| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 1972 |
| Authors: | MOSS, ROBERT |
| Journal: | Journal of Animal Ecology |
| Volume: | 41 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Date Published: | 1972 |
| ISBN Number: | 00218790 |
| Keywords: | Lagopus, Lagopus lagopus, Phasianidae |
| Abstract: | (1) The selection of food by red grouse was examined in order to establish chemical criteria for measuring food quality in spring. The birds were shot at or just before dusk. (2) Over 90% of their diet in spring was heather; Erica tetralix followed by E. cinerea formed most of the remaining 10%. (3) Selection for N and P increased from winter to spring and continued to increase throughout spring until the birds had laid their eggs. Selection for Ca, soluble carbohydrates and crude fat did not increase from winter to spring; if anything it decreased. (4) The present results confirm an earlier conclusion that N and P are probably the most important nutrients in the spring and may be used as measures of the birds' plane of nutrition in further studies. They also confirm that metabolizable energy is not likely to be limiting at this time of year. (5) The hypothesis that red grouse selected for N and P solely by regulating the size and type (woody or leafy) of particles eaten was tested and rejected. (6) The Erica spp. contained less N and P than the heather. They began to grow earlier than heather and perhaps some unidentified factor in their new growth was important to the grouse. (7) It was predicted that the levels of N and/or P in the laying hens' diet should be related to subsequent breeding success. |
| URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3477 |
| Short Title: | Journal of Animal Ecology |
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