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Qashqaei AT, Ghaedi Z, Coogan SCP. Diet composition of omnivorous Mesopotamian spiny-tailed lizards ( Saara loricata) in arid human-altered landscapes of Southwest Iran. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9783. [PMID: 36744080 PMCID: PMC9889844 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mesopotamian spiny-tailed lizard, Saara loricata, is one of the largest lizard species in the Middle East. Here, we report on the diet of the lizard and their potential role in seed dispersal in Southwestern Iran. We analyzed lizard fecal pellet groups (n = 124) for their food item composition and seed content. We calculated the relative frequency of occurrence (FO%), relative volume (V%), and importance value (IV%) for each food item. Moreover, the number of seeds of each plant food item was counted. Our findings reveal the first solid evidence of omnivorous behavior in the lizard. In total, 16 plant food items and 14 animal food items were identified. Herbaceous plants (IV = 110.2%) and invertebrates (4.8%) were the most important food groups. The plant food items with the highest FO% were Poaceae (56.4%), Centaurea sp. (43.5%), and Medicago polymorpha (27.4%); and the V% for these items were 53.6%, 30.9%, and 13.1%, respectively. Most of the seeds that were consumed by lizards were from Poaceae (547 seeds; 47.81%) and Fabaceae (285 seeds; 24.91%). We also found that each individual lizard could play an equal role in the seed dispersal of all plant families identified. Previous studies show that plant species density and richness are important features for the burrow site selection of Mesopotamian spiny-tailed lizard. This study highlights the potential role of lizards in influencing the vegetation communities around their burrows through seed dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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Grech A, Sui Z, Rangan A, Simpson SJ, Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D. Macronutrient (im)balance drives energy intake in an obesogenic food environment: An ecological analysis. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2022; 30:2156-2166. [PMID: 36321270 PMCID: PMC9828743 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The protein leverage hypothesis (PLH) postulates that strong regulation of protein intake drives energy overconsumption and obesity when human diets are diluted by fat and carbohydrates. The two predictions of the PLH are that humans (i) regulate intake to maintain protein within a narrow range and that (ii) energy intake is an inverse function of percentage energy from protein because absolute protein intake is maintained within narrow limits. METHODS Multidimensional nutritional geometry was used to test the predictions of the PLH using dietary data from the Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. RESULTS Both predictions of the PLH were confirmed in a population setting: the mean protein intake was 18.4%, and energy intake decreased with increasing energy from protein (L = -0.18, p < 0.0001). It was demonstrated that highly processed discretionary foods are a significant diluent of protein and associated with increased energy but not increased protein intake. CONCLUSIONS These results support an integrated ecological and mechanistic explanation for obesity, in which low-protein highly processed foods lead to higher energy intake because of the biological response to macronutrient imbalance driven by a dominant appetite for protein. This study supports a central role for protein in the obesity epidemic, with significant implications for global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Grech
- Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Zhixian Sui
- Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Anna Rangan
- Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Stephen J. Simpson
- Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Life and Environmental ScienceUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Kharuk VI, Ponomarev EI, Ivanova GA, Dvinskaya ML, Coogan SCP, Flannigan MD. Wildfires in the Siberian taiga. Ambio 2021; 50:1953-1974. [PMID: 33512668 PMCID: PMC8497666 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01490-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The majority of area burned by wildfire are located in Siberia. Mainly low-intensity surface fires occur in larch forests, whereas in evergreen forests both surface and crown fires are observed. Warming has led to an increase in the frequency and area of wildfires that have reached the Arctic Ocean shore. However, wildfires are the most important factor in taiga dynamics; larch and Scots pine have evolved under conditions of periodic forest fires, thereby gaining a competitive advantage over non-fire adapted species; in the permafrost zone, periodic fires are a prerequisite for the dominance of larch. Wildfires support ecosystem health, biodiversity, and conservation; periodic wildfires decrease the danger of catastrophic wildfires. With an amplified rate of increase in fires, it is necessary to focus fire suppression on areas of high social, natural, and economic value, while allowing a greater number of wildfires to burn in the vast Siberian forest landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viacheslav I. Kharuk
- Sukachev Institute of Forests, Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Science, Siberian Branch, Academgorodok 50/28, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 660036
- Siberian Federal University, Svobodny str.79, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 660041
| | - Evgenii I. Ponomarev
- Sukachev Institute of Forests, Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Science, Siberian Branch, Academgorodok 50/28, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 660036
- Siberian Federal University, Svobodny str.79, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 660041
| | - Galina A. Ivanova
- Sukachev Institute of Forests, Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Science, Siberian Branch, Academgorodok 50/28, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 660036
| | - Maria L. Dvinskaya
- Sukachev Institute of Forests, Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Science, Siberian Branch, Academgorodok 50/28, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 660036
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Mike D. Flannigan
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1 Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee J. Hecker
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
- Royal Alberta Museum Edmonton AlbertaT5J 0G2Canada
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
| | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
| | - Mark A. Edwards
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
- Royal Alberta Museum Edmonton AlbertaT5J 0G2Canada
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Shrestha TK, Hecker LJ, Aryal A, Coogan SCP. Feeding preferences and nutritional niche of wild water buffalo ( Bubalus arnee) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6897-6905. [PMID: 32760500 PMCID: PMC7391305 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The nutritional characteristics of food resources play an important role in the foraging behavior of animals and can provide information valuable to their conservation and management. We examined the nutritional ecology of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee; hereafter "buffalo") in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve of Nepal during autumn using a multidimensional nutritional niche framework. We identified 54 plant species as being foraged by buffalo. We found that buffalo consumed graminoids and forbs 2-3 times more frequently than browse items. Proximate analyses of the 16 most frequently foraged plants indicated that buffalo diets were highest in carbohydrate (40.41% ± 1.82%) followed by crude protein (10.52% ± 0.93%) and crude fat (1.68% ± 0.23%). The estimated macronutrient balance (i.e., realized nutrient niche) of the buffalo diet (20.5% protein: 72.8% carbohydrate: 6.7% lipid) was not significantly different than the average balance of all analyzed food items based on 95% confidence regions. Our study suggests that buffalo are likely macronutrient specialists, yet may be generalists in the sense that they feed on a wide range of food items to achieve a nutrient balance similar to that available in forage items. However, the four most frequently consumed items tended to be higher in protein energy than less frequently consumed foods, suggesting some preference for higher protein forage relative to relatively abundant carbohydrates. Although limited in scope, our study provides important information on the nutritional ecology of buffalo, which may be useful for the conservation and management of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lee J. Hecker
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Achyut Aryal
- CC Group Limited/CC Training AcademyAucklandNew Zealand
- Save Dot International LimitedAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
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Panthi S, Aryal A, Coogan SCP. Diet and macronutrient niche of Asiatic black bear ( Ursus thibetanus) in two regions of Nepal during summer and autumn. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3717-3727. [PMID: 31015961 PMCID: PMC6468138 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Relatively little is known about the nutritional ecology of omnivorous Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Nepal. We characterized the diet of black bears in two seasons (June-July, "summer"; and October-November "autumn") and two study areas (Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve [DHR]; and Kailash Sacred Landscape [KSL]). We then conducted nutritional analysis of species consumed by black bears in each study area, in combination with nutritional estimates from the literature, to estimate the proportions of macronutrients (i.e., protein [P], lipid [L], and carbohydrate [C]) in the seasonal bear foods and diets, as well as their macronutrient niche breadth. We found that bamboo (Arundinaria spp.) had the highest relative frequency in both study areas and seasons. Ants and termites were found in DHR diets, but not KSL diets. One anthropogenic crop was found in DHR summer diets (Zea mays) and two were found in KSL summer diets (Z. mays; and Kodo millet [Paspalum scrobiculatum]). Other than insects, no animal prey was found in either diet. The proportions of macronutrients in diets (i.e., realized macronutrient niches) were relatively high in carbohydrate for both study areas and seasons: DHRsummer 24.1P:8.7L:67.2C; KSLsummer 16.7P:8.2L:75.1C; DHRautumn 21.1P:10.5L:68.4C; KSHautumn 19.0P:11.0L:70.0C. Macronutrient niche breadth was 3.1 × greater in the DHR than KSL during summer, and 4.0 × greater in the autumn, primarily due to the higher proportion of lipid in ants and termites relative to plant foods. Within-study area differences in niche breadth were greater during summer than autumn; in the KSH the macronutrient breadth was 1.4 × greater in summer, while in the DHR it was 1.1 × greater in summer. Similarity in dietary macronutrient proportions despite differences in foods consumed and niche breadth are suggestive of foraging to reach a preferred macronutrient balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroj Panthi
