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Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross‐taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis
Author(s) -
Esmaeili Saeideh,
Jesmer Brett R.,
Albeke Shan E.,
Aikens Ellen O.,
Schoenecker Kathryn A.,
King Sarah R. B.,
Abrahms Briana,
Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar,
Beck Jeffrey L.,
Boone Randall B.,
Cagnacci Francesca,
ChamailléJammes Simon,
Chimeddorj Buyanaa,
Cross Paul C.,
Dejid Nandintsetseg,
Enkhbyar Jagdag,
Fischhoff Ilya R.,
Ford Adam T.,
Jenks Kate,
Hemami MahmoudReza,
Hennig Jacob D.,
Ito Takehiko Y.,
Kaczensky Petra,
Kauffman Matthew J.,
Linnell John D. C.,
Lkhagvasuren Badamjav,
McEvoy John F.,
Melzheimer Joerg,
Merkle Jerod A.,
Mueller Thomas,
Muntifering Jeff,
Mysterud Atle,
Olson Kirk A.,
Panzacchi Manuela,
Payne John C.,
Pedrotti Luca,
Rauset Geir R.,
Rubenstein Daniel I.,
Sawyer Hall,
Scasta John. D.,
Signer Johannes,
Songer Melissa,
Stabach Jared A.,
Stapleton Seth,
Strand Olav,
Sundaresan Siva R.,
Usukhjargal Dorj,
Uuganbayar Ganbold,
Fryxell John M.,
Goheen Jacob R.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13848
Subject(s) - biology , ungulate , hindgut , forage , biomass (ecology) , allometry , selection (genetic algorithm) , ecology , biome , herbivore , zoology , larva , ecosystem , habitat , artificial intelligence , computer science , midgut
The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when forage biomass is at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest that resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on forage characteristics and surface water, we quantified the effect of body size and digestive system in determining movements of 30 populations of hindgut fermenters (equids) and ruminants across biomes. Selection for intermediate forage biomass was negatively related to body size, regardless of digestive system. Selection for proximity to surface water was stronger for equids relative to ruminants, regardless of body size. To be more generalisable, we suggest that the FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies in body size and digestive system, with small‐bodied ruminants selecting more strongly for potential energy intake, and hindgut fermenters selecting more strongly for surface water.