<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Seasonal variability in grasslands’ vegetation affects animals’ diet selection. We studied the seasonal changes in water buffaloes’ diet during grazing in wet grasslands in Northern Greece. We recorded each month the plant species of the vegetation and the species consumed by buffaloes. We categorized the former into three functional groups (graminoids, legumes, and forbs) and the latter into five groups (graminoids, legumes, forbs, shrubs, and trees). There were significant differences in the proportions (%) of functional groups in the vegetation and in buffaloes’ diet between seasons (χ<sup>2</sup> test, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Graminoids, legumes, and forbs participated in buffaloes’ diet in all seasons, while the less preferred functional groups were trees and shrubs. Buffaloes consumed ten species in all seasons but we observed the most diverse diet, in terms of plant species, in spring. The most frequently consumed species in each functional group were <italic>Cynodon dactylon</italic> (graminoids), <italic>Trifolium repens</italic> (legumes), <italic>Cichorium intybus</italic> (forbs), <italic>Rubus</italic> sp. (shrubs), and <italic>Populus</italic> sp. (trees). However, the majority of plant species in buffaloes’ diet was in very low proportions (&lt;1%), while buffaloes did not sample at all 38 herbaceous species. Researchers need to conduct further research to understand water buffaloes’ foraging strategy regarding plants’ anti-quality characteristics.</p></abstract>

Seasonal variability in grasslands’ vegetation affects animals’ diet selection. We studied the seasonal changes in water buffaloes’ diet during grazing in wet grasslands in Northern Greece. We recorded each month the plant species of the vegetation and the species consumed by buffaloes. We categorized the former into three functional groups (graminoids, legumes, and forbs) and the latter into five groups (graminoids, legumes, forbs, shrubs, and trees). There were significant differences in the proportions (%) of functional groups in the vegetation and in buffaloes’ diet between seasons (χ2 test, P<0.05). Graminoids, legumes, and forbs participated in buffaloes’ diet in all seasons, while the less preferred functional groups were trees and shrubs. Buffaloes consumed ten species in all seasons but we observed the most diverse diet, in terms of plant species, in spring. The most frequently consumed species in each functional group were Cynodon dactylon (graminoids), Trifolium repens (legumes), Cichorium intybus (forbs), Rubus sp. (shrubs), and Populus sp. (trees). However, the majority of plant species in buffaloes’ diet was in very low proportions (<1%), while buffaloes did not sample at all 38 herbaceous species. Researchers need to conduct further research to understand water buffaloes’ foraging strategy regarding plants’ anti-quality characteristics.

Seasonal variation in water buffaloes’ diet grazing in wet grasslands in Northern Greece

Department of Range Science (236), Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, School of Forestry and Natural Environment

Department of Field Crops and Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment

Hacquetia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Seasonal variability in grasslands’ vegetation affects animals’ diet selection. We studied the seasonal changes in water buffaloes’ diet during grazing in wet...

Seasonal variation in water buffaloes’ diet grazing in wet grasslands in Northern Greece

Published Online: Jul 20, 2019

Page range: 201 - 212

Received: Sep 02, 2018

Accepted: Apr 29, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2019-0004

Keywords
vegetation composition, dietary preferences, grazing livestock, plant functional types, wetlands

© 2019 Eleni T. Tsiobani et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Seasonal variation in water buffaloes’ diet grazing in wet grasslands in Northern Greece

Published Online: Jul 20, 2019

Page range: 201 - 212

Received: Sep 02, 2018

Accepted: Apr 29, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2019-0004

Keywordsvegetation composition, dietary preferences, grazing livestock, plant functional types, wetlands

© 2019 Eleni T. Tsiobani et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
vegetation composition, dietary preferences, grazing livestock, plant functional types, wetlands