Diet of Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) in the Salt Range, Pakistan, and potential competition with domestic sheep and goats | Régime alimentaire de l'urial du Penjab (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) dans le Salt Range (Pakistan): compétition interspécifique potentielle avec les moutons et les chèvres domestiques
2007
Awan, Ghulam Ali | Festa-Bianchet, Marco | Frisina, Michael R.
Food habits of Punjab urial, domestic sheep and goats in the Salt Range, northern Punjab, Pakistan, were investigated for 2 years to determine the annual diet composition of urial and to assess the potential for competition with livestock. Seasonal trends in utilization of major forage groups were similar between years. Graminoids were the dominant forage in the urial diet, averaging 67%. Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria spp. and Eleusine compressa were the dominant graminoids in its diet. Punjab urial and domestic sheep had very similar diets, dominated by graminoids. Of 23 genera identified in the annual diets of urial and domestic sheep, 74% were used by both species. For urial and domestic sheep the diet overlap index was ≥0.80 for one species of browse, two forbs and three graminoids. Domestic goats, in contrast, showed a marked preference for browse. For urial and domestic goat, the overlap index was ≥0.80 for three browse species, one forb and no graminoids. Browse was <20% in the urial diet during spring and summer, but increased in late winter. All species increased browse consumption in winter. Our results suggest a high potential for competition between urial and domestic sheep. Urial conservation may benefit from a reduction in the number of domestic livestock within its range.
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