Effects of group composition on the grazing behaviour of herbivores
Animal behaviour is often a function of the animal’s physiological state. Groups of animals will often contain individuals with a range of physiological states and the grazing behaviour of herbivores is affected by their physiological state. This study compared the grazing decisions of animals in groups of single and mixed physiological states. Using a grazing […]
Habitat selection by a rare forest antelope: A multi-scale approach combining field data and imagery from three sensors
It can be difficult to further scientific understanding of rare or endangered species that live in inaccessible habitat using traditional methods, such as probabilistic modeling based on field data collection. Remote sensing (RS) can be an important source of information for the study of these animals. A key advantage of RS is its ability to […]
Influence of diet transition on serum calcium and phosphorus and fatty acids in Zoo giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
In response to new recommendations for feeding giraffe in zoos, giraffe (n = 6) were transitioned from a typical hoofstock diet to diets containing reduced starch, protein, Ca and P and added n3 fatty acids. This diet was fed as a 50:50 mix with alfalfa and grass hay. Over the next 4 years, serum Ca, […]
Condensed tannins reduce browsing and increase grazing time of free-ranging goats in semi-arid savannas
Tannin concentrations fluctuate spatially and temporally within and among plant species, with consequences for forage quality of herbivores. The extent to which these fluctuations influence foraging activities of goats is not fully understood. While accounting for the effects of the time of the day and season, we tested the hypothesis that goats exposed to high […]
Nutrient and plant secondary compound composition and iron-binding capacity in leaves and green stems of commonly used plant browse (Carolina willow; Salix caroliniana) fed to zoo-managed browsing herbivores
Plant secondary compounds are diverse structurally, and associated biological effects can vary depending on multiple factors including chemical structure and reaction conditions. Phenolic compounds such as tannins can chelate dietary iron, and supplementation of animal species sensitive to iron overload with tannins may prevent/treat iron overload disorder. We assessed the nutrient and phenolic composition and […]
Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) analyses of nutrient composition and condensed tannin concentrations in carolina willow (Salix caroliniana)
Iron overload disorder has been described in a number of zoo-managed species, and it has been recommended to increase the tannin composition of the diet as a safe way to minimize iron absorption in these iron-sensitive species. The goal of this study was to examine the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a […]