Table 3 Summary of how results support predictions (Table 1) for expected patterns in time allocation, state occupancy probabilities and activity scheduling if muskoxen were to follow either of the three proposed strategies according to optimal foraging theory, for the summer and winter season, respectively
summer season (snow-free) | winter season (snow-covered) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
prediction | supported | reasons for support or rejection | prediction | supported | reasons for support or rejection |
S1INTAKE | partially | - time allocation strongly (but not only) influenced by foraging conditions (landcover, ruggedness) - short resting bout duration | W1INTAKE | partially | - time allocation influenced by forage conditions (landcover, ruggedness) - long resting bout duration |
S2INTAKE | yes | - no covariates selected that represent potentially constraining environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) | W2INTAKE | no | - time allocation not independent of potentially constraining environmental conditions (snow, temperature, wind speed) |
S3 INTAKE | yes | - no specific daily scheduling of activities | W3INTAKE | no | - distinct daily scheduling of activities |
S4INTAKE | yes | - year not selected as covariate | W4INTAKE | partially | - year selected as covariate - no pronounced interannual variation in activity budgets |
S1TIME | partially | - light and foraging conditions (landcover, ruggedness) strongly influence time allocation - time of day not selected as covariate | W1TIME | partially | - time allocation influenced by time of day, forage (landcover, ruggedness) and light conditions |
S2TIME | no | - time spent foraging is constantly high throughout summer | W2TIME | no | - foraging activity decreased over course of the winter (i.e. with declining forage quality, see Schmidt et al. 2018) |
S3TIME | no | - no specific daily scheduling of activities during midnight sun period | W3TIME | yes | - distinct daily scheduling of activities |
S1NET | no | - no covariates selected that represent potentially constraining environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) | W1NET | yes | - time allocation influenced by forage (landcover, ruggedness) and potentially constraining environmental conditions (snow, temperature, wind speed) |
S2NET | no | - no covariates selected that represent potentially constraining environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) | W2NET | yes | - probability of resting increased with deep snow, low temperature, high wind speeds - long resting bout duration |
S3NET | no | - time of day not selected as covariate | W3NET | no | - distinct daily scheduling of activities |
S4NET | no | - year not selected as covariate | W4NET | partially | - year selected as covariate - no pronounced interannual variation in activity budgets |