Diet of gerbilline rodents in the Israeli Desert.

From stomach contents of Gerbillus pyramidum, G. allenbyi, G. gerbillus and Meriones sacramenti, relative frequencies and per cent composition by dry weight were determined for three food categories; insects, seeds and plants. In most cases, these rodents consumed more seeds than either plant material or insects. Plants were the 2nd most important food category in all seasons studied except in winter when plants were the dominant food item in the diet. In spring, seeds were the dominant item in the diet of all species. The proportion of insects in the diet of the rodents was small in all seasons. -from Authors