Browsers and Grazers Drive the Dynamics of Ecosystems

摘要: Large mammalian herbivores and the ecosystems in which they live are intimately connected through food choices animals make. Herbivores eat plants have evolved mechanisms to defend themselves from being eaten. This arms race between vertebrate continues this day. The outcomes of seen morphological, physiological behavioural adaptations large herbivores. ways exploit affect not only plants, assemblages exist but also “dynamics” whole ecosystems. paleoecological work demonstrates that consequences herbivore community population dynamics at some point history ripples time can be today. Quaternary extinctions many species changed systems as fire became major consumer vegetation absence ungulates. Fundamental understanding role ecosystem is concept “niche”, however, “browsing” “grazing” extremely flexible their diet composition depending on circumstances find themselves. Whilst body size has been used an explanatory variable ecology (including feeding vital rates studies), there “exceptions rule”, which, with browser vs. grazer dichotomy, deserves further investigation potentially changes ecological theory. There rich seams information data historical studies literature should made freely available for such analyses, much more often than presently norm. ungulate ecologists look livestock insights into, particularly digestive physiology increasing important fermentation microbiome, various wild those foregut or hindgut fermenters) needed provide into dietary adaptations. So, what future? Climate change looms picture herbivores; may flexibility order cope variation movement, take advantage nutritional opportunities, key, populations in, example, semi-arid areas increasingly unable spatial because massive impact humans land use. Let us forget currently about 37% total area globe agricultural 60% grazing livestock. These proportions will increase world’s human grows wealth. foregoing Chapters Ecology Browsing Grazing II a wealth past current herbivores, book call future generations researchers seek better understand whats, whys wherefores interactions live. Given importance ecosystems, play providing services humanity, must partnership policy management practitioners delivering evidence-based solutions conservation these amazing creatures, world changing before our eyes. But ungulates flesh blood, graze browse real landscapes, profound need hard-core broad set skills deep ‘their’ animals. As bonus, we, all other ecologists, get see, feel most beautiful creatures share planet.