Factors Influencing Microhistological Analysis of Herbivore Diets

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Abstract
A study simulating herbivore diets was conducted to compare actual and estimated diet constituents as influenced by sample preparation technique and in vitro digestion. Nine plant species [Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense, Carex spp., Astragalus canadensis, Lupinus leucophyllus, Sidalcea oregana, Ceanothus velutinus, Physocarpus malvaceus, Symphoricarpos albus], 3 each representing grass, forb and shrub forage classes, were hand composited into 3 mixtures so that 1 forage class dominated each mixture. Samples of each mixture were then allotted to 8 treatments involving combinations of grinding through a micro-Wiley mill, soaking in NaOH and in vitro digestion. Samples were then analyzed for botanical composition using the microhistological technique. In vitro digestion had the greatest impact on the difference between estimated and actual means. In digested samples grasses were overestimated while shrubs and forbs were underestimated. The preferred treatment involved grinding in a micro-Wiley mill and the NaOH soak.