Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross‐taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis. (26th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Esmaeili, Saeideh; Jesmer, Brett R.; Albeke, Shannon E.; Aikens, Ellen O.; Schoenecker, Kathryn A.; King, Sarah R. B.; Abrahms, Briana; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar; Beck, Jeffrey L.; Boone, Randall B.; Cagnacci, Francesca; Chamaillé‐Jammes, Simon; Chimeddorj, Buyanaa; Cross, Paul C.; Dejid, Nandintsetseg; Enkhbyar, Jagdag; Fischhoff, Ilya R.; Ford, Adam T.; Jenks, Kate; Hemami, Mahmoud‐Reza; 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.;
• Editors: Gaillard, Jean‐Michel
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 24:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: 2178
• Page End: 2191
• Publication Date: 2021-07-26
• Subjects: Equidae -- forage biomass -- hindgut fermentation -- macroecology -- ruminant -- step‐selection function -- water requirements; Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.13848
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Abstract : The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when forage biomass is at intermediate levels. To be more generalisable, we suggest that the FMH state that energy intake for ungulates is maximised at different phenological stages, depending on body size and digestive system.