The Herbivores' Dilemma: Trade-Offs between Nutrition and Parasitism in Foraging Decisions

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 124; no. 2; pp. 242 - 251
• Main Authors: Hutchings, Michael R., Kyriazakis, Ilias, Thomas G. Papachristou, Gordon, Iain J., Jackson, Frank
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer-Verlag 01.08.2000; Springer
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal ethology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Foraging; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grazing; Grazing behavior; Herbivores; Larvae; Mammalia; Ostertagia circumcincta; Parasites; Parasitism; Pastures; Plant Animal Interactions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Sheep; Sward; Vertebrata; Herbivorous; Nutrition; Decision making; Host; Feeding preference; Foraging behavior; Feeding; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Ovis aries; Diet; Animal plant relation; Helmintha; Sheep; Nemathelminthia; Parasitism; Artiodactyla; Feces; Invertebrata; Nematoda; Biological contamination; Ungulata; Optimal foraging; Avoidance; Key words Grazing; Diet selection; Feeding motivation

An experiment was carried out using a trade-off framework to determine the rules of sward selection, in relation to gastrointestinal parasite dispersion, used by mammalian herbivores, and the effect of level of feeding motivation and parasitic status on these rules. Twenty-four sheep divided into fo...