- Department of Forests and Soil ConservationMinistry of Forests and EnvironmentKathmanduNepal
| | - Achyut Aryal
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical SciencesMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of ScienceThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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Koirala RK, Ji W, Paudel P, Coogan SCP, Rothman JM, Raubenheimer D. The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant. Journal of Applied Animal Research 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2018.1552589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Koirala
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Weihong Ji
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- The Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jessica M. Rothman
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Raubenheimer
- The Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Su J, Aryal A, Hegab IM, Shrestha UB, Coogan SCP, Sathyakumar S, Dalannast M, Dou Z, Suo Y, Dabu X, Fu H, Wu L, Ji W. Decreasing brown bear ( Ursus arctos) habitat due to climate change in Central Asia and the Asian Highlands. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11887-11899. [PMID: 30598784 PMCID: PMC6303720 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Around the world, climate change has impacted many species. In this study, we used bioclimatic variables and biophysical layers of Central Asia and the Asian Highlands combined with presence data of brown bear (Ursus arctos) to understand their current distribution and predict their future distribution under the current rate of climate change. Our bioclimatic model showed that the current suitable habitat of brown bear encompasses 3,430,493 km2 in the study area, the majority of which (>65%) located in China. Our analyses demonstrated that suitable habitat will be reduced by 11% (378,861.30 km2) across Central Asia and the Asian Highlands by 2,050 due to climate change, predominantly (>90%) due to the changes in temperature and precipitation. The spatially averaged mean annual temperature of brown bear habitat is currently -1.2°C and predicted to increase to 1.6°C by 2,050. Mean annual precipitation in brown bear habitats is predicted to increase by 13% (from 406 to 459 mm) by 2,050. Such changes in two critical climatic variables may significantly affect the brown bear distribution, ethological repertoires, and physiological processes, which may increase their risk of extirpation in some areas. Approximately 32% (1,124,330 km2) of the total suitable habitat falls within protected areas, which was predicted to reduce to 1,103,912 km2 (1.8% loss) by 2,050. Future loss of suitable habitats inside the protected areas may force brown bears to move outside the protected areas thereby increasing their risk of mortality. Therefore, more protected areas should be established in the suitable brown bear habitats in future to sustain populations in this region. Furthermore, development of corridors is needed to connect habitats between protected areas of different countries in Central Asia. Such practices will facilitate climate migration and connectivity among populations and movement between and within countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education)Gansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
- Gansu Agricultural University–Massey University Research Centre for Grassland BiodiversityGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Achyut Aryal
- Gansu Agricultural University–Massey University Research Centre for Grassland BiodiversityGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical SciencesMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Ibrahim M. Hegab
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education)Gansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
- Gansu Agricultural University–Massey University Research Centre for Grassland BiodiversityGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
- Department of Hygiene, Zoonoses and Animal Behaviour & Management, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineSuez Canal UniversityIsmailiaEgypt
| | - Uttam Babu Shrestha
- Institute for Agriculture and the EnvironmentUniversity of Southern QueenslandToowoombaQLDAustralia
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- The Charles Perkins Centre, School of Biological SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyAustralia
- The Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | | | | | - Zhigang Dou
- Gansu Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve BureauSubeiChina
| | - Yila Suo
- Gansu Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve BureauSubeiChina
| | - Xilite Dabu
- Gansu Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve BureauSubeiChina
| | - Hongyan Fu
- Gansu Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve BureauSubeiChina
| | - Liji Wu
- Gansu Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve BureauSubeiChina
| | - Weihong Ji
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education)Gansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
