Feeding ecology of Massoutiera mzabi (Rodentia, Ctenodactylidae) in two national parks of Central Sahara

Abstract The present range of Massoutiera mzabi is restricted to deserts and semi-deserts of the northern and Central Sahara, and discontinuously to Aïr Massif and Adrar of Ifoghas. Vegetation seems to be the second main driver of occurrence of this herbivorous rodent, so we investigated its diet selection by comparing the contents of faeces collected from two stations of the national parks of Ahaggar (Chaabet Tidekatine) and Tassili n’Ajjers (Oued Izarwaz) to the availability of plants nearby. The diet included a total of 25 plant species, 14 from Chaabet Tidekatine and 20 from Oued Izarwaz. In Chaabet Tidekatine, Zygophyllaceae (mainly Fagonia glutinosa and Fagonia bruguieri ) over Asteraceae ( Pulicaria incisa ) and Poaceae ( Stipagrostis ). In Oued Izarwaz, the most consumed plant species were Asteraceae ( Pulicaria crispa and P. incisa ), Poaceae ( Stipagrostis pungens ) and Capparidaceae ( Cleome amblyocarpa ). Overall, M. mzabi diet appeared to be influenced more by the diversity than by the availability of vegetation. Seasonal variations in diet indicate that this rodent eats perennial and ambivalent vegetation throughout the year and opportunistically consumes annual plants mainly in the spring, with the exception of P. incisa and P. crispa which were eaten throughout the year.