Abstract Grassland biodiversity and forage nutritive value are influenced by pedoclimatic conditions (e.g., soil nutrients, precipitation), management practices (e.g., mowing, grazing), and animal grazing behaviour shaping the sward botanical composition and structure. Horses, in particular, affect sward structure through selective foraging, short biting, trampling, and toileting, resulting in a patchy vegetation pattern on pastures. However, the relative importance of pedoclimatic and management factors across regions remains unclear. The effects of horse grazing and pasture heterogeneity versus management on grassland biodiversity and forage quality are also uncertain. To analyse these interactions, data were collected from 36 horse farms across two contrasting regions in Germany: an upland and a lowland area, differing in pedoclimatic conditions and farming intensity. On each farm, two of the studied grassland fields were exclusively grazed by horses, while two were either mown or both mown and grazed. A total of 148 grasslands were assessed for vegetation (species composition and proportion) and agronomic (forage nutritive value) target variables. Grazed pastures were generally more variable in terms of higher coefficients of variation of target variables than mown sites. The analysis further revealed a significant patch type × region interaction for species composition, with higher evenness in short patches – particularly in the more extensively managed upland region – indicating enhanced structural diversity under grazing. Agronomic traits were driven primarily by patch type and management, with minimal regional effects. In this study, patch type and therefore management strategies play a larger role for grassland biodiversity and forage nutritive value than regional context alone.

Black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis, hereafter rhinos) are critically endangered, selective browsers whose foraging behaviour can shape ecosystems and affect population sustainability. Despite Namibia holding over 90% of the D. b. bicornis subspecies, local feeding behaviour data remain scarce. We studied the diet composition and browse selection along black rhino feeding paths in a game reserve located in a semi-arid savanna. We identified principal dietary species per season, evaluated browse selectivity and recorded browsing heights and bite diameters. Despite a diverse availability of browse species, only a few species made up the bulk of the diet, with Dichrostachys cinerea, Grewia bicolor, Catophractes alexandri and Colophospermum mopane (only in the dry season) being most important. Seasonal variation in species preferences and bite diameters was evident, whereas feeding height remained consistent across seasons, with rhinos foraging close to the ground. Our findings confirm black rhinos’ selective foraging and their potential role in limiting bush encroachment. However, the supplementation of polyethylene glycol to reduce tannin effects may have influenced the foraging patterns we observed, warranting further investigation. These findings are important for guiding ecological management, habitat suitability assessments, and sustainable rhino conservation, particularly in dryland ecosystems and fenced reserves where movement and diet choice are restricted.

Understanding the forage resources that sustain endangered herbivores under strong seasonal constraints is essential for effective habitat restoration. Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), an endemic ungulate restricted to the Qinghai Lake Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, persists in fragmented subpopulations facing pronounced seasonal bottlenecks in forage availability. Here, we investigated seasonal dietary strategies and forage selectivity across nine geographically isolated subpopulations by integrating fecal microhistological diet analysis with vegetation surveys and availability-corrected Jacobs' electivity indices. Gazelle diets were compressed in early spring, dominated by graminoids (Poaceae and Cyperaceae), but expanded substantially during summer, with increased contributions from Fabaceae and Rosaceae and significantly higher richness and niche breadth. Electivity analyses revealed a hierarchical spectrum of preferences structured around core foundation taxa consistently selected across seasons, complemented by season-specific priority resources during spring bottlenecks and summer abundance. Basin-wide pairwise ranking further identified seasonal priority forage taxa with varying spatial consistency across subpopulations. These findings provide a seasonally explicit framework for identifying key forage targets and guiding evidence-based restoration and zoned management within Qinghai Lake National Park, offering transferable insights for conserving endangered plateau herbivores under fragmentation and strong seasonal resource limitation.