- Gansu Agricultural University–Massey University Research Centre for Grassland BiodiversityGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical SciencesMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand
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Coogan SCP, Coops NC, Janz DM, Cattet MRL, Kearney SP, Stenhouse GB, Nielsen SE. Towards grizzly bear population recovery in a modern landscape. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Nicholas C. Coops
- Department of Forest Resources ManagementUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - David M. Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK Canada
| | - Marc R. L. Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services Saskatoon SK Canada
| | - Sean P. Kearney
- Department of Forest Resources ManagementUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | | | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - David Raubenheimer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Simon P. Zantis
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Gabriel E. Machovsky‐Capuska
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D, Stenhouse GB, Coops NC, Nielsen SE. Functional macronutritional generalism in a large omnivore, the brown bear. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2365-2376. [PMID: 29468050 PMCID: PMC5817158 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We combine a recently developed framework for describing dietary generalism with compositional data analysis to examine patterns of omnivory in a large widely distributed mammal. Using the brown bear (Ursus arctos) as a model species, we collected and analyzed data from the literature to estimate the proportions of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, and lipid) in the diets of bear populations. Across their range, bears consumed a diversity of foods that resulted in annual population diets that varied in macronutrient proportions, suggesting a wide fundamental macronutrient niche. The variance matrix of pairwise macronutrient log-ratios indicated that the most variable macronutrient among diets was carbohydrate, while protein and lipid were more proportional or codependent (i.e., relatively more constant log-ratios). Populations that consumed anthropogenic foods, such agricultural crops and supplementary feed (e.g., corn), had a higher geometric mean proportion of carbohydrate, and lower proportion of protein, in annual diets. Seasonally, mean diets were lower in protein and higher in carbohydrate, during autumn compared to spring. Populations with anthropogenic subsidies, however, had higher mean proportions of carbohydrate and lower protein, across seasons compared to populations with natural diets. Proportions of macronutrients similar to those selected in experiments by captive brown bears, and which optimized primarily fat mass gain, were observed among hyperphagic prehibernation autumn diets. However, the majority of these were from populations consuming anthropogenic foods, while diets of natural populations were more variable and typically higher in protein. Some anthropogenic diets were close to the proportions selected by captive bears during summer. Our results suggest that omnivory in brown bears is a functional adaptation enabling them to occupy a diverse range of habitats and tolerate variation in the nutritional composition and availability of food resources. Furthermore, we show that populations consuming human-sourced foods have different dietary macronutrient proportions relative to populations with natural diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, and the Charles Perkins CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | | | - Nicholas C. Coops
- Department of Forest Resource ManagementUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
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Nielsen SE, Larsen TA, Stenhouse GB, Coogan SCP. Complementary food resources of carnivory and frugivory affect local abundance of an omnivorous carnivore. OIKOS 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott E. Nielsen
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | | | | | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Dept of Renewable Resources; Univ. of Alberta; 751 General Services Building Edmonton AB T6G 2H1 Canada
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre; Univ. of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel E. Machovsky‐Capuska
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Science The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - Stephen J. Simpson
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Science The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
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Raubenheimer D, Simpson SJ, Le Couteur DG, Solon-Biet SM, Coogan SCP. Nutritional ecology and the evolution of aging. Exp Gerontol 2016; 86:50-61. [PMID: 27094469 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in understanding both evolutionary and mechanistic aspects of biological aging, although the two areas remain poorly integrated. We suggest that a greater emphasis on ecology can help to remedy this, by focusing on the interface between biological mechanisms and the environments in which they evolved by natural selection. Among the most salient aspects of the environment relevant to aging is nutrition, and yet in the bulk of aging research nutrition is coarsely represented as dietary restriction or caloric restriction, without consideration for how specific components of diet, beyond "energy" (the undifferentiated mix of macronutrients), are driving the observed effects. More recently, it has become clear that