Seasonal comparison of diet of the Martino's snow vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi Martino, 1922) in captivity

Abstract

Dinarski voluhar je endem zapadnog Balkana. Zbog naseljavanja nepristupačnih staništa i malih gustoća populacija slabo je istražena i ugrožena vrsta. Kako bi se dobile detaljnije informacije o prehrani vrste, provedeno je istraživanje sezonske razlike prehrane na osam jedinki ulovljenih na planini Mosor i smještenih u Zoološkom vrtu grada Zagreba. Biljke ubrane u parku Maksimir su izvagane, prezentirane voluharima i ostavljene 24 sata. Izbrojani su i dijelovi biljaka kako bi se moglo utvrditi koje dijelove jedu te u kojoj mjeri. Nakon 24 sata, izvađeni su nepojedeni ostatci te su prebrojani i izvagani. Za svako godišnje doba izvedeno je minimalno 60 mjerenja. Napravljene su analize razlika u prehrani po godišnjim dobima za ukupnu količinu hrane, podjelu na podrazrede (dvosupnice, jednosupnice) te podjelu na tipove biljaka (zeljaste, drvenaste, dlakave, plodovi, sjemenke, trave). Rezultati pokazuju da dinarski voluhari tijekom zime jedu najmanje hrane te da iako preferiraju određene tipove i dijelove biljaka, ovisno o dostupnosti nadopunjuju prehranu ostalim tipovima i dijelovima biljaka.Martiono's vole is endemic to West Balkan. It’s poorly known and endangered species because of small population densities and preference for poorly accessible habitat. In order to obtain detailed information about species diet, the research on seasonal differences in diet of 8 specimens caught on the mountain Mosor and placed in a ZOO Zagreb was conducted. Plants collected in the park Maksimir were weighed, presented to voles and left for 24 hours. Parts of plants were counted in order to determine which were eaten and to what extent. After 24 hours, the uneaten remains were recovered and were counted and weighed. For every season a minimum of 60 measurements was conducted. Analyses of the seasonal differences in the diet were conducted for the total amount of food, the division into subclasses (dicots, monocots) and division into types of plants (herbaceous, woody, hairy, fruits, seeds, grasses). The results show that the Martino’s voles eat minimal amount of food during the winter and even though they prefer certain types and parts of plants, depending on the availability they supplement diet with other parts and types of plants