Data from: Experimental defaunation alters foraging behavior of a small antelope in Kenya

African savannas are experiencing large mammalian herbivore declines and
extirpations, the consequences of which will be at least partially
dependent on the functional responses of the species that persist. We used
a long-term herbivore-exclusion experiment in semi-arid Kenyan savanna to
understand how a small browsing antelope (dik-dik, Madoqua guentheri, ~5
kg) responds to the absence of larger herbivores across seasons (e.g., wet
vs. dry) and sites (e.g., mesic vs. xeric). We found that dik-dik diets
differed significantly from larger, co-occurring mixed-feeders (e.g.,
elephants: Loxodonta africana; impala: Aepyceros melampus). Dik-dik
activity increased significantly in response to large herbivore exclusion,
and they foraged selectivity based on plant nutritional properties and
avoided Acacia species with strong physical and chemical defenses,
especially during dry seasons and in xeric environments.  Shifts
in selectivity due to competitive release were strongest under
resource-scarce conditions, amplifying local impacts of large-herbivore
losses on savanna plant communities. Together, these results provide
strong evidence that dik-dik exhibit flexible foraging behavior in
response to larger herbivores, especially in resource-scarce conditions.
If large herbivores are extirpated, subsequent diet shifts by dik-dik may
suppress long-term plant diversity in this savanna.