The effect of plant spinescence on the foraging efficiency of bushbuck and boergoats: browsers of similar body size

Thorn removal experiments quantified the effects of plant spinescence on the foraging efficiency of two mammalian browsers of similar body size, the indigenous bushbuck and the introduced domestic boergoat. Spinescence limited the intake rates of both browsers; the extent being influenced by the animal's feeding technique. Larger bite sizes and rates enabled the bushbuck to increase their intake rate from dethorned branches. Spinescence restricted the feeding style of boergoats. Following thorn removal they attained larger bite sizes, and therefore greater intake rates. Boergoats were intrinsically fast eaters and were more efficient than bushbuck when foraging on spinescent species. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.