Botanical content of black-tailed jackrabbit diets on semidesert rangeland

TitleBotanical content of black-tailed jackrabbit diets on semidesert rangeland
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1992
AuthorsWansi T, Pieper, Rex D., Beck RF, Murray L.W
JournalGreat Basin Naturalist
Volume52
Pagination300-308
Date Published1992
Accession NumberJRN00153
Call Number00441
Keywordsarticle, articles, diet,lagomorph, journal, journals, lagomorpha, diet, Lepus,diet
AbstractBotanical content of black-tailed jackrabbit diets was determined by microhistological examination of fecal samples collected from six different vegetation types in southern New Mexico on three dates. Grasses comprised the largest component of the jackrabbit diets, with dropseed species (Sporobolus spp.) and black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) the most abundant grasses in the diets. Leatherweed croton (Croton pottsii) and silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) were important forbs on most vegetation types. Diet composition varied in response to season and vegetation type. Grasses were important during the summer growing season, while forbs were selected during their growing season (summer or winter-spring). Shrubs were less abundant in the diet than grasses and forbs.