@article{fdi:010055903,
  title = {{S}table isotope series from elephant ivory reveal lifetime histories of a true dietary generalist},
  author = {{C}odron, {J}. and {C}odron, {D}. and {S}ponheimer, {M}. and {K}irkman, {K}. and {D}uffy, {K}.{J}. and {R}aubenheimer, {E}.{J}. and {M}{\'e}lice, {J}ean-{L}uc and {G}rant, {R}. and {C}lauss, {M}. and {L}ee-{T}horp, {J}.{A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{L}ongitudinal studies have revealed how variation in resource use within consumer populations can impact their dynamics and functional significance in communities. {H}ere, we investigate multi-decadal diet variations within individuals of a keystone megaherbivore species, the {A}frican elephant ({L}oxodonta africana), using serial stable isotope analysis of tusks from the {K}ruger {N}ational {P}ark, {S}outh {A}frica. {T}hese records, representing the longest continuous diet histories documented for any extant species, reveal extensive seasonal and annual variations in isotopic-and hence dietary-niches of individuals, but little variation between them. {L}ack of niche distinction across individuals contrasts several recent studies, which found relatively high levels of individual niche specialization in various taxa. {O}ur result is consistent with theory that individual mammal herbivores are nutritionally constrained to maintain broad diet niches. {I}ndividual diet specialization would also be a costly strategy for large-bodied taxa foraging over wide areas in spatio-temporally heterogeneous environments. {H}igh levels of within-individual diet variability occurred within and across seasons, and persisted despite an overall increase in inferred {C}-4 grass consumption through the twentieth century. {W}e suggest that switching between {C}-3 browsing and {C}-4 grazing over extended time scales facilitates elephant survival through environmental change, and could even allow recovery of overused resources.},
  keywords = {{C}-4 grass ; {K}ruger {N}ational {P}ark ; time series ; tusks ; {AFRIQUE} {DU} {SUD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}roceedings of the {R}oyal {S}ociety {B} : {B}iological {S}ciences},
  volume = {279},
  numero = {1737},
  pages = {2433--2441},
  ISSN = {0962-8452},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1098/rspb.2011.2472},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055903},
}