Preference of Pygmy Rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) for Various Populations of Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)

Abstract

Pygmy rabbits were used in feeding trials to rate preference of 15 populations of 2 subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata). Monoterpenoid content of sagebrush was determined for each population in the feeding trials and related to food preference. The rabbits showed no significant preference for one Artemisia subspecies over the other; instead, selection was made at the population level. There was no significant correlation between monoterpenoid content and dietary preference of pygmy rabbits.