Assessment of diet composition of free-ranging antelopes (Addax nasomaculatus) by the combination of microhistological procedures and n-alkanes and long-chain alcohols as faecal markers

Understanding herbivore foraging behaviour is crucial for adequate wildlife management decisions. This study assessed the diet composition of free-ranging antelope Addax (Addax nasomaculatus De Blainville, 1816). Samples collected during the spring season were analyzed using microhistological procedures along with n-alkanes and long-chain alcohols as fecal markers. Twelve animals were monitored and fresh fecal samples were collected daily during a seven-day period. Diet composition estimates obtained by both methods were similar and indicate that (Stipagrostis pungens subsp. (Desf.) De Winter) was the main diet component followed by (Fagonia glutinosa var. (Delile.) nuda Hadidi), (Helianthemum kahiricum var. libycum (Pomel.) Batt.) and (Hamada schmittiana (Pomel.) Botsch.). Data showed that Addax have mixed diets composed of perennial woody and herbaceous plant species depending on their availability. The four species most selected by the animals were also the most abundant species in the plant cover. By contrast, species that accounted for less than 5% of the plant cover were not present in the fecal samples. Results of this study represent a single grazing season and, for that reason, further studies are required to fully understand how the antelopesâ grazing behaviour varies with seasonal changes in vegetation cover.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author