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Table 5 Main characteristics of scenarios with patches of plant pots of alfalfa and fescue used to examine selectivity and feeding behavior by cattle.

From: Resource heterogeneity and foraging behaviour of cattle across spatial scales

 

Small

Medium

Large

 

1 m

4 m

8 m

1 m

4 m

8 m

1 m

4 m

8 m

Total number of pots1

144

144

96

128

128

128

144

144

144

Patches1

18

18

12

8

8

8

6

6

6

Distance covered (m)

26

77

94

19

40

68

20

35

55

Area covered (m2)

52

136

188

38

80

136

40

70

110

Total mass offered (g)

631 ± 66

593 ± 66

408 ± 54

527 ± 59

527 ± 59

544 ± 72

631 ± 66

631 ± 66

631 ± 66

Mass per area (g/m2)

12 ± 1.3

4 ± 0.4

2 ± 0.3

14 ± 1.5

7 ± 0.7

4 ± 0.5

16 ± 1.7

9 ± 1.0

6 ± 0.6

  1. 1Half of the pots and half of the patches had only alfalfa and the other half contained only fescue.
  2. Scenarios were the factorial combination of three patch sizes and three distances between patches. Mean value for total number of pots and patches, distance and area covered over the alley, and total mass and mass offered per unit area are presented. Standard deviation of means is also given for total mass and mass offered per unit area.
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BMC Ecology

ISSN: 1472-6785

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