Title
Duiker food selection: Palatability trials using natural foods in the Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo
Author(s)
Molloy, L.; Hart J. A.
Published
2002
Publisher
Zoo Biology
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.10021
Abstract
Cafeteria-style palatability feeding trials were conducted with captive duikers in the Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. Blue duikers (Cephalophus monticola; n = 3), and white-bellied duikers (C. leucogaster; n = 3), were offered unlimited amounts of paired foods in two experiments consisting of 20 feeding trials each. Five different foods, including fruits and flowers common to duiker diets, were used in each experiment. Preferred foods were determined by the quantities of foods consumed and ranked using the Bradley-Terry model for preference data. Chemical composition, including fiber fractions, protein, and soluble carbohydrates, was determined for foods offered. Blue duikers made consistent food choices in both experiments, whereas white-bellied duikers displayed consistent preferences in Experiment 2. The choices by the white-bellied duiker in Experiment 1 were not consistent and appeared to vary at random. The two duiker species had different food preference rankings in Experiment 1, but similar rankings in Experiment 2. The number of times a food was preferred was correlated with the amount of food consumed in both experiments for the white-bellied duiker and only in Experiment 2 for the blue duiker. Food rankings were not significantly correlated with the chemical constituents assayed, or the size or shape of the food. For blue duikers, consumption in Experiment 1 and Bradley-Terry rank preference in Experiment 2 were significantly correlated with food color. In summary, duiker selection of natural foods appears to be based on a variety of factors, and is not limited to chemical composition or physical characteristics.
Keywords
Cafeteria, Cephalophus, Cephalophus leucogaster, Cephalophus monticola, Monticola

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