Diet composition and interspecific niche of Taohongling Sika deer (Cervusnipponkopschi) and its sympatric Reeve's muntjac (Muntiacusreevesi) and Chinese hare (Lepussinensis) in winter (Animalia, Mammalia).

ABSTRACT: Species co-existence depends on how organisms utilize their environment and resources. Little is known about the winter diet composition and sympatric co-existence of South China sika deer and its companion species in Taohongling. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and metabarcoding trnL were used to study the diet composition and interspecific relationship including sika deer, Reeve's muntjac, and Chinese hare. Our results show that 203 genera in 90 families are contained in the diet of sika deer, 203 genera in 95 families for Reeve's muntjac, and 163 genera in 75 families for Chinese hare. Sika deer fed on Rubuschingii, Loropetalumchinense, and Euryajaponica in winter, accounting for 75.30%; Reeve's muntjac consumed mainly R.chingii, E.japonica,

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10208087 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature