Seasonal food habits of the four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis de Blainville, 1816) in tropical deciduous forests of Aravalli mountain range, Rajasthan, Western India

Abstract Background Feeding strategies assessment of endangered species during food limited seasons is important in order to understand their niche and advise effective habitat management steps. We assessed the four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis) seasonal diet from April 2014 to March 2015, in three wildlife sanctuaries in western India, namely, Sitamata, Kumbhalgarh, and Phulwari-ki-nal Wildlife Sanctuaries. Opportunistic focal animal sampling method was used in five 1 km paths in each sanctuary to take feeding observations. Each transect was walked three times a day (morning 06:00-10:00 h; mid-day 10:00-14:00 h; evening 15:00-18:00 h), 1 day a month, during 12 months, with a total of 540 surveys divided between 15 paths. The diet data was categorized into different plant categories. Results A total of 532 feeding records from 85 animal sightings were noted with a mean (± SD) of 14.78 ± 10.04 feeding records/month. Feeding was observed on 63 plant species belonging to 23 families. The highest feeding records noted were on trees (60.91%) in the diet followed by shrubs (20.49%), grasses (16.92%), forbs (1.50%), and climbers (0.18%) respectively. Most of the plant species consumed were from Fabaceae (n = 17) and Poaceae (n = 12) families. The overall browse-grass ratio was 83.08-16.92% (88.02-11.98% for Sitamata WLS; 82.11-17.89% for Kumbhalgarh WLS; 79.10-20.90% for Phulwari-ki-nal WLS). Leaves were the most consumed part of the plants (64.10%), followed by dry fruit (16.55%), fleshy fruit (13.34%), flowers (2.82%), buds (2.06%), and twigs (1.13%) respectively. Use of fleshy fruits, dry fruits, and trees showed significant seasonal dietary difference (P < 0.05) in all three sanctuaries. Conclusions Tetracerus quadricornis was found to consume more browse species than grasses. We recommend conservation and promotion of natural plant regeneration, in particular for the plant species that were the most consumed by four-horned antelope, namely, Aristida adscensionis, Dendrocalamus strictus, Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia leucophloea, Butea monosperma, Helicteres isora, Ziziphus nummularia, and Ziziphus xylopyrus. Conservation of grassland patches, minimizing local pressure, and planning, construction, and maintenance of fire lines prior to timing of forest fires would help to protected T. quadricornis habitat in all three sanctuaries.

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Dry season diet composition of four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis in tropical dry deciduous forests, Nepal

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5102 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5102 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chet Bahadur Oli ◽

Saroj Panthi ◽

Naresh Subedi ◽

Gagan Ale ◽

Ganesh Pant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Habitat Management ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Diet Composition ◽

Fruit Trees ◽

Dry Season ◽

Grass Species ◽

Feeding Strategies ◽

Chi Square ◽

Fecal Samples

It is essential to assess the feeding strategies of threatened species during resource-scarce seasons to understand their dietary niche breadth and inform appropriate habitat management measures. In this study, we examined the diet composition of four-horned antelope (FHA) Tetracerus and quadricornis, one of the least studied ungulate species, in Banke National Park, Nepal. A total of 53 fresh pellet groups were collected between December 2015 and January 2016 and analyzed using micro-histological fecal analysis technique. First, we prepared 133 micro-histological photographs of different parts of 64 reference plant species. Then we compared 1,590 fragments of 53 fecal samples with photographs of reference plants to assess the percentage of occurrence of different plant species in FHA diet. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 18 different families were identified in fecal samples. Chi-square goodness of fit tests showed that FHA appeared not to feed all plant uniformly. Out of 1,520 identified fragments in fecal samples, 1,300 were browse species and 220 were grass species. Browse represented 85.5% of the identified plant fragments, suggesting that FHA might be adopting a browser strategy at least during winter when grasses are low in abundance and their nutritive quality is poor. Tree species had the highest contribution in the diet (46.55%) followed by shrubs (24.52%). The family Gramineae was consumed in the highest proportion (27.68%) followed by Euphorbiaceae (11.95%). Overall, our results suggest that FHA has the feeding plasticity to adapt to resource fluctuation. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that dicot plant species—particularly fruit trees and shrubs, which are the major source of nutrients for FHA during resource-lean, dry season—be conserved and natural regeneration of these taxa be promoted.

