal responses to host feces or fecal extract) by the larval parasitoid Cotesia kariyai (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). In laboratory tests, female wasps responded differentially to HIPVs and feces produced from host caterpillars on different diets. Female wasps showed stronger responses to HIPVs from infested maize than to those from infested daikon. Similarly, wasps showed stronger contact responses to feces from caterpillars fed on maize or kidney bean than to those fed on daikon or an artificial diet. Previous studies demonstrated that maize-fed caterpillars are suitable hosts, whereas daikon-fed caterpillars are unsuitable hosts, for parasitism by C. kariyai. Therefore, our results indicate that female wasps show stronger responses to the chemicals related to suitable hosts than to those of unsuitable hosts.

Selective fern herbivory by leaf-cutter ants of Atta cephalotes (L.) in Brazil

Although leaf-cutter ants of the genus Atta are polyphagous, they discriminate between food plant species. Ferns represent the second largest group of vascular plants and are especially abundant in tropical forest understories, but seem to be avoided as food plants. We studied the leaf damage caused by leaf-cutter ants and its relation with water content, trichome density, alkaloids, triterpenoids, and total phenol and nitrogen content of nine fern species occurring in close vicinity to Atta cephalotes (L.) nests from rainforests in Brazil. Meniscium serratum Cav. presented the highest leaf damage with 32.3%, three other species had a leaf damage of less than 5%, and the remaining five species were undamaged. Food preferences of leaf-cutter ants were related with higher water content (> 70%), but independent of any other measured variables. Additional observations from Mexico and Costa Rica provided evidence that a larger number of ferns are attacked by leaf-cutter ants. We suggest that highly damaged fern species might serve them as an occasional, short-term, alternative diet when growing close to ant nests, whereas less damaged fern species might have some chemical components harmful for the fungus and detected a posteriori, because they were rejected after initial harvesting by leaf-cutter ants.

Fatal Attraction: Ricinus communis Provides an Attractive but Risky Mating Site for Holotrichia parallela Beetles.

The castor bean, Ricinus communis L., is a non-host plant for the large black chafer, Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). In laboratory bioassays we found that this plant was no less attractive than the main host plant (peanut, Arachis hypogaea) and three food plant species: velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), the glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum), and the Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila). In field trapping experiments a Soxhlet extract of castor bean leaves caught more beetles than the optimal sex lure blend [(R)-(-)-linalool and (L)-isoleucine methyl ester blended in a ratio of 1:4], compared at equal doses (500μl), and laboratory bioassays indicated that a castor bean plant could enhance the attractiveness of different blend ratios of sex lures. Olfactometer bioassays showed that males prefer volatiles emitted from different combinations of castor bean plant extracts and a signaling female over a female alone. In the presence of castor bean plants copulation rates of H. parallela were highest among all test environments both in laboratory bioassays (60%) and in field tests (70%). This study, combined with our previous observation of the feeding behavior of H. parallela adults on castor bean leaves, suggests that castor bean plants may provide an attractive but risky mating site for H. parallela beetles. The enhancement of male mate-location and copulation rate in the presence of castor bean plants can balance its paralytic effects on H. parallela after intake of potential toxins contained in its leaves.

Diversity of Local Food in Sasak Ethnic, Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara

Several species of local plants in Lombok are formerly often used by the community as an alternative food. Community awareness of the food usually comes from life experience, knowledge from generation to generation, and local wisdom. These things need attention for the sake of sustainability. The ethnobotany study is necessary. The aim of this study was to make an inventory of non-rice local food diversity of East Lombok district West Nusa Tenggara. This research was executed through open interview and direct observation in the field. This study is one of the local food conservation efforts for strengthening national food security. The results of ethnobotany studies recorded 15 species of non-rice local foods contain carbohydrate. The most widely used plant part is the tubers/rhizomes. Until now, the species of non-rice food plants, remain cultivated but without handling such as rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays).