This study evaluated the effects of pastures differing in relative forage quality (RFQ) on the growth, behavior, and meat quality of Karayaka lambs. Thirty-six male lambs (3-month-old and weighing 22.8 ± 0.14 kg) were assigned to four RFQ groups (n = 9) in a randomized complete block design. Lambs grazed for 60 days on pastures with RFQ indices of 89.3 (89RFQ), 105.2 (105RFQ), 121.4 (121RFQ), and 147.0 (147RFQ), each characterized by a distinct botanical composition. Growth and dry matter intake (DMI) were monitored every 10 days, while water intake was recorded daily. At the end of the trial, feeding behavior was assessed using a preference test, and serum biochemistry and meat quality were analyzed. The 121RFQ group showed a higher growth rate than the 105RFQ and 147RFQ groups (p < 0.05. DMI was highest at 121RFQ and lowest at 147RFQ (p < 0.05). The 121RFQ and 89RFQ lambs had better feed conversion ratios than 105RFQ (p < 0.05). The 105RFQ lambs consumed more water than the 121RFQ and 147RFQ lambs (p < 0.05). Grazing history influenced behavior: lambs preferred forages they had previously grazed (p < 0.05). The b* value of longissimus dorsi was higher in 121RFQ than in 147RFQ (p < 0.05). The 89RFQ and 105RFQ groups had higher meat fat and serum triglycerides, respectively (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although a higher RFQ was expected to maximize performance, 121RFQ yielded the best growth, indicating that botanical composition is a critical factor alongside quality index. Furthermore, grazing history significantly determines forage selection.

Understanding how herbivores adjust their foraging strategies to cope with seasonal resource fluctuations has been central to the nutritional ecology. Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) predicts that generalists should broaden their dietary niche when high-quality resources are scarce, but empirical evidence in extreme environments remains poorly understood. We used trnL-P6 metabarcoding of fecal samples (n = 10/season) and a local reference library of 120 plant species to quantify diet composition and niche metrics of free-ranging yaks (Bos grunniens) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in June (summer) and October (autumn) 2024. Yaks shifted from a diverse, forb-dominated diet (e.g., Polygonaceae, Rosaceae) in summer to a specialized diet dominated by grasses in autumn. Although dietary richness and total niche width (TNW) decreased in autumn, phylogenetic diversity remained stable, indicating a strategic shift to distinct evolutionary lineages to ensure functional redundancy. Furthermore, food network analyses demonstrated a transformation from a flexible, modular foraging pattern in summer to a highly integrated, synchronized network in autumn. These findings suggest that under the distinct quality-quantity trade-off of high-altitude ecosystems, yaks adopt an energy-maximization strategy by minimizing search costs, aligning with the opportunity cost constraints of OFT, rather than randomly expanding their niche. This insight into selective foraging dynamics is critical for developing sustainable grazing practices that accommodate the natural adaptive behaviors of alpine herbivores.

Abstract Alien herbivores can have various deleterious impacts on plant communities, especially on oceanic islands where the flora tends to be dominated by endemic species. The European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus L.), a polyphagous herbivore, alters plant communities through overgrazing in the areas it has invaded. In Teide National Park, a protected natural area on Tenerife (Canary Islands), rabbit herbivory is one of the main threats to the conservation of its wild flora. A microhistological study of rabbit pellets was carried out, identifying plant tissues based on cellular parameters to characterize its diet for a year in the National Park. A total of 12 plant species, mostly Canary endemics, were detected in the rabbit pellets. Despite this diversity, the diet mainly consists of three plant species: Spartocytisus supranubius , Pterocephalus lasiospermus and Descurainia bourgeauana , respectively. The latter two plant species represent a larger proportion of the diet than their coverage would suggest, potentially indicating selective foraging. This study clarifies the diet and food preferences in Teide National Park. It reveals that these rabbits consume plants previously thought to be too unpalatable, like P. lasiospermus or Adenocarpus viscosus . The data confirm the detrimental impact of rabbits on the flora of the Park and support the need to reduce the populations of this invasive herbivore, to mitigate the damage it causes. Furthermore, these results will surely contribute to designing management plans as precisely as possible, to re-establish potential plant communities and conserve existing diversity.

Historic distributions of large herbivores in the Fynbos Biome remain poorly described and, despite ongoing reintroductions, their dietary strategies and forage selection in the Fynbos Biome are understudied. We monitored an introduction of eland into Cape Flats Dune Strandveld vegetation, focusing on their impact on Thamnochortus spicigerus (Restionaceae), a dominant strandveld plant species. Over 3 years, eland feeding behaviour was recorded, and data were collected on plant height and inflorescence presence in both male and female T. spicigerus individuals, with and without exposure to eland herbivory. Samples of both restio sexes were collected for laboratory analyses to determine protein, moisture, fibre and dry matter contents during autumn and spring. Eland mostly fed on T. spicigerus in autumn, with very low feeding incidences during the remainder of the year. Browsing damage was strongly male-biased, with female plants showing little to no signs of herbivory. In autumn, plants tended to have lower contents of protein, fibre and dry matter, but higher moisture content than in spring. These effects were more pronounced for male plants than for female plants in autumn, providing a potential reason for male-biased feeding. This study demonstrates how sex-specific and seasonal variation in plant traits can shape herbivore foraging. We concluded that nutrient variation across seasons differs between T. spicigerus sexes and may influence eland foraging strategies. Furthermore, it raises the possibility that herbivore presence within the Fynbos Biome may have been influenced by seasonal changes in the palatability of plant species, an area for future research.

Extensive goat farming is the dominant livestock system in the Mediterranean region, where woody rangelands represent essential forage resources for goats. Understanding how goats move and select vegetation within these heterogeneous landscapes–and how these patterns are shaped by herding decisions-is critical for improving grazing management. This study investigated the spatio-temporal movement behavior of a goat flock in a complex woody rangeland using GPS tracking combined with GIS-based vegetation and land morphology mapping. The influence of seasonal changes in forage availability and the shepherd’s management on movement trajectories and vegetation selection was specifically examined over two consecutive years. Goat movement paths, activity ranges, and speed differed among seasons and years, reflecting changes in resource distribution, physiological stage, and herding decisions. Dense oak woodland and moderate shrubland were consistently the most selected vegetation types, confirming goats’ preference for woody species. The shepherd’s management—particularly decisions on grazing duration, route planning, and provision or withdrawal of supplementary feed—strongly affected movement characteristics and habitat use. Flexibility in adjusting grazing strategies under shifting economic conditions played a crucial role in shaping spatial behavior. The combined use of GPS devices, GIS software, vegetation maps, and direct observation proved to be an effective approach for assessing movement behavior, forage selection and grazing pressure. Such integration of technological and classical methods provides valuable insights into diet composition and resource use and offers strong potential for future applications in precision livestock management. Real-time monitoring and decision support tools based on this approach could help farmers optimize grazing strategies, improve forage utilization, and support sustainable rangeland management.

This study analyzed the diet, trophic niche overlap, and resource selection of two sympatric foxes, Cerdocyon thous and Lycalopex gymnocercus, in Mburucuyá National Park, a protected area within the Iberá Ecoregion, Argentina. Between December 2014 and November 2015, a total of 293 scat samples were analyzed, with 44% identified as C. thous and 56% as L. gymnocercus. The analysis revealed 11 plant species and 27 animal taxa that were consumed by both foxes. The results suggest that both species are hypocarnivorous and have overlapping trophic niches throughout the year, although they exhibit seasonal variations in their trophic amplitudes. During the winter months, when fruit availability was low, both species displayed more active foraging behavior. This selective foraging was evidenced by their consumption of specific palm species, which likely represent a critical nutritional source. Although insects and arachnids (weighing between 0.1 and 10 grams) were their most common prey, meso and small mammals constituted approximately 90% of the consumed biomass due to their larger size. Further research should focus on the trophic plasticity of these foxes in other environments and on quantifying the nutritional contributions of different food sources. Comparing these findings from a protected area to those from anthropogenically disturbed environments will be crucial for understanding the species´ conservation needs.

