Plant nutrient composition and food preference by the giraffe, giraffa camelopardalis In Nairobi national park, Kenya

Abstract

Food preferences . of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the forest and plains of Nairobi National Park were studied each month from July to November inclusive in 1990. The Rank Preference Index indicated preferences for species that were not relatively abundant. Most common food items were used in proportion to their availability. A possible role of plant mineral content in food selection was examined by comparing the mineral content of shoots of both browsed and unbrowsed species each month. Concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in browsed and unbrowsed species did not vary with time and so do not appear to be factors in food selection by the giraffe. Shoots of browsed species did however have a higher sodium content than unbrowsed species, suggesting selection for plants high in sodium. Higher Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen concentration in shoots of unbrowsed species than in browsed species may be indicative of nitrogenous secondary compounds in the former but this possibility needs further investigation