Dieta y disponibilidad de forraje del venado cola blanca Odocoileus virginianus thomasi (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) en un campo experimental de Campeche, México / Forage use and availability for white tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus thomasi (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in an experimental unit of Campeche, Mexico

In Campeche state, 122 Wildlife Conservation and Management Units have been recently conformed. In these units, eventhough the white tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus thomasi is a game species, no studies on its diet have been undertaken. The objectives of this work were to estimate the botanical composition of the diet and its seasonal change, to determine forage availability, carrying capacity and stocking rate of O. virginianus thomasi. The study was conducted in the experimental unit of Colegio de Postgraduados in Campeche, Mexico, from October 2010 to May 2012. The diet was determined through microhistological analyses of the white tailed deer feces by the use of reference material. Forage availability was determined through the Adelaide´s method; the stocking rate, using the grazing pressure factor; and carrying capacity considering forage availability and 35% of utilization efficiency. In this experimental unit, the deer diet included 40 species belonging to15 families. The highest species richness ocurred during the rainy season with 29 species. However, deers preferred shrubs during all seasons, and herbaceous species during the rainy season. The diet composition, forage availability, carrying capacity and stocking rate varied throughout the year. Carrying capacity ranged from 0.04 to 1.08deer/ha. Additional studies are required to detail about the composition of the diet, habitat availability and use throughout its geographical range, and to detail on nutritional and health aspects. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (2): 699-710. Epub 2014 June 01.

En Campeche, México no existen estudios de la dieta de Odocoileus virginianus thomasi; a pesar de la existencia de 122 Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre (UMAS) en donde se realiza aprovechamiento del venado cola blanca. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron conocer la composición botánica de la dieta y su cambio estacional, la disponibilidad de forraje, la capacidad de carga y carga animal de O. virginianus thomasi. El trabajo se realizó de octubre 2010 a mayo 2012 en el Campo Experimental del Colegio de Postgraduados en Campeche, México. La composición de la dieta se determinó mediante el análisis de heces de venado y material de referencia con la técnica microhistológica; la disponibilidad de forraje se estimó con el método de Adelaide; la capacidad de carga utilizando la presión de pastoreo y la carga animal considerando el forraje disponible y 35% de eficiencia de utilización. La dieta incluyó 40 especies de 15 familias. La riqueza de especies más alta fue de 29 especies en la época de lluvia; las arbustivas fueron preferidas en las tres épocas del año y las herbáceas en la época de lluvia. La composición de la dieta, disponibilidad de forraje, la capacidad de carga y carga animal variaron a través del año. La capacidad de carga fluctuó entre 0.04 a 1.08 venados/ha.

Effects of crowding and sex on fecal cortisol levels of captive forest musk deer

BACKGROUND: Restricted space and close contact with conspecifics in captivity may be stressful for musk deer, as they are highly territorial and solitary in the wild. So we tested the effects of crowding on stress of forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in heterosexual groups, using fecal cortisol analysis as a non-invasive method. 32 healthy adults during non-breeding seasons were chose as our experimental objects. Group 1 was defined as higher crowding condition, with 10-15 m²/deer (6 enclosures, 10♀ and 6♂); group 2 was defined as lower crowding condition, with 23-33 m²/deer (6 enclosures, 1010♀ and 6♂). Every enclosure contained 1 male and 3 female. These patterns had been existed for years. RESULTS: The results showed that females in lower crowding condition (217.1 ± 9.5 ug/g) had significantly higher fecal cortisol levels than those in higher crowding condition (177.2 ± 12.1 ug/g). Interestingly, crowding seemed have no effect on male fecal cortisol levels (148.1 ± 9.1 ug/g and 140.5 ± 13.3 ug/g, respectively). At both groups, cortisol was significantly lower in males than in females. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that chronic crowding may affect stress status of captive forest musk deer. The captive environment should consider the space need for musk deer.