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Elevational distribution ranges of vascular plant species in the Baekdudaegan mountain range, South Korea

Journal of Ecology and Environment ◽

10.1186/s41610-021-00182-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sookyung Shin ◽

Jung-Hyun Kim ◽

Ji-Hee Dang ◽

In-Soon Seo ◽

Byoung Yoon Lee

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Korea ◽

Plant Species ◽

National Parks ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Distribution Range ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Subalpine Zone ◽

Distribution Ranges ◽

Elevational Distribution

AbstractThe climate is changing rapidly, and this may pose a major threat to global biodiversity. One of the most distinctive consequences of climate change is the poleward and/or upward shift of species distribution ranges associated with increasing temperatures, resulting in a change of species composition and community structure in the forest ecosystems. The Baekdudaegan mountain range connects most forests from the lowland to the subalpine zone in South Korea and is therefore recognized as one of the most important biodiversity hotspots. This study was conducted to understand the distribution range of vascular plants along elevational gradients through field surveys in the six national parks of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. We identified the upper and lower distribution limits of a total of 873 taxa of vascular plants with 117 families, 418 genera, 793 species, 14 subspecies, 62 varieties, two forms, and two hybrids. A total of 12 conifers were recorded along the elevational gradient. The distribution ranges of Abies koreana, Picea jezoensis, Pinus pumila, and Thuja koraiensis were limited to over 1000 m above sea level. We also identified 21 broad-leaved trees in the subalpine zone. A total of 45 Korean endemic plant species were observed, and of these, 15 taxa (including Aconitum chiisanense and Hanabusaya asiatica) showed a narrow distribution range in the subalpine zone. Our study provides valuable information on the current elevational distribution ranges of vascular plants in the six national parks of South Korea, which could serve as a baseline for vertical shifts under future climate change.

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Transcription Factor RIPENING INHIBITOR and Its Homologs in Regulation of Fleshy Fruit Ripening of Various Plant Species

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology ◽

10.1134/s1021443721050186 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 783-799

Author(s):

M. A. Slugina

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Plant Species ◽

Fruit Ripening ◽

Fleshy Fruit ◽

Ripening Inhibitor

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Predictive Mapping of Plant Species and Communities Using GIS and Landsat Data in a Southern Mongolian Mountain Range

Folia Geobotanica ◽

10.1007/s12224-009-9042-0 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 211-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Henrik von Wehrden ◽

Heike Zimmermann ◽

Jan Hanspach ◽

Katrin Ronnenberg ◽

Karsten Wesche

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Landsat Data ◽

Predictive Mapping

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Comparison of pre-fire and post-fire space use reveals varied responses by woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Boreal Shield

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2020-0139 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (11) ◽

pp. 751-760

Author(s):

J.A. Silva ◽

S.E. Nielsen ◽

P.D. McLoughlin ◽

A.R. Rodgers ◽

C. Hague ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Fires ◽

Habitat Management ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Space Use ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽

Woodland Caribou ◽

Boreal Shield ◽

Calving Season

By regulating successional dynamics in Canada’s boreal forest, fires can affect the distribution of the Threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). Caribou tend to avoid areas burned within the last 40 years; however, few studies have compared pre-fire and post-fire caribou observations. In this study, we used caribou GPS locations from the Boreal Shield of Saskatchewan, Canada, to assess the short-term response of caribou to areas that burned while they were collared (hereafter recent burns). We used a “before–after, control–impact” design to compare the overlap of pre-fire and post-fire seasonal home ranges to the overlap of year-to-year seasonal home ranges. Caribou rarely encountered recent burns and when they did, they adjusted their space use in variable and complex ways that were largely indistinguishable from regular, interannual variation. Caribou tended to reduce use of recent burns in summer–autumn and winter, but not during the calving season, in some cases shifting their home range to incorporate more burned habitat. We conclude that recently burned areas (<5 years) may provide habitat value to woodland caribou, particularly during the calving season, requiring a more flexible approach to interpret fire in habitat management strategies.

