What key behavioral flexibility allows zebras to survive when fresh, short grasses are unavailable?
Answer
They exhibit browsing habits, supplementing with leaves, stems, and bark
A crucial element of zebra survival, especially during seasonal scarcity when high-quality grasses diminish, is their willingness to engage in browsing habits. This means they supplement their grazing diet by consuming other plant materials, specifically leaves, stems, bark, and occasionally roots. The extent to which they browse is context-dependent; in environments where grasses are scarce or of notably poor quality, their reliance on this woody material increases substantially. This dietary shift provides a necessary buffer against nutritional shortfalls that would otherwise be insurmountable given their primary reliance on grasses.
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