specific nutrients (notably amino acids) and interactions among nutrients (i.e., nutritional balance) play important roles in the biology of aging. We show how a method developed in nutritional ecology, called the Geometric Framework for nutrition, can help to understand the nutritional interactions of animals with their environments, by explicitly distinguishing the roles of calories, individual nutrients and nutrient balance. Central to these models are the active regulatory responses that animals use to mediate between variation in the nutritional environment and fitness-related consequences such as lifespan and reproduction. These homeostatic responses provide a guide for researchers that can help to link the biological mechanisms with evolutionary processes in the context of a multi-dimensional nutritional environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Raubenheimer
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Stephen J Simpson
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David G Le Couteur
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Concord 2139, Australia
| | - Samantha M Solon-Biet
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Concord 2139, Australia
| | - Sean C P Coogan
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D. Might macronutrient requirements influence grizzly bear–human conflict? Insights from nutritional geometry. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- Charles Perkins Centre School of Biological Sciences University of Sydney Level 4 East Building D17 Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Faculty of Veterinary Science Charles Perkins Centre School of Biological Sciences University of Sydney Level 4 East Building D17 Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
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Panthi S, Coogan SCP, Aryal A, Raubenheimer D. Diet and nutrient balance of red panda in Nepal. Naturwissenschaften 2015; 102:54. [PMID: 26315537 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-015-1307-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We identified the winter plant species consumed by red panda in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve of eastern Nepal and compared this to the early-summer diet which was determined previously by Panthi et al. (2012). In addition, we estimated the proximate nutritional content of the leaves identified in red panda diet for both seasons, and we used nutritional geometry to explore macronutrient balance of leaves from the two different sampling periods. We identified six different plants in winter scats, which were the same as found in the previously determined early-summer diet. Arundinaria spp. bamboos were the main species found (82.1 % relative frequency), followed by Acer spp. (6.3 %), Betula utilis (4.6 %), Quercus semicarpifolia (3.7 %), Berberis spp. (1.3 %), and lichens (1.0 %), leaving 2.0 % unidentified. Geometric analysis suggested that the macronutrient balance of seasonal diets were similar in nutrient balance to the most frequently consumed Arundinaria spp. Differences in macronutrient balance may indicate seasonal nutrient preferences, such as increased carbohydrate intake in winter for thermogenesis, and increased protein and lipid intake in early summer to support reproduction and lactation; however, these differences may also indicate differences in resource availability. Habitat conserved for red panda in the region should include sufficient Arundinaria spp. as well as lesser consumed plants which may serve as complimentary foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroj Panthi
- District Forest Office Darchula, Department of Forest, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Aryal A, Coogan SCP, Ji W, Rothman JM, Raubenheimer D. Foods, macronutrients and fibre in the diet of blue sheep (Psuedois nayaur) in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:4006-17. [PMID: 26445655 PMCID: PMC4588638 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Food resources are often critical regulating factors affecting individual fitness and population densities. In the Himalayan Mountains, Bharal “blue sheep” (Pseudois nayaur) are the main food resource for the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia), as well as being preyed upon by other predators. Blue sheep, however, may face a number of challenges including food resource competition with other wild and domestic ungulates, and hunting pressure. Here, we characterized the diet of blue sheep in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) of Nepal and conducted proximate nutritional analysis on a limited number of plants identified as foods. Furthermore, we investigated the macronutrient and fiber balance of these plants using nutritional geometry which is a state‐space approach to modeling multidimensional and interactive nutritional aspects of foraging. A total of 19 plant species/genera were identified in blue sheep pellets using microhistological analysis. On average, across seasons and regions of the study area, the two most frequently occurring plants in pellets were graminoids: Kobressia sp. and Carex spp. The macronutrient balance of Kobresia sp. was relatively high in carbohydrate and low in protein, while other plants in the diet were generally higher in protein and lipid content. Analysis of fiber balance showed that the two most consumed plants of blue sheep (i.e., Kobresia spp. and Carex spp.) contained the highest concentration of hemicellulose, which is likely digestible by blue sheep. The hemicellulose and lignin balance of plants ranged relatively widely, yet their cellulose contents showed less variation. Foraging by blue sheep may therefore be a balance between consuming highly digestible high‐carbohydrate plants and plants less‐digestible but higher in protein and/or lipid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achyut Aryal
