Spring diet differs among age-sex classes in Atlas Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia lervia) in a fenced nature reserve, Morocco

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakim Bachiri ◽  
Mohammed Znari ◽  
Moulay Abdeljalil Ait Baamranne ◽  
Mohamed Aourir
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Ammotragus Lervia ◽  
Barbary Sheep ◽  
Northwest Africa ◽  
Dietary Variation ◽  
Microhistological Analysis

Abstract Atlas Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia lervia, are the only wild caprinid of Northwest Africa. Some studies have investigated their feeding ecology, but there is no information on intraspecific dietary variation. Therefore, we determined the spring diet and its variation between age-sex classes in Atlas Barbary sheep within a fenced nature reserve in the Western High Atlas mountain range, Morocco. We used faecal microhistological analysis to assess diet composition based on a reference epidermis catalogue. The habitat was a highly diversified open mixed forest with 61 identified species (55 genera; 24 families). The herbaceous layer was dominated by grasses, mainly Stipa capensis. Atlas Barbary sheep revealed to be opportunistic grazers, consuming 44 forage species; grasses and forbs constituted 87% of the overall diet. There were significant intraspecific dietary differences. Rams showed a more diverse (42 species) and distinct diet compared to those of ewes (22 species) and juveniles (lambs + yearlings) (only 10 species). All sex-age classes were mostly grazers, adults feeding on grasses and forbs in similar proportions, whereas juveniles feeding basically on grasses (more than 70% of their diet) and almost no forbs. Ewes and juveniles feed on browse at a higher proportion than rams do. Our findings would be useful for the restoration and management of the habitat and food resources within the reserve.

First description of Sarcocystis species infecting Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo E. Delgado-de las Cuevas ◽  
Petras Prakas ◽  
Eglė Rudaitytė-Lukošienė ◽  
María L. García-Gil ◽  
Manuel Martínez-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
Ammotragus Lervia ◽  
Barbary Sheep

scholarly journals PATHO-ANATOMICAL FINDINGS OF WILD ANIMALS IN ZOO : III) Tuberculosis of Ammotragus Lervia (Barbary Sheep)

1959 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-388
Author(s):  
Yoshitomi Takano ◽  
Masahiko Seki ◽  
Atushi Urago ◽  
Yoshio Kaneko ◽  
Tadao Moritomo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Animals ◽  
Ammotragus Lervia ◽  
Barbary Sheep

Sources of progesterone during gestation in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)

1983 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. F. Flint ◽  
R. D. Burton ◽  
R. B. Heap
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Number ◽  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Diploid Chromosome Number ◽  
Domestic Sheep ◽  
Ammotragus Lervia ◽  
Barbary Sheep ◽  
Venous Plasma

Concentrations of progesterone in arterial and ovarian, uterine and jugular venous plasma were determined in four Barbary sheep at various stages of pregnancy. The results, together with ovarian histology, show that the corpus luteum regresses before term in Barbary sheep, as in most breeds of domestic ewes. Uterine synthesis of progesterone was demonstrated in late pregnancy in two animals in which uterine venous levels of progesterone were increased two- to fourfold above arterial concentrations. The placenta contained 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Barbary sheep (diploid chromosome number, 2N = 58) therefore resemble the domestic sheep (2N = 54) rather than the goat (2N = 60) from the point of view of the source of the progesterone required for maintenance of pregnancy.

scholarly journals Serosurvey of bluetongue, caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) of a southern Brazilian zoo

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1203-1206
Author(s):  
Vivien M. Morikawa ◽  
Maysa Pellizzaro ◽  
Igor A.D. Paploski ◽  
Mariana Kikuti ◽  
Maria C.C.S.H. Lara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Agar Gel ◽  
Ammotragus Lervia ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Barbary Sheep ◽  
Visna Virus ◽  
Compulsory Notification

ABSTRACT: Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious and non-contagious disease of compulsory notification which may affect domestic and wild ruminants, transmitted by Culicoides spp. midges. Despite the high morbidity and mortality in sheep, role of wild animals in the BT cycle remains unclear. Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) have been reportedly found in goats and sheep, but not described in wildlife species. Accordingly, serum samples from 17 captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) from Curitiba zoo, southern Brazil, were tested for bluetongue, caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna viruses by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antibodies for bluetongue were observed in 6/17 (35.3%) Barbary sheep by AGID test and in 7/17 (41.2%) by ELISA. All samples were negative for the presence of antibodies against caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna viruses. These findings indicate that Barbary sheep may be infected by bluetongue virus and act as wildlife reservoir in both captive and free-range environments.

scholarly journals Variation of conducting area in stems of European larch (Larix deciduas) growing in fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh mixed forest sites

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 18-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nawrot ◽  
M. Jakubowski ◽  
W. Pazdrowski ◽  
K. Kaźmierczak ◽  
M. Szymański
Keyword(s):  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Main Crop ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
The Social ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Site Types

The paper presents an attempt to determine conducting area (CA), relative conducting area (CA.k<sup>–1</sup>) and mean ring conducting area (CAar) on discs cut at breast height from stems of larch trees growing in fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh mixed forest sites, representing four age classes and the main crop according to Kraft’s classification. The value of CA increases with an improvement of the social class of tree position in the community, while no such dependences were found for the value of (CA.k<sup>–1</sup>). The parameter CAar, except for one case in age class IV in the fresh mixed coniferous forest site, increases with an improvement of the position a tree takes in the community and differentiates more markedly under the conditions of fresh mixed forest sites. Relative conducting area (CA.k<sup>–1</sup>) decreases markedly with an increase in the age of trees, which is confirmed by high values of the coefficient of determination. Moreover, the significance of differences between individual trees in the main crop according to Kraft and forest site types was tested in terms of the values of CAar. Calculated values may be used to describe the relationships between conducting area and the size of the assimilating organ more precisely than the total sapwood zone.

scholarly journals On the Occurrence of Natural Norway Spruce Woodland in the Pieniny Mts (Western Carpathians)

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-138
Author(s):  
Peter Kučera
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Altitudinal Limit

Abstract According to Kulczyński (1928), a natural Picea abies forest occurs in the mountain range of the Pieniny Mts on the slopes of the mountain Vysoke skalky. Later, various data on the altitudinal range of this stand (and thus on the locality itself) were published: (1) 890 (900) - 950 m, (2) 1000 - 1050 m or (3) around 1000 m. The aim of the field research was to verify published data on the occurrence of a woodland of Upper Mountain Norway spruce (association Polysticho-Piceetum) in the territory of Vysoke skalky. A field study in the area has revealed that most of published data on the occurrence of the Kulczyński’s Picea woodland are incorrect, as its real upper altitudinal limit reaches ± 940 m. The main result is the confirmation of the real existence of a Vaccinium myrtillus-Homogyne alpina-Picea abies phytocoenosis in the territory of Vysoke skalky. However, tree species other than Picea abies (e.g. Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus) could persist in the special habitat of Kulczyński’s ‘Picea woodland’. The natural vegetation of this place was formed by mixed forest stand.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document