WHITE-TAILED DEER FOOD-HABITS IN NORTHEASTERN MEXICO

Microhistological analysis of feces was used to estimate the selection of white-railed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Tex.) in the state of N uevo Leon in northeastern Mexico. Browse was the main component of dee r diets (94% annual mean). Major species were blackbrush acacia (Acaci a rigidula Benth), guajillo (Acacia berlandieri Benth) soapbrush (Porl ieria angustifolia Englem), cenizo (Leucophyllum texanus Benth), huisa che (Acacia farnesiana L), popotillo (Ephedra aspera Englem), pale ver de (Cercidium macrum I.M. Johnst) and honey mesquite (Prosopis glandul osa Torr), These species represented about 82% the total plant composi tion of deer diets on an annual basis, Forbs were numerous (23 species in deer diets), but represented only about 5% of the total annual die t. Major forbs in deer diets were Hibiscus spp., Zephyranthes arenicol a Hansel, Agrythamnia neomexicana Muell and Dyssodia acerosa DC. Grass es were selected by deer in very low amounts; buffelgrass (Cenchrus ci liaris L.) was the major grass in the annual diets of deer. Because of the nature of deer diets, it is concluded that browse should be consi dered an important part of the deer habitat, and that those shrub spec ies that are used by deer for food and refuge should be preserved. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.