Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross‐taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis

• DOI: 10.1111/ele.13848
• Publication Date: 2021-07-26T16:17:50Z
• Authors: Saeideh Esmaeili; Brett R. Jesmer; Shannon E. Albeke; Ellen O. Aikens; Kathryn A. Schoen...; Sarah R. B. King; Briana Abrahms; Bayarbaatar Buuve...; Jeffrey L. Beck; Randall B. Boone; Francesca Cagnacci; Simon Chamaillé‐J...; Buyanaa Chimeddorj; Paul C. Cross; Nandintsetseg Dejid; Jagdag Enkhbyar; Ilya R. Fischhoff; Adam T. Ford; Kate Jenks; Mahmoud‐Reza Hemami; Jacob D. Hennig; Takehiko Y. Ito; Petra Kaczensky; Matthew J. Kauffman; John D. C. Linnell; Badamjav Lkhagvas...; John F. McEvoy; Joerg Melzheimer; Jerod A. Merkle; Thomas Mueller; Jeff Muntifering; Atle Mysterud; Kirk A. Olson; Manuela Panzacchi; John C. Payne; Luca Pedrotti; Geir R. Rauset; Daniel I. Rubenstein; Hall Sawyer; John. D. Scasta; Johannes Signer; Melissa Songer; Jared A. Stabach; Seth Stapleton; Olav Strand; Siva R. Sundaresan; Dorj Usukhjargal; Ganbold Uuganbayar; John M. Fryxell; Jacob R. Goheen
• Keywords: Ungulate; Hindgut; Allometry; Biome

Abstract The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when biomass at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on characteristics surface water, we quantified the effect of body size system in determining movements 30 populations hindgut fermenters (equids) ruminants biomes. Selection was negatively related to size, regardless system. proximity water stronger equids relative ruminants, size. To be more generalisable, FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies system, small‐bodied selecting strongly potential intake, water.