The winter diet of sambar (Rusa unicolor) in the Qionglai Mountains

doi:10.17520/biods.2020063

Abstract

Abstract:

Rusa unicolor, a rare and endangered species, is listed as Class II National Key Protected Species. The study of its feeding habits in the food shortage season is very important for its protection. In this study, 18 valid fecal samples of R. unicolor in Anzihe protected area of the Qionglai Mountains in Sichuan were analyzed for its feeding plants by HTS (high-throughput sequencing). The results showed that: (1) The feeding plants of R. unicolor belonged to 50 families, 94 genera. (2) The preferred plant types of R. unicolor consisted of Rubus, Cornus, Helwingia, Strobilanthes, Viburnum, Sabia, Stachyurus, Smilax, Acer and Hydrangea. Among these, the Rubus (Rosaceae) is the predominant food source for R. unicolor. (3) Rusa unicolor feeds on diverse plants and has a wide food niche in winter. (4) Rusa unicolor has strong environmental adaptability and resource utilization ability, which feeds on more plant types and adjusts its niche appropriately in winter to adapt to the environmental changes. The results of this study will be helpful for the development of evidence-based management strategies for R. unicolor and its sympatric artiodactyls.

Key words: Rusa unicolor, relative read abundance, plant diversity index, niche, high-throughput sequencing, diet

Quanjian Zhang, Biao Yang, Qiang Fu, Lei Wang, Xu Gong, Yuanbin Zhang. The winter diet of sambar (Rusa unicolor) in the Qionglai Mountains[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2020, 28(10): 1192-1201.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2020063

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2020/V28/I10/1192

Figures/Tables 7

References 56

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初冬样品编号 Sample code in early winter	经度 Longitude (E)	纬度 Latitude (N)	海拔 Elevation (m)	采样时间 Sampling time	冬季样品编号 Sample code in winter	经度 Longitude (E)	纬度 Latitude (N)	海拔 Elevation (m)	采样时间 Sampling time
4	103.19°	30.81°	1,990	2018.11.13	1	103.21°	30.79°	1,996	2018.12.1
5	103.15°	30.80°	2,429	2018.11.12	2	103.21°	30.76°	2,138	2018.12.1
6	103.17°	30.81°	2,060	2018.11.13	3	103.21°	30.76°	2,166	2018.12.28
7	103.16°	30.80°	2,280	2018.11.13	12	103.19°	30.76°	2,354	2018.12.1
8	103.19°	30.81°	1,979	2018.11.13	13	103.20°	30.79°	1,932	2018.12.1
9	103.15°	30.80°	2,453	2018.11.12	16	103.22°	30.77°	1,909	2019.1.5
10	103.27°	30.81°	1,734	2018.11.5	17	103.21°	30.77°	1,860	2018.12.4
11	103.27°	30.81°	1,798	2018.11.5	18	103.21°	30.77°	1,891	2018.12.16
14	103.21°	30.77°	1,923	2018.11.5
15	103.21°	30.76°	1,998	2018.11.5

初冬样品编号 Sample code in early winter	经度 Longitude (E)	纬度 Latitude (N)	海拔 Elevation (m)	采样时间 Sampling time	冬季样品编号 Sample code in winter	经度 Longitude (E)	纬度 Latitude (N)	海拔 Elevation (m)	采样时间 Sampling time
4	103.19°	30.81°	1,990	2018.11.13	1	103.21°	30.79°	1,996	2018.12.1
5	103.15°	30.80°	2,429	2018.11.12	2	103.21°	30.76°	2,138	2018.12.1
6	103.17°	30.81°	2,060	2018.11.13	3	103.21°	30.76°	2,166	2018.12.28
7	103.16°	30.80°	2,280	2018.11.13	12	103.19°	30.76°	2,354	2018.12.1
8	103.19°	30.81°	1,979	2018.11.13	13	103.20°	30.79°	1,932	2018.12.1
9	103.15°	30.80°	2,453	2018.11.12	16	103.22°	30.77°	1,909	2019.1.5
10	103.27°	30.81°	1,734	2018.11.5	17	103.21°	30.77°	1,860	2018.12.4
11	103.27°	30.81°	1,798	2018.11.5	18	103.21°	30.77°	1,891	2018.12.16
14	103.21°	30.77°	1,923	2018.11.5
15	103.21°	30.76°	1,998	2018.11.5

研究对象 Study object	数据来源 Data resource	共食性植物 Shared plants
中国海南水鹿 The Rusa unicolor in Hainan, China	Yuan & Wang, 1983	穇属 Eleusine, 稗属 Echinochloa
新西兰水鹿 The R. unicolor in New Zealand	Stafford, 1997	悬钩子属 Rubus, 繁缕属 Stellaria, 毛莨属 Ranunculus, 酸模属 Rumex
澳大利亚水鹿 The R. unicolor in Australia	Forsyth & Davis, 2011	悬钩子属 Rubus, 繁缕属 Stellaria, 铁线莲属 Clematis, 蓟属 Cirsium, 酢浆草属 Oxalis
马来西亚水鹿 The R. unicolor in Malaysia	Ismail & Jiwan, 2015	木姜子属 Litsea
中国台湾水鹿 The R. unicolor in Taiwan, China	Yen et al, 2015	悬钩子属 Rubus, 木姜子属 Litsea, 绣球属 Hydrangea, 杜鹃属 Rhododendron, 茶藨子属 Ribes, 槭属 Acer, 卫矛属 Euonymus, 鹅掌柴属 Schefflera, 忍冬属 Lonicera, 冬青属 Ilex, 勾儿茶属 Berchemia, 刚竹属 Phyllostachys, 小檗属 Berberis, 蔷薇属 Rosa, 旌节花属 Stachyurus, 樟属 Cinnamomum, 荚蒾属 Viburnum, 苹果属 Malus

研究对象 Study object	数据来源 Data resource	共食性植物 Shared plants
中国海南水鹿 The Rusa unicolor in Hainan, China	Yuan & Wang, 1983	穇属 Eleusine, 稗属 Echinochloa
新西兰水鹿 The R. unicolor in New Zealand	Stafford, 1997	悬钩子属 Rubus, 繁缕属 Stellaria, 毛莨属 Ranunculus, 酸模属 Rumex
澳大利亚水鹿 The R. unicolor in Australia	Forsyth & Davis, 2011	悬钩子属 Rubus, 繁缕属 Stellaria, 铁线莲属 Clematis, 蓟属 Cirsium, 酢浆草属 Oxalis
马来西亚水鹿 The R. unicolor in Malaysia	Ismail & Jiwan, 2015	木姜子属 Litsea
中国台湾水鹿 The R. unicolor in Taiwan, China	Yen et al, 2015	悬钩子属 Rubus, 木姜子属 Litsea, 绣球属 Hydrangea, 杜鹃属 Rhododendron, 茶藨子属 Ribes, 槭属 Acer, 卫矛属 Euonymus, 鹅掌柴属 Schefflera, 忍冬属 Lonicera, 冬青属 Ilex, 勾儿茶属 Berchemia, 刚竹属 Phyllostachys, 小檗属 Berberis, 蔷薇属 Rosa, 旌节花属 Stachyurus, 樟属 Cinnamomum, 荚蒾属 Viburnum, 苹果属 Malus