Winter Nutritional Strategy Of The Red Deer(Cervus Elaphus Xanthopygus) In The Muling Forest Region

The nutritional status in winter is critical for the winter survival and subsequent reproductive success of wild deer in high latitudes area from northern hemisphere.To this end,we followed the footprints of wild red deer in Heilongjiang Muling Dongbei Hongdoushan National Nature Reserve,and collected red deer's feeding plants,and their droppings in three consecutive years Feb.2012,Jan.2013 and Jan.2014.Firstly,field observations and fecal microscopic analysis were applied in our research,the feeding habits selection of red deer in winter,and red deer was obtained.Furthermore,the nutritional contents of these feeding plans were measured in order to illustrate the nutrient's choice of the red deer from the Muling forest region in winter.Based on the information above,a geometric framework model was applied to assess the niche overlap between the red deer and the other deer specie-roe deer,both were from the similar region in the Muling forest region.1.The winter diets analysis showed that the red deer from the Muling forest region in winter mainly feed on woody plants,accounted for 91.9%of its feeding habits.There were in total 15 species of plants,containing Equisetum hyemale,Spiraea salicifolia,Saussurea manshurica,Aralia elata,Tilia amurensis,Ulmus pumila,Populus cathayana,Euonymus alatus,Euonymus verrucosus,Euonymus macropterus,Acer tegmentosum,Acer tschonoskii,Acer ukurunduense,Fraxinus mandshurica,Taxus cuspidata.Wherein,the relatively larger proportion of the red deer's feeding habits in winter was basically composed of three plants(Acer tegmentosum,Taxus cuspidata and Acer tschonoskii),which accounted for nearly half of the total amount(45.8%).Subsequently,Acer tegmentosum,Taxus cuspidata and Acer tschonoskii occupy 19.2%,16.6%and 9.7%of the total amount,respectively.In addition,Aralia elata and Saussurea manshurica exhibits two smallest percentages,which were 2.8%and 1.0%,respectively.As can be seen from the annual variability of feeding habits,the type of food for red deer from Muling protective area was similar in winter.Certain degree of variation can be identified on the proportion,but the differences have not reached the statistically significant level.2.As to the nutritional quality of the feeding plant for red deer in winter.The energy content did not exhibit significant variability among the 15 species of red deer's feeding plants,with an average of approx.18 kJ g-1.It was noteworthy that the Taxus cuspidate and Euonymus macropterus contributes the highest energy content,however,Populus cathayana contributes the lowest.Carbohydrates,as the most important component of plants,accounted for approx.84%of the total weight(dry weight,same below).Protein,as the second most important component of plants,contributes approx.7%of the total weight of(mostly in the range of 4.5-10.3%).Wherein Aralia elata,Euonymus alatus,Taxus cuspidata and Ulmus pumila exhibit relatively higher protein content,Acer ukurunduense had the lowest protein content,followed by the Populus cathayana.In addition,there was almost no difference in the fat content with an average of approx.7%.The average NFC content was roughly 20%,whose highest content was due to Saussurea manshurica,Equisetum hyemale and Taxus cuspidata(>25%),whereas the lowest content was due to Fraxinus mandshurica(<15%).The average NDF content was about 65%,whose highest content was accounted for Fraxinus mandshurica,followed by Euonymus verrucosus and Acer ukurunduense.Note that the highest cellulose content was in Populus cathayana and Equisetum hyemale,where the lowest was in Taxus cuspidate.The highest hemicellulose content was in Fraxinus mandshurica.It was noteworthy that the Taxus cuspidata exhibits the lowest cellulose and hemicellulose content and the highest lignin content.Moreover,DMD content was generally in these 15 plant species with an average of approx.46%.Wherein,only Saussurea manshurica,Aralia elata and Equisetum hyemale contains>50%DMD.Therefore,it can be revealed from the nutritional contents of these 15 species of plants that the type of food resource for red deer from Muling forest region in winter was relatively monotonous and lack of high-quality plant species.Equisetum hyemale,Saussurea manshurica and Aralia elata can be counted for as the high-quality food species for red deer in winter;Spiraea salicifolia and Taxus cuspidata were good food supplement for red deer in winter.In addition,by means of the correlation analysis,there was no correlation between the protein and energy contents in plants.However,there was a low degree of negative correlation between lipid and energy contents,which can also be considered no correlation.Between NDF and energy contents,there was a significant negative correlation.Whereas,a high degree of a positive correlation was obtained between the NFC and energy contents.3.Within three years from 2012 to 2014,No significant difference was found for various nutrients e.g.crude protein,crude fat,NFC,NDF and lignin taken by red deer from the Muling forest region.The average crude protein intake was 7.3 ± 0.0%.The fat intake was 6.6 ± 0.0%.In addition,NFC and NDF intake was relatively stable.The average intake was 20.4 ± 0.0%and 65.6 ± 0.0%,respectively.As can be seen from the analysis above,the crude protein intake in winter for the red deer from the Muling forest region was less than the suitable wintering protein level from literatures.Actually,it was only enough to maintain the minimum protein requirement,indicating the lack of quality food species in this forest region.Therefore,in order to better maintain the wild red deer populations in this area,we highly recommend a set up of delivery points in the areas with relatively higher red deer population to manually provide foodsupplement to help to maintain the populations of red deer in winter.4.A comparative analysis of feeding habits between sympatric red deer and roe deer in winter was constructed.Based on which,it was concluded that there was a high degree of overlap between the feeding habits of these two kinds of deer.Among these 15 plant species within the feeding habits of red deer in winter,apart from Taxus cuspidata,all appear the feeding habits of roe deer in winter.However,there was large variation in the proportion of the feeding plants.With respect to red deer,roe deer feeds on more non-woody plants,including ferns and herbs.In addition,same as the feeding habits,nutrition choices exhibit large difference between red deer and roe deer.The intake of protein,NFC and lignin for red deer was significantly higher than that for roe deer.However,the fat intake for roe deer was remarkably higher than that for red deer.In addition,there was no significant difference in the intake of NDF with an average of about 65%.