AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Nutritional Energetics of Sharp-Tailed Grouse during Winter

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1974
Authors:Evans, KE, Dietz, DR
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:38
Issue:4
Date Published:1974
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Pedioecetes, Pedioecetes phasianellus, Phasianidae, Tympanuchus, Tympanuchus phasianellus
Abstract:Sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus) depend to a large extent upon the berries and buds of native shrubs for winter sustenance. A key to intensive management of winter habitat for this species is the propagation and/or encouragement of high energy-providing plants. Twenty-one feeding trials were conducted during two winters on seven diet materials fed ad libitum to adult grouse: grain from corn (Zea mays); buds from plains cottonwood (Populus sargentii); and berries from fleshy hawthorn (Crataegus succulenta), Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), and Wood's rose (Rosa woodsii). Average nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy ( $\text{ME}_{n}$ ) values (kcal/gram dry matter intake) ranged from a high of 3.91 for corn to a low of 1.39 for Wood's rose. Fleshy hawthorn berries were ingested in greater quantity than other air-dried foods, while plains cottonwood buds were ingested in the smallest quantity. Females consumed an average of 31.5 percent less dry matter than males, but $\text{ME}_{n}$ values were not different between sexes. Food consumed in large enough quantity to provide metabolizable energy in excess of 1.5 times basal metabolic rate also provided sufficient protein for maintenance. The fruit of silver buffaloberry was the best native winter food item tested. These fruits were high in energy (3.13 kcal/gram $\text{DM}_{1}$ of ME), were readily eaten, and persisted on the shrubs throughout the winter.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3800028
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith