What plant families constitute the bulk of the water vole's summer menu?
Answer
Grasses (Gramineae), sedges (Cyperaceae), and rushes (Juncaceae)
The core diet of the water vole during the active growing season is constructed from common riparian flora, specifically identified by their scientific classifications. Grasses, belonging to the family Gramineae, form a primary component, alongside sedges from the Cyperaceae family and rushes from the Juncaceae family. These plants provide the necessary fresh, green growth that the specialized herbivores rely upon heavily during warmer months. The voles focus specifically on consuming the softer parts of these emergent plants, such as the stems and leaves, rather than other types of vegetation found near or in the water.
Related Questions
What plant families constitute the bulk of the water vole's summer menu?What is the estimated daily consumption quantity required by a water vole?What durable food sources replace fresh growth in the water vole's winter diet?Which location preference guides the water vole's summer feeding strategy?How do water voles typically prepare food before ingesting it?What ecological factor related to bark consumption suggests it is a survival measure?What does the need for constant foraging imply about the nutrition of grasses and reeds?What resource do roots provide that makes them a vital component of the winter diet?Are water voles known for hoarding large stockpiles of fresh summer vegetation?What breaks down the tough cellulose found in the water vole's staple summer diet?