关键词: 食性, 粪便显微组织学分析, 可可西里自然保护区, 藏羚羊

Abstract: We studied the diets of Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsoni) by fecal microhistological analysis and compared the difference of the diets between warm-season (in July)and cold-season (in January) in Kekexili Nature Reserve, Qinghai Province,where we collected fresh fecal samples from Tibetan antelopes (33 in July 2005 and 55 in January 2006). Results showed that a total of 24 species (genera)belonging to 15 families were foraged by antelopes. By checking the frequency of each plant fragments in fecal samples,we found that Gramineae, Cyperaceae, Legume, Compositae, Tamaricaceae and Scrophulariae were the main food items. Gramineae was the main food throughout the year, and accounted for 60.5% of food composition. In addition, antelopes fed on Cyperaceae, Legume, Compositae, Tamaricaceae and Scrophulariae in quite high proportions annually, accounting for 16.7%, 9.2%, 6.4%, 4.9%, and 0.9% respectively. There was significant variation in diet in different seasons. In the cold season, Cyperaceae and Tamaricaceae decreased to 7.7% and 0.8% respectively, while Gramineae, Legume and Scrophulariae increased to 70.4%, 12.6% and 2.4% respectively.

Key words: Food habits, Fecal microhistological analysis, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tibetan antelope