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Nutritional Partitioning among Sympatric Ungulates in Eastern Tibet
Zhengwei Luo1, Chao Pei1, Haonan Zhang1
1School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|August 10, 2024
Summary
Wild ungulates like musk deer, white-lipped deer, and red serow coexist in Tibet by specializing their diets. DNA barcoding reveals distinct food preferences, enabling efficient resource use and stable populations in shared habitats.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Zoology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Wild ungulates are vital for ecosystem health.
- Alpine musk deer, white-lipped deer, and red serow inhabit the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains.
- Mechanisms for their coexistence are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate coexistence mechanisms of three wild ungulate species.
- Analyze dietary preferences using DNA barcoding of fecal samples.
Main Methods:
- Collected fecal samples from alpine musk deer, white-lipped deer, and red serow.
- Utilized DNA barcoding to identify plant species consumed.
- Analyzed dietary overlap and niche differentiation.
Main Results:
- All three species consume a diverse range of plants across many families and genera.
- Significant differences in nutritional ecological niches were observed.
- Resource partitioning occurred at the genus level, influenced by social behavior, body size, and habitat selection.
Conclusions:
- Dietary differentiation is a key factor in the stable coexistence of these ungulate species.
- Species-specific resource use optimizes environmental resource utilization.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for conservation efforts.
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