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Comparison of analysis of stomach contents and faecal samples from zebra
Author(s) -
OWAGA MARY L. A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1977.tb00401.x
Subject(s) - stomach , biology , feces , veterinary medicine , ecology , medicine , biochemistry
Summary Stomach contents and faecal samples from the same individuals were collected and analysed from eighteen plains zebra in Kajiado district, Kenya. They were analysed microscopically using the point frame method (Chamrad & Box, 1964). The composition of the diets is expressed in terms of ‘parts’ (leaves, sheaths, and stems), while ten grass species which featured prominently in the diet are discussed. The results were tested statistically and regressions were drawn for leaf, sheath and stem proportions in stomach contents and faecal samples. The frequency of leaves appearing in the stomach was found to be consistently higher than that of the faeces while the reverse was the case for sheaths and stems. Out of about sixty species of grasses and five of sedges, the ten most important ones in stomach samples were also the most important species in faecal samples, although some appeared in different orders. All species which had a frequency of at least 3% in the stomach contents were identifiable in the faecal samples.