Hábitos alimentarios del venado cola blanca Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) en el Parque Natural Sierra Nanchititla, Estado de México

Food habits of the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Nanchititla Natural Park, Mexico. White-tailed deer is a species with a large behavioral plasticity and adapta- tion to different habitats, including their food habits. This study was conducted with the aim to determine the food habits of this species in the cloud (BMM) and pine-oak (BPE) forests. Deer scats and plant samples were obtained following standard methods, from Sierra Nanchititla Park in the State of Mexico, from June 1990 to May 1992. A total of 104 deer pellet-groups were collected, and histological analysis for herbivores was used and compared with stock samples of plant tissues collected from the study area. We applied the Spearman correlation and Morisita index to determine alimentary preference. The results showed that the deer consumes 79.44% of plant species from BMM and 20.56% of the BPE. There is a selectivity tendency for 12 of the 14 plant species located in the BMM, while for BPE no tendency was observed. Key species that are part of the elemental diet of the deer in these areas were: Acalypha setosa, Smilax pringlei, Psidium sartorianum and Dendropanax arborea. The consumption of plants did not differ significantly between the dry and rainy seasons in terms of biological form, however, during the dry season there is a tendency to consume trees, and by the end of the rainy season to consume herbs. The data indicate that the deer can be selective with BMM plants, while for the BPE tends to be opportunistic.

El venado cola blanca es una especie con una gran plasticidad conductual y de adaptación en diferentes hábitat. En el Parque Sierra Nanchititla en el Estado de México se realizó un estudio para determinar los hábitos alimentarios en el bosque mesófilo de montaña (BMM) y bosque de pino-encino (BPE). De junio 1990 a mayo 1992 se recolectaron 104 muestras de excremento de venado en las dos zonas de estudio. Aplicamos el índice de Morisita y la correlación de Spearman para determinar la preferencia alimentaria. Se utilizó el análisis histológico de heces fecales para herbívoros las cuales se compararon con muestras de tejidos vegetales de plantas de la zona de estudio. Los resultados muestran que consume el 79.44% de especies vegetales del BMM y 20.56% del BPE. Existe cierta tendencia en la selectividad de 12 de las 14 especies de plantas localizadas en el BMM, mientras que para el BPE no se aprecia tal tendencia. Las especies clave que for- man parte de la alimentación elemental del venado fueron: Acalypha setosa, Smilax pringlei, Psidium sartorianum y Dendropanax arborea. El consumo de plantas no varió sig- nificativamente entre la época seca y lluviosa en función de la forma biológica (X2=12, p=0.21). Sin embargo, durante la época seca existe cierta tendencia a consumir árboles y a finales de la época de lluvia a consumir hierbas (Z=1.61, p=0.95). Los datos indican que el venado puede ser selecti- vo con plantas del BMM, mientras que para el BPE tiende a ser oportunista.

Estudo histológico e comparativo das papilas linguais dos cervídeos Mazama americana e Mazama gouzoubira por microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura / Histological and comparative analysis of lingual papillae of the deer Mazama americana and Mazama gouzoubira by light and scanning electron microscopy

O tipo de alimentação depende do ambiente em que o animal se encontra, sendo este um fator responsável pela alteração da morfologia, como a estratificação e o nível de queratinização da língua, e a funcionalidade da mesma. Dentre as estruturas morfológicas funcionais da língua, as papilas vêm merecendo destaque devido a sua estreita relação com a dieta. Foram utilizadas duas espécies de cervídeos: cinco Mazama gouazoubira e duas Mazama americana, dividindo-se a língua em três partes: ápice, corpo e raiz. Analisou comparativamente a língua de duas espécies por meio de microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura. As papilas filiforme, fungiforme e valada apresentaram na língua das duas espécies estudadas, e com a mesma distribuição, mudando apenas a quantidade e formato de papilas filiformes no ápice lingual e a quantidade e disposição das papilas valadas na raiz da língua, fator este que pode ser ligado à dieta dos animais. . Além disto, sua distribuição é semelhante à de outras espécies de herbívoros.

The type of feeding is dependent on the environment in which the animal lives, fact that's responsible for changes in morphology such as stratification, level of keratinization and functionality. Among the functional morphological structures of the tongue the papillae are worth mentioning due to their close relation to the diet. Two Cervidae species were used, five Mazama gouazoubira and two Mazama americana. Their tongues were divided into three parts, apex, body and root, and comparatively analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. The filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae were present in the two species' tongue and presented the same distribution, differing only in the quantity of vallate papillae on the root of the tongue, fact that might be related to the diet. Moreover, their distribution resembles that of other herbivore species.

