Sex and size related differences in the dry season feeding patterns of elephants in Chobe national park, Botswana.

摘要: Differences in feeding patterns of the African elephant were examined by sex and age during dry season a dystrophic savanna-woodland ecosystem northern Botswana. Adult males had least diverse diet terms woody plant species, but they consumed more parts than family units. The diameter stems food plants broken or bitten off was also greater for adult females subadult males. spent time foraging on each did females. number species individuals present higher at sites units males, indicating that positioned themselves with diversity those We argue most likely explanation these differences is related to pronounced sexual size dimorphism exhibited elephants, resulting browsing due allometric relationships govern tolerance herbivores variation quality. From our results this Body Size Hypothesis accepted rather alternative Scramble Competition Hypothesis, which predicts male elephants consume lower quality browse because are displaced from preferred as an outcome scramble competition their offspring. If affected intersexual competition, we would expect level canopy smaller-bodied No evidence found this, although when close proximity subadults juveniles alone. Sex are, propose, relevance understanding managing impacts woodlands.