Despite the ecological expression and conservation importance of diverse behavioral tactics in animals, there is often friction associated with conventional analytical approaches and inference concerning variation in spatial behavior. Implicitly or explicitly, population-level inferences are generally the main objective of studies, but interpretations can be ambiguous in the presence of divergent behavioral tactics across individuals or cohorts, as with generalist species. We pursued a novel analytical approach and assessed the underlying mechanisms driving variation in spatial behaviors of generalist species using the American black bear (Ursus americanus) as our focal species. We quantified individual variation in habitat selection expressed by black bears using individual models for 35 collared bears across four study areas in Wyoming, USA. We modeled how state-dependent factors (age, sex, δ15Nitrogen, and body fat) and resource availability influenced behavioral variation in resource selection. We observed vast variation among individuals, demonstrating patterns consistent with a generalist species. Black bear resource selection differed with changes in state dependence and resource availability. Specifically, traits uniquely important to black bear success, body fat and carnivory, explained variation in selection for forage indexed by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), forests, and riparian areas. Environmental heterogeneity via differences in resource availability magnified behavioral variation in resource selection by black bears. Selection trends for NDVI and deciduous shrubs were explained by resource availability, indicating black bears exhibited functional responses in habitat selection. These insights emerged from our analytical approach; had we implemented a more conventional, population-level assessment, we would have simply concluded that black bears displayed behavioral neutrality with respect to forage resources. Acknowledgment of behavioral variation when considering spatial behavior of generalist species provides a more representative understanding of individuals within a population, and our analytical approach offers a solution to uncovering drivers of individual variation in spatial behavior.

Abstract The selection of suitable forages for intercropping with annual crops is a key factor in enhancing the resilience and sustainability of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS). This study aimed to evaluate the forage mass, nutritional value, and biomass decomposition dynamics of forages intercropped with maize in an integrated system under tropical conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and four replicates per treatment. Maize was intercropped with various grasses in 2022/23, while soybean was grown on the grass residue in 2023/24. The ‘R86’ and ‘254-1’ genotypes increased their biomass by 116% from the first to the third harvest, while ‘BRS Integra’ showed a 52.3% reduction, and ‘BRS Sarandi’ remained stable at 3,442 kg dry matter (DM)/ha. The hybrid ‘1242-10’ presented 115 g crude protein, 527 g neutral detergent fibre, and 677 g organic matter digestibility/kg DM. Biomass from ‘254-1’ released 44.0, 7.53, and 46.1 kg/ha of nitrogen, diphosphorus pentoxide and potassium oxide, respectively. Genotypes ‘R86’, ‘254-1’ and ‘BRS Sarandi’ can be used for intercropping with maize in soybean-based ICLS. This is likely the first study to investigate the use of recently released, genetically improved forage genotypes, such as ‘BRS Integra’ and ‘BRS Sarandi’, in an ICLS in the Cerrado biome.

When foraging optimally, mammalian herbivores should select food items that confer the greatest nutritional benefits (e.g., crude protein and non-structural carbohydrates) and impose minimal-to-no costs (e.g., plant secondary metabolites [PSMs]). PSMs, such as tannins, deter herbivores by providing post-ingestive feedback cues that the forager experiences after consumption, and are therefore difficult for herbivores to avoid altogether. However, some PSMs, such as terpenes, are also volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that become gaseous at ambient temperatures and can be detected by herbivores via scent prior to ingestion. Our objective was to discern if the foraging preferences of white-tailed deer, a near ubiquitous herbivore in North America, were influenced by the nutritional or anti-nutritional constituents of trees during summer and winter. We also examined VOCs emitted by trees during summer and tested for a potential relationship between VOC emissions and deer sniffing behavior or foraging preference. During summer, deer preferred trees with a high non-structural carbohydrate content. After sniffing trees that emitted a large proportion of terpenes, deer appeared to be averse to begin foraging. During winter, deer preferred trees with a low crude protein content and a high tannin content. When deer foraged from trees with high terpene contents, they consumed less than they did from low terpene trees. Our results show that white-tailed deer foraging behavior is influenced by plant nutritional constituents. Additionally, we suggest that differences in VOCs among tree species may provide deer with cues of plant quality that could play a role when selecting forage items.

