Seasonal adjustment of energy budget in a large wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) I. Energy intake.

摘要: Large ruminants respond to changing plant phenology during winter by decreasing voluntary food intake, increasing gut passage time and utilizing body fat reserves. It is uncertain, however, how other large mammals with a non-ruminant digestive physiology cope forage conditions. Therefore, we investigated seasonality of energy intake in herbivorous wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Throughout all seasons used n-alkane method measure daily dry matter (DMI), diet composition digestion, determined an index horses living under close natural DMI correlated positively its content crude protein nitrogen-free extract. Independent these effects, further varied seasonally peak autumn nadir late winter. Fluctuations corresponded annual change condition, which decreased while reserves were depleted, increased fattening period. Gut course year was longer when high fibre. Nevertheless, changes occurred rather independently DMI, suggesting endogenous control for timely adaption strategy meet predictable quality.