Comparison of the Diets of Frugivorous Forest Ruminants of Gabon

Abstract

Fruits constitute the major part of the stomach contents (70–80%) of seven species of sympatric forest ruminants of northeastern Gabon; there are large individual variations in the proportions of the ingested foods, but little interspecific or seasonal variation. Unweaned juveniles have dietary characteristics similar to those of adults, but, except for Cephalophus dorsalis, they ingest more leaves. Ruminants eat many different fruit species (often 50 to 80 per ruminant species, and four to nine per stomach); 40 to 60% of the fruit species selected are exclusive to a single ruminant species. Among fruit species shared by a ruminant species with others, only three to seven (5 to 13%) are common major foods; the most dissimilar fruit species sets are between ruminants occupying different habitats. The size of fruits ingested is directly proportional to body weight; nevertheless, for each size class of fruit, the quantity ingested reflects availability in the environment. Because of the diversity of fruit species eaten, there is little overlap in diet among the ruminants.