Reproductive strategy of the Farasan gazelle Gazella gazella farasani

Factors affecting population dynamics of re-introduced mountain gazelles (Gazella gazella) in the Ibex Reserve, central Saudi Arabia

“…However, the spectrum of plants chosen is very wide and only a few plant species are rejected (Mendelssohn et al, 1995). Although, mountain gazelles prefer to drink water in summer (Mendelssohn et al, 1995;Dunham, 1998b), the availability of free water seems to have no effect on mountain gazelles since the species is otherwise able to cover its water requirements by the ingestion of hygroscopic food (Taylor, 1968;Williamson and Delima, 1991;Habibi, 1992) and by behavioral adoptions (Tatwany and Goldspink, 1996).…”

The Farasan gazelle—A frugivorous browser in an arid environment?

“…Table 1 Percentage distribution of the 17 most selected food plant species of Farasan gazelles recorded during behavioural observations (Acceptable Food Abundance, AFA) on Farasan Kebir. Results are compared to previous records of food plants reported by Habibi (1992) and Habibi and Thouless (1997).…”

“…Results are compared to previous records of food plants reported by Habibi (1992) and Habibi and Thouless (1997 Schulz et al (2013), that of Hippotraginae, Alcelaphinae, Tragulidae, Cephalophinae and Reduncinae from Fortelius and Solounias (2000). Percentages of the occlusal relief scores are given as H = high or L = low, and the cusp shape as S = sharp, R = round or B = blunt.…”

“…The increase in feeding time and the switch from pure browsing on trees and shrubs to annual herbs (Fig. 3), represent a well-chosen strategy, enabling the gazelles to reproduce throughout the year (Habibi, 1992), but also depend on clear trade-offs between nutrient contents of fresh herbs and the foliage of trees and shrubs, differences in availability, and the content of secondary plant compounds (Wilmhurst et al, 2000). The latter plays an eminent role in the succulent shrub Capparis sinaica which contains more than 80% of hygroscopic water in the foliage (Wronski, unpubl.…”

“…represent an important part of their diet (Vesey-Fitzgerald, 1952;Shalmon, 1988). Plant species utilized by Arabian gazelles have rarely been documented from the Arabian Peninsula, but some qualitative data on specific food plants were provided from the Farasan Islands (Flamand et al, 1988;Habibi, 1992Habibi, , 1994Habibi and Thouless, 1997), the Tihama Plain (Al-Hazmi and Ghandour, 1992) and the Ibex Reserve (Campbell, 1997) in Saudi Arabia. Apart from a few grass species, the authors have identified various trees, shrubs and perennial herbs as major food plants.…”