[Download] "Diets of Feral Emus in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Region of Texas (Report)" by Southwestern Naturalist " eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free

eBook details

Title: Diets of Feral Emus in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Region of Texas (Report)
Author : Southwestern Naturalist
Release Date : January 01, 2008
Genre: Life Sciences,Books,Science & Nature,
Pages : * pages
Size : 169 KB

Description

ABSTRACT--Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) have been commercially farmed in the United States since the early 1980s, but the market for emu products has never been large. Emus have escaped captivity and have been surviving and successfully reproducing in the wild. To determine if there was potential for competition with native species of wildlife, we examined diets of free-ranging emus in the Cross-Timbers and Prairies eco-region of Texas during 1999 and 2000. Diets of emus were composed of native grasses, forbs, mast, drupes, and leaves. In addition to native foods, emus also were consuming large quantities of livestock feed and agricultural crops. Free-ranging emus have potential to compete with native species of wildlife, particularly birds, if their numbers continue to increase. RESUMEN--Las avestruces (Dromaius novaehollandia) se han usado comercialmente desde el principio de la decada de 1980. Sin embargo, el mercado para los productos de avestruces ha sido limitado. Las avestruces se han escapado de cautiverio, y sobreviven y se reproducen exitosamente en forma silvestre. Para determinar si existe el potencial para competir con fauna silvestre nativa, examinamos la dieta de las avestruces en condiciones libres en dos regiones de Texas, en la zona de pino y la zona de pastizales, durante 1999 y 2000. Las dietas fueron constituidas principalmente de pastos, hierbas, bellotas, frutas silvestres, y hojas. Ademas de los alimentos nativos, los avestruces consumieron tambien grandes cantidades de cultivos y alimentos para ganado. Los avestruces en condiciones libres tienen el potencial de competir con especies de fauna nativa, especialmente aves, si sus numeros continuan aumentando.