Diet selection in overwinter caches of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi)

• Autorzy: Xie J.-X. , Lin G.-H. , Liu C.-X. , Yang C.-H. , Deng X.-G. , Cui X.-F. , Li B. , Zhang T.-Z. , Su J.-P.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Subterranean herbivores affect the plant community by plant consumption and burrowing activities. However, diet selection of subterranean herbivores has not been studied in detail in complex natural fields, mainly for lack of an accurate method to determine diet species, frequency, and biomass. Plateau zokors' (Eospalax baileyi) caching habit for the long inclement winter makes it possible to solve this problem. We studied the diet composition and biomass in caches and vicinity of plateau zokors' burrow systems. We found that plateau zokors are dietary generalist but show a significant selection among the available food items, plant parts, functional groups, organ types, and habitats. These results suggested that plateau zokors strictly selected their diet and were able to adjust their foraging strategy according to the different conditions of food abundance and quality. Plateau zokors' selective foraging can directly reduce the proportion of toxicity forbs; plateau zokors can be recognized as an important element to influence the alpine meadow plant community and cattle husbandry.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 2014
• Tom: 59
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.337-345,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Xie J.-X.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China
• Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China

autor

Lin G.-H.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China

autor

Liu C.-X.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China
• Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China

autor

Yang C.-H.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China
• Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China

autor

Deng X.-G.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China
• Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China

autor

Cui X.-F.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China
• Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China

autor

Li B.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China
• Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China

autor

Zhang T.-Z.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China

autor

Su J.-P.

• Key Laboratory of Evolution and Adaptation of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810001, China

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.1007/s13364-013-0168-3