Global long-term stability of individual dietary specialization in herbivorous mammals

Dietary variation within species has important ecological and evolutionary implications. While theoreticians have debated the consequences of trait variance (including dietary specialization), empirical studies have yet to examine intraspecific dietary variability across the globe and through time. Here, we use new and published serial sampled delta C-13(enamel) values of herbivorous mammals from the Miocene to the present (318 individuals summarized, 4134 samples) to examine how dietary strategy (i.e. browser, mixed-feeder, grazer) affects individual isotopic variation. We find that almost all herbivores, regardless of dietary strategy, are composed of individual specialists. For example, Cormohipparion emsliei (Equidae) from the Pliocene of Florida (approx. 5 Ma) exhibits a delta C-13(enamel) range of 13.4 parts per thousand, but all individuals sampled have delta C-13(enamel) ranges of less than or equal to 2 parts per thousand (mean = 1.1 parts per thousand). Most notably, this pattern holds globally and through time, with almost all herbivorous mammal individuals exhibiting narrow delta C-13(enamel) ranges (less than or equal to 3 parts per thousand), demonstrating that individuals are specialized and less representative of their overall species' dietary breadth. Individual specialization probably reduces intraspecific competition, increases carrying capacities, and may have stabilizing effects on species and communities over time. Individual specialization among species with both narrow and broad dietary niches is common over space and time-a phenomenon not previously well recognized or documented empirically.

Automated summary

This study explores the intraspecific dietary variation of herbivorous mammals across the globe and through time by analyzing carbon isotopes in their enamel. The findings reveal that almost all herbivores, regardless of their dietary strategies, exhibit individual specialization with narrow carbon isotope ranges. This individual specialization reduces intraspecific competition, increases carrying capacities, and has stabilizing effects on species and communities over time.