What dietary strategy allows O. virginianus to persist through environmental shifts?

Answer

Subsisting as generalists on browse, forbs, grasses, and crops

The key factor contributing to the enduring success and wide range of the white-tailed deer is its exceptional dietary plasticity, classifying them as ecological generalists. They are not restricted to a single food niche. Their diet incorporates a wide variety of plant matter, including browse (twigs and leaves), forbs (weedy plants), grasses, agricultural crops, and even fungi. This flexibility is crucial because it allows populations to readily switch their primary food source if seasonal availability changes due to factors like drought or climate shifts. This ability to adapt foraging habits contrasts sharply with more specialized herbivores, providing a significant survival advantage during periods of environmental instability.

What dietary strategy allows O. virginianus to persist through environmental shifts?

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