Preference indices for shrubs browsed by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in northeastern Mexico
The Texas white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus texanus) is a selective and opportunistic ruminant that can consume over 100 plant species in its diet throughout the year. However, the white-tailed deer’s diet is made up of less than 10 species, mainly shrub species, in southern Texas and northe...
| Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Status: | Published version |
| Publication Date: | 2020 |
| Country: | México |
| Institution: | UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA CHAPINGO |
| Repository: | Revista Chapingo Serie Zonas Áridas |
| Language: | Spanish |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs2.revistas.chapingo.mx:article/428 |
| Online Access: | https://revistas.chapingo.mx/zonas_aridas/article/view/r.rchsza.2018.10.020 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Shrub selection cafeteria trial shrub consumption selectivity index Selección de arbustivas prueba de cafetería consumo de arbustivas índice de selectividad |
| Summary: | The Texas white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus texanus) is a selective and opportunistic ruminant that can consume over 100 plant species in its diet throughout the year. However, the white-tailed deer’s diet is made up of less than 10 species, mainly shrub species, in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. The objectives of the study were to compare dry matter-based consumption and the shrub selectivity index for white-tailed deer and to study the relationships between some physical and chemical characteristics of shrubs that may affect consumption. A total of four white-tailed deer were involved. Shrub branches were offered for 15 minutes. Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia farnesiana and Acacia rigidula were the most consumed species; furthermore, a negative relationship between iron content and consumption rate, and a negative relationship between consumption and stem percentage were found. |
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