Soil nutrient status determines how elephant utilize trees and shape environments.

作者: Yolanda Pretorius , Fred W. de Boer , Cornelis van der Waal , Henjo J. de Knegt , Rina C. Grant

DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2656.2011.01819.X

关键词: ForagingHerbivoreAgronomyEcosystemAfrican elephantNutrientNitrogen cycleMopanePhosphorus metabolismBiologyEcology

摘要: 1. Elucidation of the mechanism determining spatial scale patch selection by herbivores has been complicated way in which resource availability at a specific is measured and vigilance behaviour themselves. To reduce these complications, we studied an animal with negligible predation risk, African elephant. 2. We introduce concept nutrient load as product size, number patches local concentration. Nutrient provides novel spatially explicit expression total available nutrients herbivore can select from. 3. hypothesized that elephant would nutrient-rich patches, based on per 2500 m(2) down to individual plant scale, this will depend nitrogen phosphorous contents plants. 4. predicted cause more adverse impact trees lower value them order reach parts higher concentrations such bark root. However, should maintain inducing coppicing through re-utilization leaves. 5. Elephant was homogenous tree species stand manipulating distribution soil large field experiment using NPK fertilizer. 6. were able utilized Colophospermum mopane inside than outside, scales ranging from 100 . 7. Although both phosphorus leaves C. fertilized selected choice correlated most strongly content. As predicted, stripping occurred while uprooting nutrient-poor areas. 8. Our results emphasize necessity including scale-dependent selectivity foraging studies how be used indicators change nutrients.

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