Searching in heterogeneous and limiting environments: foraging strategies of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari)

• DOI: 10.1644/10-mamm-a-384.1
• Publication Date: 2012-02-16T21:13:41Z
• Authors: Rafael Reyna-Hurtado; Colin A. Chapman; Sophie Calme; Eric J. Pedersen
• Keywords: Optimal foraging theory; Limiting

Searching for patchily distributed, highly localized, and seasonally variable resources in heterogeneous environments poses significant challenges social species living cohesive groups. Here, we studied the searching strategies of a mammal, white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Reserve is seasonal tropical forest where important resources, such as water food, are patchy distributed temporarily scarce. We attempted to determine what theoretical model best explained movement patterns groups peccaries, including short-tailed, long-tailed, scale-free distributions. found that only distribution was well supported by data zero-inflated lognormal distribution; this implies general pattern normally short-range intensive with occasional long-distance directed movements taking animals away from previously searched areas. also concentrated foraging activities around sources during dry season, behaving central-place foragers while occasionally distant discuss potential adaptive values behavioral environments.