This study investigated the foraging behavior of ants of the genus Acromyrmex spp. in high-altitude natural grasslands in the microregion of Lages, Brazil. Fifty-nine anthills were sampled, identified by the presence of ants in trails or by direct observation of the nests, which present a characteristic mixture of soil and straw on the surface. Each anthill was georeferenced, and two active trails per nest were chosen for collection of foraged material. The collection occurred within a radius of 20 meters around the trails, focusing on plants with ants in foraging activity. These plant samples were herborized and classified in the laboratory. In total, 72 plant species were identified, distributed in 26 botanical families. The families Poaceae and Asteraceae presented the largest number of foraged species. In terms of foraging frequency, the families Poaceae (109 species), Fabaceae (28 species) and Asteraceae (25 species) stood out. The most foraged plants were Trifolium pratense (Fabaceae) and Paspalum spp. (Poaceae). Most anthills were located on the edges of forest fragments. The study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between Acromyrmex spp. and local vegetation, providing relevant data on the interaction of these insects with the environment.

This study investigated diurnal and seasonal variations in forage selection, grazing behaviour, nutrient intake, and physiological responses of Nguni (indigenous) and Bonsmara (exotic) cattle in semi-arid communal rangelands undergoing bush encroachment in the Eastern Cape South Africa. Data were collected from 24 cattle (12 per breed) in the hot season (December to February) and the cool (May to August) seasons, during morning, midday, and evening grazing bouts. Forage selection was assessed by separating growth forms (grasses vs. browse) to evaluate potential adaptation to encroaching woody vegetation. In the cool season, Nguni cattle exhibited higher bite rates (63 vs. 58 bites/min), longer grazing durations (45 vs. 37 min/h), and greater daily dry matter intake (9.4 vs. 7.8 kg) and crude protein intake (0.83 vs. 0.65 kg) compared to Bonsmara cattle. Nguni consumed a higher proportion of browse, particularly at midday during the hot season, suggesting greater flexibility to shifts in forage composition under bush encroachment. Results indicated significant seasonal and breed-related variations in water consumption and activity patterns. Both breeds showed higher water intake during the hot season, with Bonsmara (29.0 ± 1.6 L/day) and Nguni (28.3 ± 1.5 L/day) exhibiting similar levels of consumption. However, Bonsmara tended to have slightly lower grazing-to-resting ratios during hotter periods. These findings suggest that indigenous Nguni cattle are better adapted to climate variability and bush-encroached rangelands. This underscores the need to realign livestock development policies to promote indigenous breeds as a climate-resilient strategy for the future of communal pastoral systems.