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Massey University Auckland New Zealand
| | - Sean C P Coogan
- The Charles Perkins Centre, and School of Biological Sciences University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Weihong Ji
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Massey University Auckland New Zealand
| | - Jessica M Rothman
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College City University of New York New York City New York
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Massey University Auckland New Zealand ; The Charles Perkins Centre Faculty of Veterinary Science, and School of Biological Sciences University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
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López-Alfaro C, Coogan SCP, Robbins CT, Fortin JK, Nielsen SE. Assessing Nutritional Parameters of Brown Bear Diets among Ecosystems Gives Insight into Differences among Populations. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128088. [PMID: 26083536 PMCID: PMC4470632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Food habit studies are among the first steps used to understand wildlife-habitat relationships. However, these studies are in themselves insufficient to understand differences in population productivity and life histories, because they do not provide a direct measure of the energetic value or nutritional composition of the complete diet. Here, we developed a dynamic model integrating food habits and nutritional information to assess nutritional parameters of brown bear (Ursus arctos) diets among three interior ecosystems of North America. Specifically, we estimate the average amount of digestible energy and protein (per kilogram fresh diet) content in the diet and across the active season by bears living in western Alberta, the Flathead River (FR) drainage of southeast British Columbia, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). As well, we estimate the proportion of energy and protein in the diet contributed by different food items, thereby highlighting important food resources in each ecosystem. Bear diets in Alberta had the lowest levels of digestible protein and energy through all seasons, which might help explain the low reproductive rates of this population. The FR diet had protein levels similar to the recent male diet in the GYE during spring, but energy levels were lower during late summer and fall. Historic and recent diets in GYE had the most energy and protein, which is consistent with their larger body sizes and higher population productivity. However, a recent decrease in consumption of trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), whitebark pine nuts (Pinus albicaulis), and ungulates, particularly elk (Cervus elaphus), in GYE bears has decreased the energy and protein content of their diet. The patterns observed suggest that bear body size and population densities are influenced by seasonal availability of protein an energy, likely due in part to nutritional influences on mass gain and reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia López-Alfaro
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 GSB, Edmonton, T6G 2H1, AB, Canada
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad de Chile, Av. Santa Rosa, 11315, Casilla 9206, Santiago Chile
- * E-mail:
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 GSB, Edmonton, T6G 2H1, AB, Canada
- School of Biological Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Charles T. Robbins
- School of the Environment and School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Jennifer K. Fortin
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 GSB, Edmonton, T6G 2H1, AB, Canada
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Solon-Biet SM, Mitchell SJ, Coogan SCP, Cogger VC, Gokarn R, McMahon AC, Raubenheimer D, de Cabo R, Simpson SJ, Le Couteur DG. Dietary Protein to Carbohydrate Ratio and Caloric Restriction: Comparing Metabolic Outcomes in Mice. Cell Rep 2015; 11:1529-34. [PMID: 26027933 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Both caloric restriction (CR) and low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) ad-libitum-fed diets increase lifespan and improve metabolic parameters such as insulin, glucose, and blood lipids. Severe CR, however, is unsustainable for most people; therefore, it is important to determine whether manipulating macronutrient ratios in ad-libitum-fed conditions can generate similar health outcomes. We present the results of a short-term (8 week) dietary manipulation on metabolic outcomes in mice. We compared three diets varying in protein to carbohydrate ratio under both CR and ad libitum conditions. Ad libitum LPHC diets delivered similar benefits to CR in terms of levels of insulin, glucose, lipids, and HOMA, despite increased energy intake. CR on LPHC diets did not provide additional benefits relative to ad libitum LPHC. We show that LPHC diets under ad-libitum-fed conditions generate the metabolic benefits of CR without a 40% reduction in total caloric intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Solon-Biet
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Sarah J Mitchell
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Sean C P Coogan
