Feeding Habits of the Roan Antelope Hippotragus Equinus (Desmarest, 1804) in Gbele Resource Reserve

Abstract

Knowledge on the food habits of range animals is an essential tool for rangers and other range scientists for effective and sustainable management of rangelands and its resources. Such information provides a greater opportunity to assess the diet of animals and to evaluate any potential forage competition among herbivores. The aim of the study was therefore to use microhistology to predict the forage species consume by the roan antelope; to assess whether seasonal changes affect the diet and feeding habits of the roan antelope in the study area; and to determine the proportions of the different forage species consume by the roan antelope. The scraping method was used to study the foliar epidermal characteristics of plants. Thirty (30) faecal samples were collected along transect lines and were identified by the shape of pellets and nearby hoof prints. Microhistological faecal analysis technique was used to analyse the faecal matter. Among the plant species predicted in faecal matter, Andropogon gayanus, Hyparrhenia spp, Hyperthelia dissoluta, Gardenia spp and Afzelia africana were the most dominant forage species in the diet of the roan antelope. Browse to grass ratio was highest in the warm-dry season, low in the cool-dry season and lowest in the rainy season. There were inter-seasonal and intra-species differences (p < 0.05) in the consumption of plant species in all the three forage categories (grass, browse and forbs). Diet proportions of the three forages indicated that roans are mixed-feeders. On the average roans consume more grass than browse and forbs; (37% grass), (30% browse), (19% forbs) and unidentified forage (14%). The results suggested that, seasonal changes and forage type influenced the feeding habits and diet of the roan antelope.