The relative roles of body size and feeding type on activity time of temperate ruminants |
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Authors: | Atle Mysterud |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Division of Zoology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1050 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway Fax: 47-22 85 46 05; e-mail: atle.mysterud@bio.uio.no, NO |
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Abstract: | Recently, there has been some critical testing of whether body size or feeding type (CS: concentrate selectors, IF: intermediate
feeders, GR: grass-roughage eaters) is the most important determinant of physiological aspects of ruminant ecology, whereas
little has been done on behavioral aspects like activity time. Different predictions regarding the relationships between activity
time and body weight/feeding type were tested with activity time data from 18 temperate ruminants. Activity time decreased
allometrically with increasing body weight, but there was also a tendency for an effect of feeding type. Exclusion of one
statistically defined outlier (mountain goat) made the effect of feeding type highly significant. GR and CS were about equally
active. Surprisingly, IF were more active than both GR and CS. The hypothesis is put forward that IF are more active than
GR/CS due to their opportunistic use of high-quality forage of both types (concentrate and grass-roughage; on average better
quality and hence shorter rumination time), though possible confounding effects of observation methods and varied behavior
with respect to cover among CS, IF, and GR should also be evaluated.
Received: 22 May 1997 / Accepted: 22 September 1997 |
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Keywords: | Activity patterns Body size Browsers Grazers Ruminants |
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