THE NUTRITIONAL CARRYING-CAPACITY OF 4 MEDITERRANEAN HABITATS FOR FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA)

The assessment of the trophic value of the most consumed feed by fallo w deer in a coastal mediterranean landscape (Rubus ulmifolius, Cistus salvifolius, Phyllirea latifolia, Quercus ilex and graminoids) was bas ed on in vitro digestibility trials, performed throughout the year (1 set of samples per season) using rumen inocula from wild fallow deer f rom the Preserve of Castelporziano, collected simultaneously with the vegetal samples. Moreover, in vivo digestibility coefficients have bee n estimated by using standard feed (for fallow deer) of known in vivo digestibility. Using the digestibility coefficients, the metabolizable energy yield of studied forage items was computed. Information about plant biomass, structure of fallow deer population, metabolizable ener gy yields, estimates of forage intake and energy requirements were com bined using the model presented by Hobbs and Swift (1985) to evaluate the nutritional carrying capacity of four typical mediterranean habita ts (natural evergreen oak wood, scrub mixed plantations of Quercus ile x and Pinus pinea, open pastures). Spring represents the most favourab le situation, while summer, autumn and winter exhibit similar values o f carrying capacity of about 15-20 deer/100 ha. Mixed plantations of P inus pinea and Q. ilex seem to be the most productive condition for fa llow deer.