@misc{10481/80801,
year = {2023},
month = {2},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/80801},
abstract = {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 (Gazella cuvieri) 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 (Vachellia tortilis, V. flava) and occasionally
on the annual forb Anastatica hierochuntica. 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.},
organization = {Fundacion Barcelona Zoo through the Research and Conservation Grant (	PRIC 2017},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Gazella cuvieri},
keywords = {Climatic change},
keywords = {Diet},
keywords = {Deserts ecology},
keywords = {Sahara},
keywords = {Wild ungulates},
keywords = {Wildlife conservation},
keywords = {Acacia},
title = {Feeding Ecology of the Cuvier’s Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri, Ogilby, 1841) in the Sahara Desert},
doi = {10.3390/ani13040567},
author = {Herrera Sánchez, F. Javier and Gil Sánchez, José María},
}