Faecal particle size distribution in captive wild ruminants: an approach to the browser/grazer dicotomy from the other end

We investigated the particle size distribution in 245 faecal samples of 8 1 species of captive ruminants by a wet-sieving procedure. As a comparative measure, the modulus of fineness (MOF; Poppi et al. 1980) was used. Species were classified as frugivores (n=5), browsers (BR, n=16), intermediate fee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia
Main Authors: Clauss, Marcus, Lechner-Doll, M, Streich, W Jürgen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2002
Subjects:
Biology and Life Sciences
faeces
DEER
particle size
ruminant diversification
selective particle retention
feeding type
MOOSE ALCES-ALCES
CERVUS-ELAPHUS
PLANT-PARTICLES
RETENTION TIME
BODY-SIZE
CATTLE
SHEEP
RUMEN
RUMINATION
Alces alces
Online Access:https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/669804
http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-669804
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-002-0894-8
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/669804/file/761066
Description
Summary:We investigated the particle size distribution in 245 faecal samples of 8 1 species of captive ruminants by a wet-sieving procedure. As a comparative measure, the modulus of fineness (MOF; Poppi et al. 1980) was used. Species were classified as frugivores (n=5), browsers (BR, n=16), intermediate feeders (IM, n=35) and grazers (GR, n=25). BR generally had a higher proportion of large particles, i.e. higher MOF values, than IM or GR of comparable size. These findings are in accord with reported lower fibre digestibility and less selective particle retention in BR, and are indicative of a difference in reticulo-ruminal physiology between the main ruminant feeding types. Possible consequences of the escape of larger particles from a browser's reticulo-rumen for the feeding of captive BR are briefly discussed.

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