Seasonal forage utilization by elephants in central Africa

摘要: Summary Foraging by adult African elephants was studied in the Terminalia/Combretum woodlands of Manovo-Gounda-St Floris National Park, Central Republic. Subjects spent nearly 17 h day-1 feeding while selecting a wide range food plants. Elephants had mean daily intake 7% body weight and tended to feed more at night than during day. Seasonal variation time, browsing grazing rates, per trunkful, defaecation were used estimate forage gross assimilation efficiency. Daily consumption consistent with reported previous literature, but efficiency lower indicating relatively poor quality dry season. The grass:browse ratio diet 3.5:1 calculated on an annual basis. Combined increased human disturbance decreased availability season, experienced nutritional stress resulting loss condition. Defaecation which may be useful for estimating elephant numbers or occupance, are discussed show that extrapolating forest from data gathered savanna populations must treated caution due differential proportions grass browse their diets. Resume L'alimentation des adultes fut etudiee dans les savanes boisees aTerminalia et Combretum du Parc de en Republique Centrafricaine. Les animaux passent presque par jour se nourrir selectionnant un large eventail plantes. ingerent chaque peu pres l'equivalent leur poids corporel ont tendance d'avantage nuit que jour. La quantite fourrage consomme l'efficience l'assimilation brute sont estimees sur base variations saisonnieres temps nourrissage, passea manger l'herbe ou d'autres vegetaux, quantites brassee defecations. consommation journaliere correspond ce qui ete rapporte anterieurement la litterature, mais est inferieure, indique qualite relativement pauvre durant saison seche. proportion fourrage/autres vegetaux le regime 3, 5/1 sec an. Outre l'augmentation perturbations dues aux hommes diminution disponible seche, souffrent d'un nutritionnel menant apauvrissement condition physique. taux defecation, peuvent etre utile pour l'estimation l'occupation nombre elephants, discutes l'on montre l'extrapolation nombres d'elephants foret donnees recoltees savane doit faite avec precaution raison differentes graminees composes leurs regimes alimentaires.