Feeding patterns of red deer along altitudinal gradient in the Bohemian Forest: the effect of habitat and season

0346246 - ÚBO 2011 RIV DK eng J - Journal Article
Krojerová-Prokešová, Jarmila - Barančeková, Miroslava - Šustr, P. - Heurich, M.
Feeding patterns of red deer along altitudinal gradient in the Bohemian Forest: the effect of habitat and season.
Wildlife Biology. Roč. 16, č. 2 (2010), s. 173-184. ISSN 0909-6396. E-ISSN 1903-220X
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LC06073
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : Bavarian Forest National Park * red deer * PCA * seasonal and spatial variation * Šumava National Park
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 0.697, year: 2010

We studied diet composition of red deer Cervus elaphus in the Bohemian Forest by micro-histological analysis of 207 samples of red deer faeces obtained on the Czech and the Bavarian side of the border. We carried out the research from October 2006 to February 2008, and collected samples every two months at nine monitoring plots situated at different altitudes. Our results confirmed the classification of red deer among intermediate feeders with a mixed diet of graminoids (29.4%) and concentrate food items (60.6%). Diet composition of red deer in the Bohemian Forest differed between seasons, between plots at the mountain ridge and plots situated at lower altitudes as well as between windthrow gaps and undisturbed forest sites. However, further research of diet selectivity is necessary to explain in detail the observed feeding patterns.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0187316