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Victoria C Cogger
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Rahul Gokarn
- Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Aisling C McMahon
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Rafael de Cabo
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Stephen J Simpson
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - David G Le Couteur
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
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Aryal A, Brunton D, Ji W, Rothman J, Coogan SCP, Adhikari B, Su J, Raubenheimer D. Habitat, diet, macronutrient, and fiber balance of Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana) in the Central Himalaya, Nepal. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D. Kohl
- Department of Biology; University of Utah; Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Biological Sciences; University of Sydney; Sydney Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Faculty of Veterinary Science and School of Biological Sciences; Charles Perkins Centre; University of Sydney; Sydney Australia
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Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D, Stenhouse GB, Nielsen SE. Macronutrient optimization and seasonal diet mixing in a large omnivore, the grizzly bear: a geometric analysis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97968. [PMID: 24841821 PMCID: PMC4026535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrient balance is a strong determinant of animal fitness and demography. It is therefore important to understand how the compositions of available foods relate to required balance of nutrients and habitat suitability for animals in the wild. These relationships are, however, complex, particularly for omnivores that often need to compose balanced diets by combining their intake from diverse nutritionally complementary foods. Here we apply geometric models to understand how the nutritional compositions of foods available to an omnivorous member of the order Carnivora, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos L.), relate to optimal macronutrient intake, and assess the seasonal nutritional constraints on the study population in west-central Alberta, Canada. The models examined the proportion of macronutrients that bears could consume by mixing their diet from food available in each season, and assessed the extent to which bears could consume the ratio of protein to non-protein energy previously demonstrated using captive bears to optimize mass gain. We found that non-selective feeding on ungulate carcasses provided a non-optimal macronutrient balance with surplus protein relative to fat and carbohydrate, reflecting adaptation to an omnivorous lifestyle, and that optimization through feeding selectively on different tissues of ungulate carcasses is unlikely. Bears were, however, able to dilute protein intake to an optimal ratio by mixing their otherwise high-protein diet with carbohydrate-rich fruit. Some individual food items were close to optimally balanced in protein to non-protein energy (e.g. Hedysarum alpinum roots), which may help explain their dietary prevalence. Ants may be consumed particularly as a source of lipids. Overall, our analysis showed that most food available to bears in the study area were high in protein relative to lipid or carbohydrate, suggesting the lack of non-protein energy limits the fitness (e.g. body size and reproduction) and population density of grizzly bears in this ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C P Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David Raubenheimer
- The Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, and School of Biological Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Scott E Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Abstract
Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in plant phenology and nutrition benefits herbivores by prolonging the period in which they can forage on nutritious plants. Landscape heterogeneity can therefore enhance population performance of herbivores and may be a critically important feature of their habitat. The benefits of resource heterogeneity over space and time should extend not only to large herbivores using above-ground vegetation but also to omnivores that utilize below-ground resources. We used generalized linear models to evaluate whether spatial heterogeneity influenced temporal variation in the crude protein content of alpine sweetvetch (Hedysarum alpinum) roots in west-central Alberta, Canada, thereby potentially offering nutritional benefits to grizzly bears (Ursus arctos). We demonstrated that temporal patterns in the crude protein content of alpine sweetvetch roots were influenced by spatial heterogeneity in annual growing season temperatures and soil moisture and nutrients. Spatial heterogeneity and asynchrony in the protein content of alpine sweetvetch roots likely benefit grizzly bears by prolonging the period they can forage on high quality resources. Therefore, we have presented evidence of what we termed a “brown wave” or “brown tide” in the phenology and nutrition of a below-ground plant resource, which is analogous to the previously described “green wave” in above-ground resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2H1
| | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2H1
| | - Gordon B. Stenhouse
- Grizzly Bear Program, Foothills Research Institute, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB, Canada T7V 1X6
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