Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross‐taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis

The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when biomass at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on characteristics surface water, we quantified the effect of body size system in determining movements 30 populations hindgut fermenters (equids) ruminants biomes. Selection was negatively related to size, regardless system. proximity water stronger equids relative ruminants, size. To be more generalisable, FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies system, small-bodied selecting strongly potential intake, water.