Dieta de Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) en un bosque templado del norte de Oaxaca: México

Odocoileus virginianus diet (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in a temperate forest of Northern Oaxaca, Mexico. The Sierra Madre de Oaxaca region, located in the Northern state of Oaxaca, Mexico, is an area of forest ecosystems subject to high exploitation rates, although in some areas its temperate forests are conserved by indigenous community initiatives that live there. We analyzed the diet of white tailed-deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the localities of Santa Catarina Lachatao and San Miguel Amatlán from June 1998 to August 1999. Sampling was done during both the wet and dry seasons, and included the observation of browsing traces (238 observations), microhistological analysis of deer feces (28 deer pellet-groups), and two stomach content analysis. The annual diet of white-tailed deer was composed of 42 species from 23 botanical families. The most represented families in the diet of this deer were Fagaceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae and Fabaceae. There were significant differences in the alpha diversity of the diet during the wet and dry seasons (H’=2.957 and H’=1.832, respectively). The similarity percentage between seasons was 56%. Differences in plant species frequency were significantly higher during the wet season. Herbaceous plants made up the greatest percentage of all the species consumed. The preferred species throughout the year were Senecio sp. (shrub), Sedum dendroideum (herbaceous), Arctostaphylos pungens (shrub) and Satureja macrostema (shrub). Diet species richness was found to be lower than that observed in a tropical forest (Venezuela), tropical dry forest (Mexico) and temperate deciduous and mixed forest (Mexico), but similar to the diet species richness observed in a tropical dry forest (Costa Rica) and temperate coniferous and deciduous forests (USA).

La región de la Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, ubicada al norte del estado de Oaxaca, México, es una zona de ecosistemas con alta actividad forestal; en algunas áreas sus bosques templados son conservados por iniciativas de las comunidades indígenas que ahí habitan. Dentro de estos bosques, se analizó la dieta del venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus) en San Miguel Amatlán y Santa Catarina Lachatao entre junio 1998 y agosto 1999. Se utilizó el análisis microhistológico de heces fecales, la observación de rastros de ramoneo en plantas y el análisis de contenidos estomacales. La dieta anual estuvo constituida por 42 especies de 23 familias vegetales. Las familias con el mayor número de especies fueron: Fagaceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae y Fabaceae. La diversidad de la dieta durante la estación húmeda y seca no presentó diferencias significativas (H’= 0.918 y H’=0.867 respectivamente). El porcentaje de similitud entre ambas temporadas fue de 58%. La diferencia entre la frecuencia de aparición de las especies vegetales fue mayor en la estación húmeda. Del total de especies consumidas, el mayor porcentaje estuvo constituido por las herbáceas. Las especies preferidas a lo largo del año fueron: Sedum dendroideum (herbácea) y Satureja macrostema (arbusto). La riqueza de especies en la dieta fue menor a la observada en otras regiones con bosques tropicales y bosques mixtos, pero similar a la obtenida en un bosque tropical seco en Costa Rica y en los bosques de coníferas en Estados Unidos.

Do precipitation and food affect the reproduction of brown brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira (G. Fischer 1814) in conditions of semi-captivity?

The births of brown brocket deer ( Mazama gouazoubira) in a secondary lower montane forest called "yunga" in northwestern Argentina were compared with rainfall. Analyses were performed with rainfall and flower-fruit fall in an attempt to determine the possible importance of these seasonal variables in birthing. The births were not directly correlated with rainfall, but rather with the flower and fruit fall of exotic plant species. This may be related to favor the development of fawns, which eat the new and more digestible plant parts, accessible one month after their births.The non-seasonal births observed around the year could be related to the selection by the deer of some plant species that have been introduced into the region ( Prunus, Morus and Psidium), have a longer fruiting span than the scarce native plant species.

Os nascimentos de veados-catingueiros marrons ( Mazama gouazoubira) na floresta montana secundária chamada "yunga" no noroeste da Argentina foram comparados com a ocorrência de chuva. As análises foram conduzidas com chuva e com queda de flores e frutos em uma tentativa para determinar a possível importância dessas variáveis com o nascimentodestes animais. Os nascimentos não foram diretamente correlacionados com a chuva, mas sim com a queda de flores e frutos das espécies de plantas exóticas. Isto pode estar relacionado ao favorecimento do desenvolvimento de filhotes, que comem as plantas novas e as partes mais digeríveis, que estão acessíveis um mês após seus nascimentos. Os nascimentosnão sazonais observados ao longo do ano poderiam estar relacionados com a seleção pelo veado de algumas espécies de plantas que foram introduzidas na região ( Prunus, Morus e Psidium), as quais possuem um período frutífero mais longo do que as escassas espécies de plantas nativas da região.