A PCR-based analysis of plant DNA reveals the feeding preferences of Apolygus lucorum (Heteroptera: Miridae)

The mirid bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dur) (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a severe pest of cotton and other crops in China. The feeding preferences of this pest are unclear due to its frequent movement among different host plants and the inconspicuous signs of its feeding. Here, we present results of a field trial that used direct observation of bug densities and a PCR-based molecular detection assay to detect plant DNA in bugs to explore relationships between A. lucorum population abundance and its feeding preference between two host plants, Humulus scandens (Loureiro) Merrill and Medicago sativa L. The field-plot samples showed that A. lucorum adults generally prefer flowering host plants. Its density was significantly higher on flowering H. scandens than on seedlings of M. sativa, and a similarly higher bug density was observed on flowering M. sativa than on seedlings of H. scandens. In the laboratory, we designed two pairs of species-specific primers targeting the trnL-F region for H. scandens and M. sativa, respectively. The detectability of plant DNA generally decreased with time post-feeding, and the half-life of plant DNA detection (DS50) in the gut was estimated as 6.26 h for H. scandens and 3.79 h for M. sativa with significant differences between each other. In mirid bugs exposed to seedlings of H. scandens and flowering M. sativa, the detection rate of M. sativa DNA was significantly higher than that of H. scandens. Meanwhile, in mirid bugs exposed to seedlings of M. sativa and flowering H. scandens, a significantly higher detection rate of H. scandens DNA was found. We developed a useful tool to detect the remaining plant food species specifically from the gut of A. lucorum in the current study. We provided direct evidence of its feeding preference between H. scandens and M. sativa at different growth stages, which strongly supported a positive correlation between population abundance and feeding preference of A. lucorum on different plants under field conditions. The findings provide new insights into the understanding of A. lucorum’s feeding preference, and are helpful for developing the strategies to control this pest.

Control history, longitude and multiple abiotic and biotic variables predict the abundances of invasive brushtail possums in New Zealand forests

The factors affecting variation in the abundances of invasive mammal species have seldom been evaluated at large spatial scales. We used data collected in a large-scale biodiversity monitoring program to identify variables predicting abundances of common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula; ‘possum’), a marsupial folivore introduced to New Zealand in the 1800s. We sampled possum abundances, vegetation structure and composition, and abiotic variables at 395 spatially representative sites in natural forest on the North, South and Stewart islands. Records of possum control were obtained from management agencies. The large sample size enabled us to consider the relative importance of 27 variables for possum abundances. Twelve variables explained 80% of the contributions to the final boosted regression tree model. Control history had the largest contribution to the model, with sites subject to aerial 1080 poison baiting either once or more than once in the previous 7 years having possum abundances 64% and 74% lower, respectively, than sites without control. Possum abundances were also negatively related to humidity, stem density, tree cover density, slope, elevation and distance to pasture/crop. Abundances increased with increasing food plant species richness, Weinmannia racemosa (a preferred food tree) cover, and solar radiation. There was an interaction between longitude and control history. We conclude that invasive possum abundances in New Zealand’s natural forests are determined by multiple biotic and abiotic factors, sometimes in interaction. Recent control operations, however, have greatly reduced possum abundances. Increasing the spatial extent of aerial 1080 poison baiting will further reduce possum abundances in New Zealand forests.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems: Its impact on plant communities and consequences across trophic levels

Abstract The global nitrogen cycle has been greatly perturbed by human activities resulting in elevated nitrogen deposition in many parts of the world. The threat nitrogen deposition poses to ecosystem function and biodiversity is increasingly recognised. In terrestrial systems, impacts on the plant community are mainly through eutrophication and soil acidification. Interactions with secondary environmental drivers such as extreme weather and disease are also key mechanisms. Impacts on consumers can be caused by changes in the quality or quantity of food as a result of changes in food plant chemistry or species composition, changes in vegetation structure leading to a change in the availability of prey species, nesting sites or cooled microclimates or changes in the phenology of plants leading to causing phenological asynchrony. Primary consumers have received considerably less research attention than plants but negative impacts have been observed for both folivorous insects and pollinators. Mammal herbivores have received little research attention. New analysis of changes in plant traits along a gradient of nitrogen deposition in the UK shows that plants pollinated by large bees were negatively associated with N deposition whilst low pH was associated with lower nectar production, reduced occurrence of plants pollinated by long‐tongued insects and a reduction in plants with larger floral units. Very few studies have investigated the effects on secondary consumers, but those that have suggest that there are likely to be negative impacts. This review identifies considerable knowledge gaps in the impacts of N deposition on higher tropic levels and highlights that for many groups, knowledge of N deposition impacts is patchy at best. Evidence that has been collected suggests that there are likely to be impacts on primary and secondary consumers making this a priority area for investigation.

