Institut für Biologie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Date of this Version
2007
Document Type
Article
Citation
Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei (Halle/Saale) 10 (2007): 93-97.
Abstract
The Mongolian wild ass or khulan (Equus hemionus) is a potential competitor for forage to reintroduced Przewalski’s horses. To evaluate the major foraging plants of khulan we chose the alkane method that was first described by Mayes in 1984. Different plant species contain varying amounts and proportions of n-alkanes. This fact allows the determination of diet composition by comparing the plant alkane to the fecal alkane pattern. The major advantage is that the method is non-invasive and has been shown to be a reliable method in captive trials. Fecal and plant samples were collected simultaneously and preserved by drying. The alkane content was determined gas chromatographically after chemical extraction. The diet composition was calculated according to Dove and Moore (1995). The results showed that in autumn 2003 beside some grass like species herbs like Allium mongolicum and Zygophyllum pterocarpum were the major foraging pants in Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in southwestern Mongolia.
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Comments
Copyright 2007, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg, Halle (Saale). Used by permission.