Resumen

RICHARD, Enrique  y  FONTURBEL RADA, Francisco. Fruit preference analysis in the diet of the Brown brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira Fisher (Mammalia, Cervidae), in a secondary Yungas environmmet (Tucumán - Argentina). Ecol. apl. [online]. 2006, vol.5, n.1-2, pp.111-117. ISSN 1726-2216.

Morus nigra L. fruit consumption by the brown brocket deer, Mazama gouazoubira, represents a very significant part of its diet in the area under study (a secondary environment of the Phitogeografical Province of Las Yungas). Other important fruits in the area are Psychotria carthagenensis Jacq. and, to a lesser extent, Rubus boliviensis Focke. Fruit preferences were analyzed, offering the same fruits, at different relative densities, to brocket deers at semicaptivity conditions. They always preferred M. nigra, even at very high P. carthagenensis densities, while R. boliviensis was the most rejected. The best relation pulp/seed and the highest nutritional value of M. nigra would be the reasons for its high palatability compared to P. carthagenensis. In spite of having intermediate values compared to the other fruits considered, the high fiber content and the subsequent low digestibility of R. boliviensis, would be the reasons for its rejection.

Palabras clave : Preference; diet; secondary environment; Yungas; Mazama gouazoubira; palatability.

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