贺兰山同域分布高山麝和阿拉善马鹿秋季食性的比较研究

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 贺兰山同域分布高山麝和阿拉善马鹿秋季食性的比较研究 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201703100404 作者: 作者单位: 东北林业大学野生动物资源学院,东北林业大学,东北林业大学,东北林业大学,东北林业大学,东北林业大学,宁夏贺兰山国家级自然保护区管理局,东北林业大学 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目（31372221）；中央高校基本科研业务费资助项目（2572014CA03，DL13EA01）；东北林业大学大学生创新训练项目（201610225077） A comparative study of autumn diets of Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) and Alashan red deer (Cervus alashanicus) in the Helan Mountains, China Author: Affiliation: Northeast Forestry University,,,,,,,Northeast Forestry University Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:对贺兰山同域分布的高山麝和阿拉善马鹿秋季的粪便进行采集，利用粪便显微分析法对二者秋季食性进行了研究。分别采集高山麝和阿拉善马鹿活动区域内粪样和植物样本，分别获得两种动物40个复合粪便样本，采用频率转换法对数据处理计算，得到贺兰山同域分布的高山麝和阿拉善马鹿秋季的食性组成及组成比例。结果显示，高山麝秋季共取食植物20科30种（属），其中蓝锭果忍冬（11.96%）、秦氏黄芪（10.17%）、密齿柳（8.32%）、折枝绣线菊（6.82%）、内蒙野丁香（6.18%）组成了高山麝的主要食物；阿拉善马鹿秋季共取食植物12科29种（属），其中针茅（22.15%）、灰榆（21.14%）、早熟禾（16.90%）、小叶金露梅（11.62%）、山杨（10.00%）为阿拉善马鹿秋季的主要食物。高山麝和阿拉善马鹿共有9种食物重叠，生态位重叠指数为83.75%。秋季高山麝取食的Shannon-Wiener指数、Pieou均匀性指数、食物生态位宽度指数和最大的物种多样性指数均高于阿拉善马鹿。 Abstract:The feces of Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) and Alashan red deer (Cervus alashanicus) were collected in the Helan Mountains, and their feeding habits in autumn were studied by microscopic analysis of the feces. The fecal samples and plant samples were collected from the habitats of Alpine musk deer and Alashan red deer, and 40 compound samples were obtained for each species. The autumn diet proportions of Alpine musk deer and Alashan red deer were processed using the frequency conversion method. The results showed that the diet of the Alpine musk deer consisted of 30 species of 20 families in autumn, including Lonicera edulis (11.96%), Astragalus spp. (10.17%), Salix characta (8.32%), Spiraea spp. (6.82%), and Leptodermis ordosica (6.18%). The diet of the Alashan red deer consisted of 29 species of 12 families, including Stipa spp. (22.15%), Ulmus glaucescens (21.14%), Poa spp. (16.90%), Potentilla parvifolia (11.62%), and Populus davidiana (10.00%). The Alpine musk deer and Alashan red deer shared nine species of food plants in total, and the index of niche overlap was 83.75%. The Shannon-Wiener index, Pielou uniformity index, food niche breadth index, and largest species diversity index were higher in Alpine musk deer than in Alashan red deer. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Feeding Behavior of Phayre’s Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram

