Searching behavior and use of sampling information by free-ranging bison (Bos bison)

摘要: I examined the searching behavior of free-ranging plains bison (Bos bison) in their natural habitat, and determined whether assessment food patch quality was influenced by short-term sampling information acquired during search. Bison used area-concentrated search winter foraging activity. Their movements between areas suitable patches were local environmental conditions, being sometimes less sinuous, at other times more than expected from a correlated random walk model. also systematically avoided digging where plants low profitability lay under snow. Where they dug, there evidence that bison's perception varied bout, therefore information. After controlling for forage quality, found small feeding craters likely to be preceded samples high patches. My observations suggest take advantage structural characteristics environment activity, base decisions on rather global availability.