Why does digging for underground food in deep, loose, sandy soils of the Kalahari offer a maximized caloric return for Xerus?
Answer
Because it can be energetically cheaper than traversing vast distances for patchy surface vegetation
When surface vegetation is patchy or sparse, traversing wide areas to find enough food expends significant energy and increases exposure to predators. In contrast, the physical properties of deep, loose, sandy soils found in areas like the Kalahari make the physical act of digging for dense, localized caches of starchy roots energetically less costly relative to the caloric reward gained. This localized feeding strategy concentrates the caloric intake, maximizing the return on energy expended while simultaneously minimizing the time spent exposed above ground.
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