A study on feeding behavior of two primate species viz; Phayre’s leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei, Blyth, 1847) and capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus Blyth, 1843) was conducted during summer season (March–May, 2014) in Dampa Tiger Reserve (DTR), Mizoram, India. Study was carried out in the Terei range of forest reserve. A total of 87 plant species including bamboo were recorded in the area. Both species of primates (T. phayrei and T. pileatus) were studied for their food plant selection, diet composition, time budget for activities during day. Selection of trees to sleep at night was also observed. Capped langur selected 7 food plant species whereas Phayre’s leaf monkey selected 8 food plants. 40% of the plant species were common to both the primate species; however they showed a distinct variation in food plant preference. Phayre’s leaf monkey spent S 90% of feeding time on Musa ornata, Melacana baccifera and Dendrocalamus longispathus and S 80% Musa balbisiana, Gmelina arborea and Buetneria pilosa; an indication of preference for bamboo species and climbers. Capped langur spent feeding time S 90% on Ficus maclellendi and Ficus semicordata while other species were given comparatively less time. Both the species had consumed young leaves, flowers and fruits in their diet that constitute nearly 80% of the diet. Food items were drawn from different plants. The Phayre’s preferred Dendrocalamus longispathus, (98%) as sleeping site while the Capped langur selected Ficus benghalensis (90%) to sleep at night. Both the species are folivorous in nature but the selection of food plants, source of diet components and plants used to sleep at night were different that indicates that both species has distinct niche within the same habitat type; a very strong survival strategy.

Foraging suggests high behavioral ?exibility in the blue-winged parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius, Psittacidae) in response to ?eshy fruit availability

Parrots primarily consume seeds and pulp and sometimes flowers, nectar and leaves. Plants usually offer these items seasonally, forcing flexible consumption behavior in parrots, mostly when food is scarce. However, seasonal changes in behavior in the Forpus genus (the small Neotropical parrots) guided by the food supply have still not been identifed. Here, we investigate the foraging patterns of Forpus xanthopterygius (the blue-winged parrotlet) and identify the plants and items it consumes. This information, together with data on its occurrence, flock size and dietary niche breadth, were used to elucidate whether the behavioral flexibility of this bird is related to shifts in fleshy fruit availability from the wet to the dry season. The data were obtained during two years of systematic sampling (n = 432) along nine roadside transects located in an anthropogenic landscape. Forpus xanthopterygius consumed the seeds, flowers/nectar and fruit pulp (in this order of preference) of 24 plant species (10 exotics) belonging to 18 families. Te dietary niche breadth was narrow, likely because fleshy fruits of Cecropia pachystachya , Maclura tinctoria , and especially Trema micrantha predominated in their diet. Forpus xanthopterygius was shown to be seasonal, being more common in the wet season, when the availability of fleshy fruits was greater. Tis parrot proved to be flexible in some behaviors, perhaps to minimize the negative impacts of the decline in fleshy fruit availability during the driest period. Evidence of this flexibility is the increase in flock size and the number of food plant species, as well as the use of dry fruits, nectar and exotic plants as alternative food sources.

Effect of a vitamin supplement and three species of food plants (Fabaceae) on the production of Morpho helenor butterflies (Nymphalidae:Lepidoptera)

Little has been published on the use of artificial diets for the production of butterflies in the Nymphalidae family. We evaluated the effect of a commercial vitamin supplement called Farvital - 18, composed of amino acids, vitamins and electrolytes, on the production of the butterfly Morpho helenor. This supplement was applied on three host plants from the family Fabaceae: Lonchocarpus oliganthus, Erythrina berteroana and Arachis pintoi. We analyzed the duration of the larval stages, the growth rate of the caterpillars at each stage, the survival rate of the caterpillars, pupal weight, and quality and quantity of pupae obtained. Lonchocarpus oliganthus without and with the addition of vitamin supplement produced larger caterpillars, higher survival rate, shorter larval stage duration, and produced heavier and better quality pupae. Arachis pintoi with and without vitamin supplement produced pupae of lower weight. Males fed on Lonchocarpus oliganthus hatched faster but for females the food did not make any difference. Independent of the diet used for the 600 initial larvae, 371 pupae were produced (61,83%). Of the total pupae obtained, 3,63% did not emerge and 88% of the pupae were A quality. The greatest adult emergence occurred between days 14 and 15 of the pupa formation. The pupae of females were heavier than males. The native plant Lonchocarpus oliganthus gave better yields in the production of butterflies Morpho helenor.