Naslov
Morphological analysis of the aoudad: the introduced population is well adapted to the Mediterranean habitat

Autori
Kavčić, Krešimir ; Gančević, Pavao ; Šprem, Nikica

Izvornik
Journal of Central European agriculture (1332-9049) (2020); /-/

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Ammotragus lervia ; Barbary sheep ; Dinaric mountains ; morphometry ; mountain ungulate
(Barbary sheep ; Dinaric mountains ; morphometry ; mountain ungulate)

Sažetak
The aoudad is a bovid species native to North Africa and highly adaptable to different environments. Although some morphological data of aoudad has been published, the research mostly dealt with measurements taken from captive populations. Therefore, morphological data of free-ranging populations in their non-native habitat is largely unknown. The present study analysed the important morphometric parameters in a non-native Mediterranean population of aoudad. Body and horn measurements were taken on 30 free-range aoudads (20 M, 10 F) legally culled from 2014 to 2019. We performed a descriptive analysis of the quantitative body and horn measurements and provide an insight into population growth rates. The Mediterranean population of aoudad showed higher mean values of investigated body and horn measurements and higher growth rates than in other research, ranging from ca. 2 – 10% for most of the measurements. The results suggest that the investigated population is well adapted to Mediterranean habitat which allowed aoudad to notably allocate energy to both body and horn development. This research is a contribution to knowledge about how specific habitat might shape aoudad population life-history traits.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Poljoprivreda (agronomija)

POVEZANOST RADA