When less is more: heterogeneity in grass patch height supports herbivores in counter-intuitive ways

摘要: Herbivores are an integral part of the African landscape and have evolved with vegetation to create savanna landscape. Managers these landscapes can benefit from a better understanding how indigenous herbivores use which they adapted. In this study we observed patches were frequently utilised, by doing regular monthly road counts, grass height observations dung counts on selected short in Kruger National Park. Smaller-framed impala blue wildebeest (meso-herbivores) most regularly seen nutritious patches, while deposits it was clear that even larger-framed buffalo (mega-herbivores) spent time there. This preference be explained considering nutritional needs food intake herbivores. seem able satisfy their dietary requirements high-quality forage supplement quality also spending foraging areas higher biomass. From insight propose range management should take herbivore preferences into account allow select concentrate forage. approach is likely decrease inputs allowing animals maintain or increase production.Keywords: diet selection, grazing management, quality, nutrition