Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level II - The Herbivores - Introduction

Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level II - The Herbivores - Introduction - Page 1

Trophic Level II - The Herbivores
Introduction
Page 1

Many animals have developed the ability to consume plant material. All herbivores such as antelope, deer, sheep, elephants and hippopotami have developed special ways of coping with the costs of eating plants. Omnivores, such as human beings and most other primates, eat vegetation most of the time. Mice and rodents eat plant matter primarily but they also eat animals (usually insects and bugs). Surprisingly, almost all of the world’s carnivores consume some vegetation. A few, such as black, grizzly and Asian bears, have evolved a digestive system similar to ours in order to process plants. One bear, the giant panda, is almost exclusively a vegetarian.

Among Africa’s carnivores, most eat some wild fruits or grass, but only on rare occasions. They prefer to select from the abundant herbivores for their meals.

Many species of birds eat primarily plants. Some are seed eaters while others specialize in fruits or nuts. Many birds are opportunistic and will feed on the most available food sources; insects in the dry season, berries in the rainy season.

Some reptiles specialize in plants. The African tortoises are a good example of this.

However, by far the greatest consumers of plant material in the world are the insects and other invertebrates. This is certainly true in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

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