scholarly journals Diet Selection of Heteracris littoralis in a Cultivated Environment, Mzab Valley, Septentrional Sahara, Algeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-80
Author(s):  
Youcef Zergoun ◽  

This paper presents the results of a study on the diet of Heteracris littoralis in an agro-ecosystem at Mzab valley, Ghardaïa Province, Northern Sahara, Algeria. The diet was determined by the analysis of plant fragments in the feces of H. littoralis sampled in the field. The studied grasshopper consumed 12 of the 30 plant species found in the cultivated environment. The results showed that the locust predominantly fed on a few plants, such as Lagenaria siceraria and Solanum lycopersicum, although their diet includes over 12 plant species. Its food niche breadth was narrow (0.51), with a selectivity index of 0.61 for females, 0.52 for males and 0.42 for larvae. The plants consumed by the two sexes and larvae were not significantly different. This study suggests that Eyprepocnemidinae is a polyphagous grasshopper species, in spite of pronounced preference towards Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae. This property results in a low Berger-Parker index value (0.24). Results are of great significance, increasing the understanding of insect herbivore feeding behavior and how to control the damage caused by this Orthoptera.

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef Chebli ◽  
Samira El Otmani ◽  
Mouad Chentouf ◽  
Jean-Luc Hornick ◽  
Jérôme Bindelle ◽  
...  

Mediterranean forest rangelands offer an important feed source for goats. Concerns about grazing strategies and management schemes in order to ensure the rangeland sustainability of Southern Mediterranean forest have revived interest in the foraging behavior of goats. This study was conducted to investigate the seasonal changes of feeding behavior of grazing goats in the Southern Mediterranean forest rangeland of Northern Morocco during two consecutive years beginning in 2016. The direct observation method was used to compare diet composition, intake rate, and diet selectivity of goats during three seasons (spring, summer, and fall). Bite mass of each plant species selected by goats was estimated using hand-plucked simulation. The optimal foraging theory was used as a tool to explain the goats foraging decisions. Bite mass range was extremely wide and varied seasonally. The goats’ diet was largely composed of Cistus spp., Lavandula stoechas, Quercus spp., and Myrtus communis. The result shows that the smaller the bite mass, the higher the biting rate, leading to increased short term intake rates. The selection of various plant species during fall and summer enlarged the diet diversity of goats. As expected, goats preferred trees and some shrubs despite their low availability. Consequently, the most available species is not necessarily the most positively selected. Particular high and positive selection of Quercus suber was observed over seasons. The outcomes confirm the high adaptability and ability of goats to select a woody species across seasons. Knowledge about forage availability and the feeding behavior of goats could be used as the first guide for rangeland managers to ensure herd and forest sustainability.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Ht Decemson ◽  
Abinash Parida ◽  
G.S. Solanki

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-47
Author(s):  
Gazi Mosharof Hossain ◽  
ABM Enayet Hossain

Effect of exotic tree plantation on floristic composition and phytodiversity status of Rema-Kalenga wildlife sanctuary of Bangladesh was studied. A total of 309 vascular plant species under 245 genera belonging to 83 families were found to constitute the vascular flora of the studied area. The maximum number of species (298) with the highest Shannon-Weiner diversity index value (3.882±0.090) was recorded from natural forest, which was followed by 194 and 165 plant species with 3.441±0.205 and 3.398±0.103 diversity index values recorded from Tectona and Acacia plantation sites respectively. The minimum number of plant species (142) with the lowest diversity index value (2.999±0.152) was recorded from Eucalyptus plantation site. The collected data on the selected forest sites of Rema-Kalenga wildlife sanctuary showed the trends of gradual decrease in floristic composition and phytodivesity status of three plantation sites (Tectona to Acacia to Eucalyptus) in respect to natural forest, which indicated that exotic tree plantations might have negative impact on floristic composition and phytodiversity of this semi-tropical forest area and the fast-growing exotic tree plantation of Acacia and Eucalyptus should be avoided for sustainable development of Rema-Kalenga wildlife sanctuary.Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 3(2): 33-47, 2014 (December)


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinsae Bahru Yifru ◽  
Berhane Kidane ◽  
Amsalu Tolessa

Abstract Background: In Ethiopia, about 92.3% of all the biomass energy is consumed by domestic households and the demand is growing from 10-14%. However, there are little/no practical experiences or documented indigenous knowledge on how traditional people identify and select high biomass producing plant species with short rotation periods at Boset District. Therefore, the present study was aimed at: (1) selecting and documenting high biomass energy producing plant species at Boset District; (2) identifying major predictor variables that influence the prioritization and selection of species; and (3) develop a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to predict the selection of species. Methods: A total of 96 informants comprising 59 men and 37 women between the ages of 18 and 81 were sampled. Data were collected using structured interviews, guided field walk, discussions and field observations. Results: Collected data indicated that 88.5% of the informants involved in firewood collection, while 90% practiced charcoal making. A total of 1533.60 Birr per household on average was earned annually from this activity. A total of 25 firewood and/or charcoal plant species were identified and documented at Boset District. Of these, Acacia senegal, Acacia tortilis and Acacia robusta were the three best prioritized and selected indigenous high biomass producing species. Prosopis juliflora, Parthenium hysterophorus, Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera, Cryptostegia grandiflora, Lantana camara and Senna occidentalis further grouped under introduced fuelwood species. Prediction of GLM assured sampled Kebeles and source of income generated from fuelwood species positively and significantly (p<0.001) related to selection of species. Higher efficiency to provide energy and heat; little or no smoke or soot; easier to cut and split the wood and easier availability were some of the main selection criteria. Conclusions: This study provides valuable information in selection and documenting of high biomass producing plant species for proper management and sustainable use at Boset District. The three most selected species (A. senegal, A. tortilis and A. robusta) should be further evaluated at laboratory to determine their energy values.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 316-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohanasundar Radhakrishnan ◽  
Indira Kenzhegulova ◽  
M.G. Eloffy ◽  
W.A. Ibrahim ◽  
Chris Zevenbergen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
K Kartini ◽  
F Setiawan ◽  
J Sukweenadhi ◽  
O Yunita ◽  
C Avanti
Keyword(s):  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Milenovic ◽  
Everlyne Nafula Wosula ◽  
Carmelo Rapisarda ◽  
James Peter Legg

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 01007
Author(s):  
N. Delabays ◽  
A.F. Grogg ◽  
M. Mota ◽  
U. Piantini

The installation of a permanent ground cover in vineyards offers numerous agronomic (soil protection, soil fertility) and environmental (reduced leaching of nutrients and of plant protection products, reduced use of herbicides, biodiversity) benefits. Nevertheless, such ground covers are not always free of drawbacks (competition for water and nitrogen, increased risk of frost, management). For the growers, the challenge is to manage the green ground covers in such a way as to preserve their advantages while limiting these drawbacks. Among the tools available to the winegrower is the sowing of a seed mixture composed of selected species: a choice depending of the soil and climatic conditions of the parcel, but also of the different, and sometime contradictory, objectives of the grower. This paper lists the agronomic and environmental issues addressed by the installation of a permanent ground cover in vineyards. It describes two concrete situations – ground cover for vineyards integrated in agro-ecological networks and green cover on the row of vines (as alternative to glyphosate) – for which, according to the objectives and the impacts, a choice of plant species is proposed. At last, it presents the trials now carried out to validate and optimize those selections, as well as the first observations and results gathered to date.


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