Resumo

OLGUIN HERNANDEZ, César Augusto et al. Food competition between the White-tailed deer and three exotic herbivorous species in Northeast Tamaulipas, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.42, pp.7-27. ISSN 2007-1132.

In the present study the results of the assessment of food availability and interspecific competition of four species of game interest (whitetail deer, Sika deer, red deer and Eland antelope) are shown on a ranch in the northeast of Tamaulipas. The local vegetation was described, among which the dune, the association of halophytes, the spiny scrub and the high scrub subinerme; 22 families, 41 genera and 46 species were identified. The results indicate that white-tailed deer have a 42.9 % preference for shrubs, 36.5 % for herbaceous species, 18.5 % for grasses and 2.1 % for trees; Sika deer, 69.6 % for grasses, 17.2 % for shrubs, 13.1 % for herbaceous and 0.15 % for trees; Red deer 46.7 % for grasses, 43.9 % for herbaceous and 9.4 % for shrubs; finally, the antelope, 37.2 % for herbs and 32.8 % for grasses, 28.9 % for shrubs and 0.08 % for trees. It was detected that spring was the most critical season in competition, as there was a strong food similarity with the three species of exotic herbivores (49 % with Sika deer, 54 % red deer and 47 % with the antelope), followed by Winter season when verified with red deer (43 %) and antelope (55 %); a similarity of diets with a single species was identified for summer and fall (45 % for Sika deer and 43 % for Eland antelope).

Palavras-chave : Cervus elaphus Linnaeus; 175; Cervus nippon Temminck; 1836; diet determination; histology of plants; Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann; 1780; Taurotragus oryx Pallas; 1776.