Feeding Ecology of the Cuvier's Gazelle ( Gazella cuvieri , Ogilby, 1841) in the Sahara Desert

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 4; p. 567
• Main Authors: Herrera-Sánchez, F Javier, López, Omar, Rodríguez-Siles, Javier, Díaz-Portero, Miguel Ángel, Arredondo, Ángel, Sáez, Juan Manuel, Álvarez, Begoña, Cancio, Inmaculada, de Lucas, Jesús, Pérez, Joaquín, Valenzuela, Gerardo, Martínez-Valderrama, Jaime, Sánchez-Cerdá, Mariola, Qninba, Abdeljebbar, Virgós, Emilio, Calleja, Juan Antonio, Bartolomé, Jordi, Albanell, Elena, Serrano, Emmanuel, Abáigar, Teresa, Gil-Sánchez, Jose María
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Arid environments; Biomes; Browsing; Climate change; climatic change; Climatic changes; Conservation; Desert environments; Desertification; Deserts; deserts ecology; diet; Drought resistance; Ecology; Feces; Feeding behavior; Foraging behavior; Gazella cuvieri; Grazing; Herbivores; Physiology; Precipitation; Recording; Sahara; Shrubs; Survival; Ungulates; Vegetation; wild ungulates; Morocco; Germany; Spain; Algeria; wildlife conservation; Gazella cuvieri; climatic change; acacia; deserts ecology; diet; wild ungulates; Sahara
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani13040567

Knowledge of the feeding ecology of ungulates in arid biomes offers an interesting model for understanding the drought resistance of large desert-adapted herbivores, a crucial issue in the face of increasing desertification due to climate change. To assess the feeding ecology of the endangered Cuvier's gazelle ( ) in the Sahara desert, we used a multi-method approach combining faecal samples, direct observations, and the recording of indirect signs of feeding. We hypothesised that browser behaviour is the best foraging strategy for species living in hyper-arid environments, mainly due to long periods without grazing opportunities. Complementarily, we explored the effects of the main environmental descriptors (rainfalls and NDVI) on feeding patterns and diet quality. We found that Cuvier's diets are based mainly on acacias ( , ) and occasionally on the annual forb . In total, eighteen species (five trees, nine shrubs, three herbs, and one grass) belonging to fifteen families were recorded. Our result confirmed the browsers' characteristic of this species, reaffirming its ability to settle in a hostile environment. Acacias stand out as key species consumed at the southernmost limit of their range; hence, future conservation plans and strategies should take this into account for the survival of Cuvier's gazelle in desert environments.