Harvesting and chewing as constraints to forage consumption by the African savanna elephant ( Loxodonta africana )

PeerJ

article

Bruce W. Clegg¹  Timothy G. O’Connor¹ 

[1] School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand;The Malilangwe Trust;South African Environmental Observation Network

关键词: Diet;    Bark;    Foraging;    Forbs;    Grass;    Leaves;    Roots;    Handling;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2469

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

As a foundation for understanding the diet of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana), adult bulls and cows were observed over an annual cycle to determine whether harvesting (Pt), chewing (Ct) and handling times (Ht) differed across food types and harvesting methods (handling time is defined as the time to harvest, chew and swallow a trunkload of food). Bulls and cows were observed 105 and 26 times, respectively (94 and 26 individuals), with a total of 64 h of feeding recorded across 32 vegetation types. Some food types took longer to harvest and chew than others, which may influence intake rate and affect choice of diet. The method used to gather a trunkload of food had a significant effect on harvesting time, with simple foraging actions being comparatively rapid and more difficult tasks taking longer. Handling time was constrained by chewing for bulls, except for the processing of roots from woody plants, which was limited by harvesting. Time to gather a trunkload had a greater influence on handling time for cows compared to bulls. Harvesting and handling times were longer for bulls than cows, with the sexes adopting foraging behaviors that best suited their energy requirements.

【 授权许可】

CC BY