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

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs832](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs832)

## Dataset Overview

These datasets and scripts can be used to run the analyses and produce the figures in the associated manuscript (Reed et al. 2025). These data were collected at part of the Ungulate Herbivory Under Rainfall Uncertainty (UHURU) experiment at Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia County, Kenya. UHURU uses size-selective fencing to exclude large herbivores from 1-ha plots on the savanna. UHURU is comprised of three sites across a 20-km climate gradient, with each site containing three replicated blocks of control and exclusion treatments. In this study, we used the South (relatively more mesic) and Central (relatively more Xeric) sites. 

Here we report new data on plant functional traits at Mpala. The UHURU plant composition data and the dung count data used in our analyses have previously been publis...,

非洲稀树草原正经历大型植食哺乳动物（large mammalian herbivore）的衰退与区域灭绝，其后果至少在一定程度上取决于存续物种的功能响应。我们在肯尼亚半干旱稀树草原开展了长期植食动物排除（herbivore-exclusion）实验，以探究小型木本植食羚羊（browsing antelope）——艮氏小羚（dik-dik, *Madoqua guentheri*，体重约5千克）——如何响应大型植食动物的缺失，实验覆盖不同季节（如湿季与干季）与生境（如湿润生境与干旱生境）。我们发现，艮氏小羚的食性与同域分布的大型混合摄食者（mixed-feeders）存在显著差异，例如非洲象（*Loxodonta africana*）、黑斑羚（*Aepyceros melampus*）。面对大型植食动物的排除处理，艮氏小羚的活动量显著提升；它们会依据植物营养特性进行选择性觅食，尤其在干季与干旱生境中，会避开具有较强物理与化学防御的金合欢属（Acacia）物种。因竞争释放引发的取食选择性偏移在资源匮乏条件下最为显著……
# 数据来源：《实验性移除大型动物改变肯尼亚小型羚羊的觅食行为》
数据集DOI：[10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs832](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs832)

## 数据集概览
本数据集与配套脚本可用于复现关联论文（Reed等人，2025）中的分析流程与图表产出。相关数据采集自肯尼亚莱基皮亚县姆帕拉研究中心的降雨不确定性下的有蹄类植食（Ungulate Herbivory Under Rainfall Uncertainty, UHURU）实验。UHURU实验采用体型选择性围栏，将大型植食动物排除在稀树草原的1公顷样地之外。该实验沿20公里的气候梯度设置了三个研究样地，每个样地包含三个重复区块，分别设置对照组与排除处理组。本研究仅使用了南部（相对湿润）与中部（相对干旱）两个样地。

此处我们报告了姆帕拉地区的植物功能性状新数据。本研究分析中使用的UHURU植物群落数据与粪便计数数据此前已发表……