Influence of secondary compound complementarity and species diversity on consumption of Mediterranean shrubs by sheep

TitleInfluence of secondary compound complementarity and species diversity on consumption of Mediterranean shrubs by sheep
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsRogosic J., Estell RE, Skobic D., Stanic S.
JournalApplied Animal Behavior Science
Volume107
Pagination58-65
Date PublishedSeptember 7, 200
ARIS Log Number202469
Keywordsconsumption, diversity, herbivores, mediterranean, sheep
AbstractGeneralist herbivores foraging in chemically diverse grazing ecosystems like the Mediterranean maquis increase intake on mixed diets, suggesting they are more able to meet nutritional needs and avoid toxicosis. Thus, our objectives were to determine how shrub species diversity and complementary interactions between tannins and saponins influence intake of Mediterranean shrubs by sheep. We conducted four experiments comparing intake of mixtures of Mediterranean shrub mixtures varying in number of species and/or principal class of secondary compound (tannins or saponins) by sheep (n = 12). Sheep consumed more total foliage (P
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