| Allometric scaling predicts preferences for burned patches in a guild of East African grazers. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21058550 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The high herbivore diversity in savanna systems has been attributed to the inherent spatial and temporal heterogeneity related to the quantity and quality of food resources. Allometric scaling predicts that smaller-bodied grazers rely on higher quality forage than larger-bodied grazers. We replicated burns at varying scales in an East African savanna and measured visitation by an entire guild of larger grazers ranging in size from hare to elephant. We found a strong negative relationship between burn preference and body mass with foregut fermenters preferring burns to a greater degree than hindgut fermenters. Burns with higher quality forage were preferred more than burns with lower quality forage by small-bodied grazers, while the opposite was true for large-bodied grazers. Our results represent some of the first experimental evidence demonstrating the importance of body size in predicting how large herbivores respond to fire-induced changes in plant quality and quantity. |
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Authors:
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Ryan L Sensenig; Montague W Demment; Emilio A Laca |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Ecology Volume: 91 ISSN: 0012-9658 ISO Abbreviation: Ecology Publication Date: 2010 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-11-09 Completed Date: 2011-01-03 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0043541 Medline TA: Ecology Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 2898-907 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. rlsensenig@goshen.edu |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adaptation, Physiological Africa Animals Antelopes Body Size Ecosystem* Elephants Equidae Feeding Behavior* Fires* Hares Models, Biological Models, Statistical Swine |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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