Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of introduced sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in an alpine landscape

Context. In south-eastern Australia, the abundance and distribution of non-native sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) has increased dramatically in alpine environments. As a result, significant concern surrounds the potential for the species to impact rare plant species and vegetation communities through browsing.
Aims. We aimed to determine the diversity of the plant species eaten by sambar deer in the Alpine National Park and to understand any spatial and temporal variation in deer diets.
Methods. We collected 90 sambar deer faecal pellet samples over a three-month flowering period across two contrasting study sites with differing elevation, vegetation, and underlying geology. We performed DNA sequencing using the ITS2 gene region and assigned dietary items to the lowest taxonomic level possible. The frequency of occurrence and sequencing read depth of each dietary item were calculated to investigate the diet of sambar deer at spatial and temporal scales, and dietary preferencing was assess...