Diet selection in captivity by a generalist herbivorous rodent (Octodon degus) from the Chilean coastal desert

Gutierrez, JR; Bozinovic, F

Abstract

Five captive adult female degus (Octodon degus) were offered leaves and twigs to eat from three woody (Adesmia bedwellii, Porlieria chilensis and Proustia pungens) and two suffruticose (Baccharis paniculata and Chenopodium petiolase) shrubs that provide cover in their natural habitat. The degus discriminated among the plant species, consuming lower amounts of P. chilensis. Daily body mass losses of degus were significantly higher when they were fed upon P. pungens and P. chilensis. The nutritional value of plants, concomitant with degu nutritional requirements, may explain changes in shrub cover previously found to follow removal of degus from experimental plots. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

Más información

Título según WOS: ID WOS:000076244900006 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
Volumen: 39
Número: 4
Editorial: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Fecha de publicación: 1998
Página de inicio: 601
Página final: 607
DOI:

10.1006/jare.1998.0412

Notas: ISI