Do ruminants and hindgut fermenters differ in their activity? Comparison of syntopic black wildebeest and Cape mountain zebra

Abstract Optimally foraging animals should minimise time spent in order to perform other fitness-enhancing activities. The ruminants’ more efficient digestive system, requiring lower volumes of forage, is predicted provide an advantage over hindgut fermenters with respect effort, but this may be offset by their need for higher quality forage. We contrasted the activity two similarly-sized, syntopic grazers, black wildebeest ( Connochaetes gnou ), a ruminant, and Cape mountain zebra Equus fermenter, using camera trap data tested volume-requirement nutrient-driven hypotheses, seasonally. Zebra varied seasonally, potentially due differences resource availability. In winter, greater proportion were recorded grazing relative zebra, supporting hypothesis, whilst inverse occurred (although not significantly) summer, hypothesis. Seasonal variation resources temporal trade-offs benefits ruminants fermenters.