SEASONAL DIET OF MOUFLON (OVIS-GMELINI) - COMPARISON OF POPULATION SUB-UNITS AND SEX-AGE CLASSES

We studied the diet of mouflon using faecal and rumen contents analysi s for the population of the Caroux-Espinouse mountains (south of Franc e). There were slight intra-populational differences in diet between t he two major socio-spatial sub-units. Mouflon fed on a large number of plants, modifying their diet in relation to plant phenology. During s easons when grasses were less digestible, they were replaced in the di et by broom in summer and by heather in winter. Analysis of rumen cont ents did not reveal any dietary differences between males and females (in autumn and in winter) or between adults and lambs (in autumn). A c omparison of published studies on mouflon diet shows that this species is able to adapt its foraging behaviour, permitting it to inhabit env ironments as varied as the continental German plains, Mediterranean Co rsican high mountains and Mediterranean and Oceanic low altitude mount ains. The mouflon can be considered an opportunistic feeder whose opti mal habitat is a diverse one.