title: [Nutritional values in the diet of white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari (Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae) in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica].
abstract: We determined the potential nutritional levels in 25 species of plants, and in earthworms, that constitute part of the diet of white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica, from January 1998 to March 1999. The highest content of fat and energy was found in seeds of the Myristicacea family. The highest content of calcium was found in vegetative parts of Dieffenbachia spp. Nutritious contents differed among plant parts (seeds, fruits, stems and leaves). Fat and energy content were larger in seeds and fruits, whereas the largest content of protein was found in fruits and leaves. Mineral content also differed among plant parts. Calcium, potassium and magnesium were higher in leaves whereas copper and zinc were higher in seeds. Differences of diet between white-lipped peccaries in Corcovado and in other tropical regions of Latin America could be partially explained by our results. We found several species with higher fat and energy content than palms, which can explain the low consumption of palm seeds in Corcovado. It is possible that the regular consumption of stems and leaves of some species is related to their high mineral content. Seasonality of reproduction in Corcovado seems to be related not only to fruit availability but also to the nutritional quality of food.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393, USA. marco.lopez@umb.edu
authors.forename: Marco Tulio
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altrichter
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sáenz
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eduarte
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000502:physiology*; D003364:Costa Rica; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry; D011891:Rain; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008903:Minerals; D010940:Plant Proteins