J. For. Sci., 2009, 55(2):81-88 | DOI: 10.17221/32/2008-JFS

Verification of the food supply to game under conditions of the floodplain forest ecosystem

J. Feuereisel¹, M. Ernst²

¹ Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

² Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

In order to determine the environment carrying capacity in terms of biomass production utilizable by game 360 representative sample plots (1 × 1 m) were laid out in the growing season on the basis of typological classification in forest stand of an area of 1,796.49 ha in the studied region of the Soutok Game Preserve, Židlochovice Forest Enterprise, Lanžhot Forest District. On meadows, pastures and others areas producing grass and herbs of a total area of 532.87 ha, other 57 sample plots were laid out and sample of biomass utilizable by game. Quantification of the biomass was carried out on the basis of the area cover of grass and woody undergrowth. In total, forest and non-forest land provides 14,659,851 kg grass and herb utilizable biomass. In forest stands production was found of 6,826,662 kg grass and herb biomass (on average 380 g/m²) and on meadows and pastures 7,833,189 kg (on average 1,470 g/m²). Moreover, production of 1,401,262 kg (on average 78 g/m²). Laboratory analyses were carried out of naturally dried-up samples of biomass and these values available energy were ascertained: the energy of grass and herb biomass amounted to 5.7 MJ/kg, the utilizable energy of wooody origin amounted to 4.03 MJ/kg. In view of the standardized game population size up the available food supply sufficient, because the energy requirement was fully covered by their daily quantitative consumption of biomass.

Keywords: game management; carrying capacity; biomass production; energy need

Published: February 28, 2009  Show citation