Journal article
Plant protein and secondary metabolites influence diet selection in a mammalian specialist herbivore
Journal of mammalogy, Vol.95(4), pp.834-842
2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/115491
PMCID: PMC4563869
PMID: 26366011
Abstract
For herbivores, nutrient intake is limited by the relatively low nutritional quality of plants and high concentrations of potentially toxic defensive compounds (plant secondary metabolites, PSMs) produced by many plants. In response to phytochemical challenges, some herbivores selectively forage on plants with higher nutrient and lower PSM concentrations relative to other plants. Pygmy rabbits (
Brachylagus idahoensis
) are dietary specialists that feed on sagebrush (
Artemisia spp.
) and forage on specific plants more than others within a foraging patch. We predicted that the plants with evidence of heavy foraging (browsed plants) would be of higher dietary quality than plants that were not browsed (unbrowsed). We used model selection to determine which phytochemical variables best explained the difference between browsed and unbrowsed plants. Higher crude protein increased the odds that plants would be browsed by pygmy rabbits and the opposite was the case for certain PSMs. Additionally, because pygmy rabbits can occupy foraging patches (burrows) for consecutive years, their browsing may influence the nutritional and PSM constituents of plants at the burrows. In a post hoc analysis, we did not find a significant relationship between phytochemical concentrations, browse status and burrow occupancy length. We concluded that pygmy rabbits use nutritional and chemical cues while making foraging decisions.
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Details
- Title
- Plant protein and secondary metabolites influence diet selection in a mammalian specialist herbivore
- Creators
- Amy C Ulappa - Washington State University, School of the EnvironmentRick G Kelsey - USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis ORGraham G Frye - Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks AKJanet L Rachlow - University of Idaho, Moscow IDLisa A Shipley - Washington State University, School of the EnvironmentLaura Bond - Boise State University, Boise IDXinzhu Pu - Boise State University, Boise IDJennifer Sorensen Forbey - Boise State University, Boise ID
- Publication Details
- Journal of mammalogy, Vol.95(4), pp.834-842
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Identifiers
- 99900547535401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article