Diet of the Przewalski's horse Equus przewalskii in the chernobyl exclusion zone (Article)
a
Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of
the Ukraine, B. Khmelnytski Str.15, Kiev 30, MSP 01601, Ukraine
b Department of Vertebrate Ecology, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ul. Kozuchowska 5b, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland
b Department of Vertebrate Ecology, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ul. Kozuchowska 5b, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland
Abstract
In 1998, 21
Przewalski's horses Equus przewalskii have been introduced in the
Chernobyl exclusion zone. During the years 1999-2000, studies on food
preference were carried out in a special enclosure (70 ha) constructed
for theses horses. A total of 52 plant species, belonging to 25 families
were grazed by the horses. This comprised 43 % of all plant species
recorded in this area. The most common families were Poaceae (17
species), Fabaceae (7 species) and Asteraceae (7 species). In general,
Elytrigia repens, Trifolium pratense, Vicia cracca, Poa trivialis,
Dactylis glomerata and Bromus inermis were the most preferred plant
species. This preference has, however, varied from month to month. The
most preferred plant species in May were Elytrigia repens, Corynephorus
canescens, Festuca valesiaca and Chenopodium albuy; in June - Fabaceae,
in July - Dactylis glomerata and Trifolium and in August - Elytrygia
repens and Vicia cracca. A total of 27 anti-helminthic plant species
were recorded in the study area, 18 of them were grazed by Przewalski's
horse.
Author keywords
Anthi-helminthic plants; Diet; Nuclear disaster; Seasonal variation in diet
Indexed keywords
GEOBASE Subject Index: Chernobyl accident; dicotyledon; diet; feeding behavior; food preference; grass; grazing; horse; legume; seasonal variation
Regional Index: Chernobyl; Kiev [Ukraine]; Ukraine
Species Index: Asteraceae; Bromus; Bromus inermis;
Chenopodium; Corynephorus canescens; Dactylis; Dactylis glomerata;
Elymus repens; Equidae; Equus przewalskii; Fabaceae; Festuca valesiaca;
Poa; Poa trivialis; Poaceae; Trifolium; Trifolium pratense; Vicia; Vicia
cracca
ISSN: 15052249
CODEN: PJECFSource Type: Journal
Original language: English
Document Type: Article
