Variations in Patch Use by Ruminant and Non-Ruminant Herbivores in a Tropical Wildlife Reserve, Ghana

Food processing and consumption by herbivores are affected differently the availability of forage quality quantity per unit time. This demonstrates “Allometric response concept”, it is considered a significant determinant in habitat use for foraging grazers. The relevance this approach has comprehensively been applied to different body sizes, but little known about its demonstration explain patch with digestive physiology size. We patches grazing Hippopotamus amphibius (hippopotamus, mega non-ruminant) cattle (ruminant), integrating relationship herbivores. analysed relationships between species dropping densities environmental variables across forty-eight 100 m×100 m plots Bui National Park, Ghana, during wet dry seasons. found that both utilised areas closer river season, H. foraged further away from season. Sward height also determined species, utilising shorter swards than cattle. Considering food resources, study revealed selection ruminants (cattle) was significantly influenced nitrogen content. In contrast, acidic detergent fibre content positively related non-ruminant (H. amphibius). high seasonal effect sward on primarily due size hippopotamus at Park.