Ecological disturbances are key drivers of biodiversity change in tropical forests, often facilitating the spread of invasive plant species. Global evidence from the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia shows that logging and resource extraction disrupt forest structures and ecological balances. Similarly, East African forests such as Budongo, Mau, and Mabira have experienced degradation, leading to reduced native biodiversity. Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s only remnant of the Guineo-Congolian rainforest, faces growing anthropogenic pressures, yet the specific influence of ecological disturbances on invasive plant species diversity remains underexplored. This study investigated how the frequency of selected ecological disturbances livestock grazing, animal wallowing, fuel wood collection, and beekeeping, contributes to invasive plant species diversity in Kakamega Forest. Employing a cross-sectional research design that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative data, the study sampled 60 plots (10 m × 50 m each) across stratified disturbance levels (highly disturbed, moderately disturbed, and undisturbed) using systematic random sampling. Data collection involved GPS mapping, field observations, species identification, frequency counts, Likert scale assessments, and informal interviews to contextualise local practices. Quantitative analyses included Spearman’s rank correlation to assess bivariate relationships and multiple regression analysis to evaluate the combined predictive strength of disturbances. The results revealed that grazing frequency had a significant negative correlation with invasive plant species diversity (ρ = –0.500, p &lt; 0.01), likely due to trampling and selective foraging. Animal wallowing sites showed a weak positive correlation (ρ = 0.274, p &lt; 0.05) with invasive diversity, linked to localised soil disturbance. Beekeeping areas recorded the lowest invasive diversity (mean = 1.17), supporting their promotion as low-impact livelihoods, while fuel-wood collection areas had the highest (mean =2.33), reflecting microhabitat alterations. Overall, ecological disturbances accounted for 25.5% of the variation in invasive plant species diversity (R² = 0.255), leaving 74.5% unexplained, highlighting the influence of additional ecological factors. The study concludes that disturbance frequency significantly shapes invasive diversity in Kakamega Forest. It recommends zoning based on disturbance intensity, encouraging low-impact activities such as beekeeping, and adopting a Disturbance Impact Monitoring Framework (DIMF) to guide sustainable management. Future research should examine climatic variability, soil properties, seasonal dynamics, and seed dispersal mechanisms to build more robust predictive models, ensuring the long-term conservation of this critical forest ecosystem.

Tropical forage crops vary widely in biochemical composition, resulting in inconsistent silage quality. Understanding how plant traits shape microbial and metabolic networks during ensiling is crucial for optimizing fermentation outcomes. Eight tropical forages—Sorghum bicolor (sweet sorghum), Sorghum × drummondii (sorghum–Sudangrass hybrid), Sorghum sudanense (Sudangrass), Pennisetum giganteum (giant Napier grass), Pennisetum purpureum cv. Purple (purple elephant grass), Pennisetum sinese (king grass), Leymus chinensis (sheep grass), and Zea mexicana (Mexican teosinte)—were ensiled under uniform conditions. Fermentation quality, bacterial and fungal communities (16S rRNA and ITS sequencing), and metabolite profiles (untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, LC-MS) were analyzed after 60 days. Sweet sorghum and giant Napier grass showed optimal fermentation, with high lactic acid levels (111.2 g/kg and 99.4 g/kg, respectively), low NH4+-N (2.4 g/kg and 3.1 g/kg), and dominant Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In contrast, sheep grass and Mexican teosinte exhibited poor fermentation, with high NH4+-N (6.7 and 6.1 g/kg) and Clostridium dominance. Fungal communities were dominated by Kazachstania humilis (&gt;95%), while spoilage-associated genera such as Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Termitomyces proliferated in poorly fermented silages. Metabolomic analysis identified 15,827 features, with &gt;3000 significantly differential metabolites between silages. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment revealed divergence in flavonoid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid pathways. In the sweet sorghum vs. sheep grass comparison, oxidative stress markers ((±) 9-HODE, Agrimonolide) were elevated in sheep grass, while sweet sorghum accumulated antioxidants like Vitamin D3. Giant Napier grass exhibited higher levels of antimicrobial flavonoids (e.g., Apigenin) than king grass, despite both being dominated by lactic acid bacteria. Sorghum–Sudangrass hybrid silage showed enrichment of lignan and flavonoid derivatives, while Mexican teosinte accumulated hormone-like compounds (Gibberellin A53, Pterostilbene), suggesting microbial dysbiosis. These findings indicate that silage fermentation outcomes are primarily driven by forage-intrinsic traits. A “forage–microbiota–metabolite” framework was proposed to explain how plant-specific properties regulate microbial assembly and metabolic output. These insights can guide forage selection and development of precision inoculant for high-quality tropical silage.

