Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.) is a ruminant of intermediate type, which in vegetative part of the year eats selectively. Feeding strategy depends on the quality, nutrition and quantity of available feed, which is influenced by climate conditions, mainly by the amount of snow cover. This thesis examines autumn % winter eating behaviour of chamois in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Karawanks. The study is based on macroscopic feeding analysis of 64 samples with a goal of setting the quantity, frequency and importance of feeding components. The objectives of this thesis are the following: to learn about the feeding strategy of chamois; to observe coverage of feeding components, changes in feeding over time and compare the feed between sexes, age categories, regions, seasons and years of sampling; and to learn about the influence of snow on chamois% feeding options. Our results show that chamois is a generalist ruminant which eats mainly grass (53 %), followed by herbs (20,5 %), leafy shrubs (13,3 %), conifer trees (3,4 %), deciduous trees (3,0 %), conifer shrubs (2,8 %), pods (2,1 %) and mushrooms (0,2 %). Seasons of sampling reveal the biggest differences in composition of the feed, while the smallest differences appear between sexes. The amount of snow and the duration of snow cover reduce the share and importance of herbs while they increase the share of conifers (trees and shrubs) and deciduous shrubs in chamois feed.
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