International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

Abstract

Knowledge on the food habits of range animals is an essential tool for rangers and other range scientists for effective and sustainable management of rangelands and its resources. Such information provides a greater opportunity to assess the diet of animals and to evaluate any potential forage competition among herbivores. The aim of the study was therefore to use microhistology to predict the forage species consume by the roan antelope; to assess whether seasonal changes affect the diet and feeding habits of the roan antelope in the study area; and to determine the proportions of the different forage species consume by the roan antelope. The scraping method was used to study the foliar epidermal characteristics of plants. Thirty (30) faecal samples were collected along transect lines and were identified by the shape of pellets and nearby hoof prints. Microhistological faecal analysis technique was used to analyse the faecal matter. Among the plant species predicted in faecal matter, Andropogon gayanus, Hyparrhenia spp, Hyperthelia dissoluta, Gardenia spp and Afzelia africana were the most dominant forage species in the diet of the roan antelope. Browse to grass ratio was highest in the warm-dry season, low in the cool-dry season and lowest in the rainy season. There were inter-seasonal and intra-species differences (p < 0.05) in the consumption of plant species in all the three forage categories (grass, browse and forbs). Diet proportions of the three forages indicated that roans are mixed-feeders. On the average roans consume more grass than browse and forbs; (37% grass), (30% browse), (19% forbs) and unidentified forage (14%). The results suggested that, seasonal changes and forage type influenced the feeding habits and diet of the roan antelope.

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Abstract

The study presents investigations into the leaf epidermal characteristics of sampled grass species in Gbele Resource Reserve to determine variations or similarities in terms of the presence of anatomical features among the grass species. The scraping method was used to study both the adaxial and abaxial epidermis of grass species. Pictorial illustrations of the epidermis of all the grasses studied were presented with their anatomical features. The study revealed variations and similarities among some of the grass species. The adaxial and abaxial epidermis of Andropogon gayanus, Rottboelia cochinchinensis, Imperata cylindrica, Hyparrhenia rufa, Elucine indica, Hyperthelia dissoluta and Brachiaria lata were clearly distinguished into coastal and intercoastal zones. The coastal zones were generally narrower while the intercoastal zones were broader. These zones were however not recorded in Setaria pallide-fusca. Rows of small round papillae were found in both short and long cells in the adaxial and abaxial epidermis of only Andropogon gayanus. Solitary or no stomata were seen in the adaxial epidermis of Andropogon gayanus, Rottboellia cochinchinensis, Hyparrhenia rufa and Digitaria horizontalis. However, numerous stomata were observed in the abaxial epidermis of all the grass species. A mixture of high domed to triangular shaped subsidiary cells of the stomata was observed in Elucine Indica and Brachiaria lata. Low domed subsidiary cells were recorded in Andropogon gayanus, Setaria pallide-fusca and Sporobolus pyramidalis. Leaf epidermal studies have become an essential tool in providing information of taxonomic importance. It affords us the opportunity to classify and identify grasses into their various tribes and genus of the family poaceae.

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