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Resource partitioning by ungulates on the Isle of Rhum
1Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, 34A Storey's Way, CB3 ODT, Cambridge, UK.
Oecologia
|August 8, 2013
Summary
Large herbivores like red deer, cattle, goats, and ponies partition food resources seasonally on the Isle of Rhum. Resource partitioning minimizes competition, especially during winter when food is scarce and less digestible.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Zoology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Herbivore grazing impacts vegetation structure and composition.
- Understanding resource partitioning is key to managing mixed-species grazing systems.
- Seasonal changes in food availability influence foraging strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate seasonal vegetation use by red deer, cattle, goats, and ponies on the Isle of Rhum.
- To analyze how resource partitioning and competition shape foraging behavior.
- To explain observed resource use patterns using ecological and physiological models.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of ungulate foraging behavior across different vegetation communities.
- Analysis of seasonal food abundance and digestibility.
- Application of a theoretical model (Illius and Gordon, 1987) to explain species-specific foraging decisions.
Main Results:
- Extensive resource partitioning occurred during winter when food was scarce.
- Grazing species (red deer, cattle, ponies) converged on high-quality resources in summer.
- Goats specialized on dwarf shrub communities, utilizing their browse-adapted digestive systems.
- Red deer utilized high-quality plant communities in winter, while cattle shifted to poorer resources.
Conclusions:
- Resource partitioning is driven by seasonal food availability and quality, minimizing interspecific competition.
- Exploitative competition for high-quality food in winter leads to resource partitioning.
- Physiological and allometric factors influence species' ability to exploit specific resources.
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