What primary component of the steppe environment did the rhino heavily rely on?
Answer
Tough, siliceous material close to the ground
The survival of the woolly rhino was intrinsically linked to the productivity of the mammoth steppe, an ecosystem characterized by vast, open, grass-dominated tundra-steppe. The fundamental food base required to support an animal weighing nearly two tons was the material available near the surface of this environment. This material consisted of tough, siliceous matter, derived primarily from grasses. The animal's feeding strategy centered on maximizing output from this low-lying resource, which often necessitated continuous grazing throughout daylight hours due to the low digestibility and nutritional content of the forage.
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