Abstract Land-use changes have increasingly threatened bee populations by reducing the availability of floral resources and nesting sites. Habitat loss and fragmentation have been identified as major drivers of bee decline, affecting their foraging behavior and pollination services. This study investigated the foraging behavior, and pollen preferences of Tetragonula laeviceps were assessed across four different locations, comparing treatment plots featuring nine species of flowering plants with control plots that lacked floral diversity and contained only maize (Zea mays). A total of 48 pollen species were identified, with 14 species common across all sites, indicating ecological overlap. In total, 50% of the identified pollen species were found both on bee bodies and in the hive, with 20.8% exclusive to bee bodies and 29.2% only in the hive. Bees in treatment plots exhibited more selective foraging, focusing on a limited range of plant species, while control plots showed more generalized foraging behavior. Dominant pollen sources included Carica papaya, Mikania micrantha, and Cyperus rotundus. Statistical analysis (GLM and ANOVA) revealed significantly fewer pollen species (p &lt; 0.001) and lower pollen abundance (p &lt; 0.001) in treatment plots compared to control plots. ANOSIM analysis showed significant differences in pollen composition between the control and treatment plots at most sites (p &lt; 0.05). The bipartite interaction network revealed that control plots supported greater plant diversity (41 species vs 19) and more generalized foraging, while treatment plots had fewer plant species and exhibited more specialized foraging. These findings highlight the adaptability of T. laeviceps, with more selective foraging in low-diversity environments and generalized behavior in high-diversity areas.

The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is the largest nocturnal bird of prey in the Neotropics. In Ecuador, its ecology is little known. We collected 89 pellets and 38.2 g of disintegrated material in the perch of two adult individuals, in the paramos of the western slopes of the Antisana volcano. We identified 197 preys belonging to seven taxa. Phyllotis haggardi was the most common prey (61%), and Sylvilagus andinus was the one that contributed the greatest biomass (84.9%). Phyllotis haggardi, Cryptotis osgoodi, and Microryzomys altissimus were previously unlisted prey in this owl's diet. B. virginianus in the paramos of the western slopes of the Antisana volcano showed a specialist diet and a selective foraging strategy.

The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is the largest nocturnal bird of prey in the Neotropics. In Ecuador, its ecology is little known. We collected 89 pellets and 38.2 g of disintegrated material in the perch of two adult individuals, in the paramos of the western slopes of the Antisana volcano. We identified 197 preys belonging to seven taxa. Phyllotis haggardi was the most common prey (61%), and Sylvilagus andinus was the one that contributed the greatest biomass (84.9%). Phyllotis haggardi, Cryptotis osgoodi, and Microryzomys altissimus were previously unlisted prey in this owl's diet. B. virginianus in the paramos of the western slopes of the Antisana volcano showed a specialist diet and a selective foraging strategy.

This experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating and demonstration the productivity of the selected improved forage species and assessing pastoralists’ perception on the selected forage species and assessing pastoralist criteria for select forage species as livestock feed evaluated. Data on growth yield and yield related parameters were collected and analysed using SAS software. Accordingly, the result Panicum grass had significantly (P&lt;0.05) early maturity than Sudan, Rhodes grass variety the biomass yield of Sudan was significantly higher than all the other grass species, in Sudan (12 t/ha) and Panicum (9t/ha) followed by Rhodes (6.7t/ha) and the maturity for Sudan Grass was significantly higher than the other species in (67 days). Where Sudan and Panicum Grass showed significantly higher plant height than the other grass types the highest plant height was recorded from Sudan grass (2.06m) followed by Panicum grass (1.75cm) and Rhodes (70cm) grass respectively. Overall, the findings indicate that agro-pastoralists favour forage varieties that are high-yielding, palatable, quick-maturing, and, with moderate regard for drought tolerance and sustainable harvesting practices. These insights are valuable for breeding programs, policymakers, and extension services, as they clarify which traits should be prioritized in developing improved forage options. Future breeding initiatives should aim to select and promote forages that maximize productivity while remaining resilient to climate variability. According to the pastoralist perception ranked Sudan and Panicum were selected first and followed by Rhodes Grass respectively. According to the pastoralist perception criteria for their biomass palatability, drought tolerance and regeneration capacity. Sudan and Panicum showed higher biomass yield quality and performance; therefore, these grasses should be tested in different areas and disseminated to the community by creating awareness about proper management system.