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Endemic Plant Species of Iraq: from Floristic Diversity to Critical Analysis Review

The Journal of The University of Duhok ◽

10.26682/ajuod.2020.23.2.12 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 90-105

Author(s):

Sami Youssef

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Plant Species ◽

Life Forms ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Floristic Diversity ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Flora Of Iraq ◽

Endemic Flora ◽

Endemic Plant Species

The endemic flora is the heart of our understanding of the current biodiversity hotspots, and plays a critical role to conceive successful management strategies for global biodiversity conservation. In Iraq territory context, despite its high plant diversity value, the endemicity is still largely under-investigated and there is no updated database of the Iraqi endemic flora. Therefore, this study sets out to present an updated list of the endemic plant species in Iraq, including a quantitative analysis of their floristic analysis, biological life forms, and geographical distribution. This first Iraqi endemic list can be seen as the first step towards better understanding of the floristic diversity, and can play an important role for future conservation priorities. This endemic list was based initially on the classical flora of Iraq and it has been completed and refining according to the floras of the neighbouring countries. To establish an updated list, it has been added all the Iraqi endemic taxa newly described by retrieving it from the botanical papers and taxonomical websites. For each endemic taxa researcher has provided the following floristic baseline: scientific name, family, phytogeographical distribution, elevation range, biological life forms, and IUCN assessment. The results of this floristic investigation present for the first time an updated endemic list of Iraqi plant species which contains a total of 174 endemic taxa(153 species, 11 subspecies, 10 varieties) in 27 families and 75 genera. They represent an endemicity rate of 5.3% of the total estimated flora of Iraq, which constitutes a low level compared to those of neighboring Irano- Anatolian countries. The family Asteraceae, Papilionaceae, Boraginaceae and Apiaceae are the richest flowering families. The life biological forms indicate that a major part of endemic taxa are chamaephytes (44%) and perennial hemicryptophytes (32%) as an adaptation indicator to the dry-harsh environmental conditions of the Irano-Anatolian mountainous areas. These floristic quantitative analysis support the idea that the species richness and endemicity are not uniformly distributed within the altitudinal gradient and phytogeographical districts of Iraq. For instance, a significant part of the Iraqi endemic taxa concentrate on the Zagrosian foothills and the mountain range between 1000 and 1700. The most striking findings were that only one taxon on average per year was newly described for Iraq, over the last 20 years, compared to around 50 taxa for Iran and Turkey confirming its status of the floristic knowledge coldspot. The current findings add substantially to our understanding of the endemism diversity in Iraqi Zagrosian part, and can serve as a base for future floristic investigation and biodiversity conservation studies

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Population Genetic Structure of Codling Moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in Different Localities and Host Plants in Chile

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11050285 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 285 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alejandra Basoalto ◽

Claudio C. Ramírez ◽

Blas Lavandero ◽

Luis Devotto ◽

Tomislav Curkovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Distribution Area ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Host Plant Species

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major pest introduced to almost all main pome fruit production regions worldwide. This species was detected in Chile during the last decade of the 19th century, and now has a widespread distribution in all major apple-growing regions. We performed an analysis of the genetic variability and structure of codling moth populations in Chile using five microsatellite markers. We sampled the codling moth along the main distribution area in Chile on all its main host-plant species. Low genetic differentiation among the population samples (FST = 0.03) was found, with only slight isolation by distance. According to a Bayesian assignment test (TESS), a group of localities in the coastal mountain range from the Bío-Bío Region formed a distinct genetic cluster. Our results also suggest that the codling moth that invaded the southernmost locality (Aysén Region) had two origins from central Chile and another unknown source. We did not find significant genetic differentiation between codling moth samples from different host-plant species. Our results indicate high genetic exchange among codling moth populations between the different Chilean regions and host plants.

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