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Greater impact of energy expenditure over harvest rate on resource conversion efficiency as herbivores grow
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  • Xiaowei Gou,
  • Yuping Rong,
  • Yunxiang Cheng,
  • Pengzhen Li,
  • Hongbo Zhang,
  • Zhenhao Zhang,
  • Tianci Huo,
  • Guozheng Li,
  • Junyi Liang
Xiaowei Gou
China Agricultural University
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Yuping Rong
China Agricultural University
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Yunxiang Cheng
Inner Mongolia University
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Pengzhen Li
China Agricultural University
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Hongbo Zhang
China Agricultural University
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Zhenhao Zhang
Inner Mongolia University
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Tianci Huo
College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, Peoples R China
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Guozheng Li
Druid Technology Co., Ltd
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Junyi Liang
China Agricultural University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

1. Herbivores adopt foraging strategies to maximize efficiency in diverse, resource-constrained environments. However, the effectiveness of these strategies may be more constrained by their capacity for energy cost rather than their ability to acquire resources. The swift utilization of resources during acquisition is crucial for optimizing energy conversion efficiency in animals. Nonetheless, the energy expended in this process inherently limits food conversion efficiency (FCE), an aspect that remains insufficiently explored in current research. 2. In this study, we introduced a concept framework that integrates harvest rate (HR) and energy expenditures (EE) into evaluating herbivore FCE. Utilizing high-resolution tri-axial accelerometry within a grazing treatments platform, we analyzed the behaviors of herbivores (Ovis aries) to determine the energy costs and time allocation for both lamb and dry ewe groups. 3. Our analysis demonstrated an inverse correlation between HR and EE, exhibiting both positive and negative influences on FCE. Notably, the impact of EE was more pronounced in larger-sized grazers (dry ewes), while HR significantly influenced smaller-sized grazers (lambs). However, the interaction effects between these variables tended to neutralize the variations in FCE observed across both groups. 4. Our research highlights how the behavioral patterns of grazers, in terms of resource acquisition and relative energy costs, are pivotal in determining resource utilization efficiency. Additionally, it reveals the trade-offs in these behaviors, which transition from being beneficial to restrictive as the body grows. This finding substantiates the theory that the behavior of herbivores is a reliable predictor of their efficiency in resource utilization.
02 Mar 2024Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
05 Mar 2024Submission Checks Completed
05 Mar 2024Assigned to Editor
06 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 May 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor